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Vet costs

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By *ools and the brain OP   Couple
10 weeks ago

couple, us we him her.

They keep saying there's going to be an enquiry regarding extortionate costs of vet bills with costs in the UK only matched by surprise surprise the US, it's almost as if these huge corporations have been invited to rip of British pet owners as well probably by rich British shareholders of said companies.

With cost's in the UK being up to x3 compared to France.

Are we heading to a time when only the effluent sorry affluent can afford pets or if you can con the system into paying vet cost's?

Obviously it goes without saying that I don't DONT mean guide dog's and the like.

Is this vet costs something that should be inspected by the monopolies commission??

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By (user no longer on site)
10 weeks ago

Well there isn’t a monopoly so I can’t see why they would be interested. Is their any evidence of price fixing?

In a previous relationship around 15 years ago, the vet we saw at a national pet shop chain left and set up his own practice. We followed him and abandoned the national chain. This involved massive expenditure on equipment and the rental of premises ans well as hiring a member of staff. And for the first couple of years he was losing money every month. I assume had he changed a third of what he was charging he never would have been able to take that step.

I don’t live in the area now and me and my new partner don’t have any pets, so no idea how he’s getting on. But if you take the massive outlay to study to be a vet and the massive outlay to have your own practice….

And as this isn’t a necessity, although i understand how much some loving having a pet around, people should weigh up the costs before taking the decision. Find out how much insurance is and either pay the premiums or put that much aside every month.

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By *ools and the brain OP   Couple
10 weeks ago

couple, us we him her.

Oh there's very much going on that there's been news stories and ministers talking about regulation due to price fixings.

As nearly all the veterinary practices countrywide are owned by 3 or so large companies all " allegedly " in cahoots.

This is what people are saying about it.

A simple blood test costing many hundreds of pounds our own vet quietly advised us to buy our cats medication online as buying from the practice was 3 times as expensive.

Like the charity ads on telly during the day they play on people's hearts knowing people will shell out many thousands for their pets.

If you don't have insurance ( they are very good at worming their way out of paying) you are at the mercy of the vets.

We have decided once our two cats pass we shall not have and pets afterwards due to these costs.

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By *winga2Man
10 weeks ago

Stranraer

As with chiropractors, they charge what they can because the "insurance is paying"

Our local farm vet also does pets and charges a fraction of what the pet vet does

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By *ools and the brain OP   Couple
10 weeks ago

couple, us we him her.

I can't begin to imagine the costs for horse's or cows

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By (user no longer on site)
10 weeks ago


"Oh there's very much going on that there's been news stories and ministers talking about regulation due to price fixings.

As nearly all the veterinary practices countrywide are owned by 3 or so large companies all " allegedly " in cahoots.

This is what people are saying about it.

A simple blood test costing many hundreds of pounds our own vet quietly advised us to buy our cats medication online as buying from the practice was 3 times as expensive.

Like the charity ads on telly during the day they play on people's hearts knowing people will shell out many thousands for their pets.

If you don't have insurance ( they are very good at worming their way out of paying) you are at the mercy of the vets.

We have decided once our two cats pass we shall not have and pets afterwards due to these costs."

A quick search said approximately 60% are corporate and 40% are independent. I wouldn’t say that’s “the vast majority”.

The online drug company doesn’t have to buy all the equipment a vet does. I do agree some charges are ridiculous tho. And I also agree that some insurance companies try to avoid paying out if they can.

It’s a tricky one with no straight forward solution other than not have pets if you can’t afford the bills.

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By *ingdomNightTimePleasuresMan
10 weeks ago

nearby

Baffles me the thousands people spend on pets, then feed on other abused animals in our food chain

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By *hrill CollinsMan
10 weeks ago

The Outer Rim

here's why ....

six corporations have bought out independent vetinary practices across the length and breadth of the country.

Deregulation chipped away at the small business model, allowing corporations to quietly gobble up clinics. In 2013, only 10% of vet practices were owned by the “big six”: Pets at Home, CVS Group, IVC, Linnaeus, VetPartners and Medivet. Fast-forward to 2024 and it’s 60%.

prices have increased threefold.

Until a legal change in 1999, only qualified and licensed vets could own a veterinary practice, meaning that vets tended to be independent practices or small local chains.

Deregulation chipped away at the small business model, allowing corporations to quietly gobble up clinics. In 2013, only 10% of vet practices were owned by the “big six”: Pets at Home, CVS Group, IVC, Linnaeus, VetPartners and Medivet. Fast-forward to 2024 and it’s 60%.

VetPartners, owned by the private equity firm BC Partners, isn’t alone in keeping its clinics’ former brand identities intact when it acquires them. Four of the big six are guilty of the practice, leaving pet owners no inkling that their local veterinary practice is now part of a multinational corporation.

Linnaeus is owned by American chocolate giant Mars, who are also behind pet food brands like Whiskas. Among Medivet’s investors is LGT Capital Partners, a Swiss private equity vehicle owned by the Liechtenstein royal family. IVC – the biggest of the six – is owned by Nestlé and private equity firms Silver Lake and EQT.

When Valley Vets, a veterinary practice in South Wales, was bought by VetPartners in April 2017, there was no sign for pet owners that the independently owned outfit had been snapped up by a private equity firm; the practice retained its name, branding and staff.

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By *rDiscretionXXXMan
10 weeks ago

Gilfach


"VetPartners, owned by the private equity firm BC Partners, isn’t alone in keeping its clinics’ former brand identities intact when it acquires them. Four of the big six are guilty of the practice ..."

I've not heard of Novara Media before (where this quote came from). It's interesting that they consider the use of branding to be a crime, suggesting that companies are "guilty" if they don't spend lots of money telling all of their newly acquired customers that ownership has changed.

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By *e-OptimistMan
10 weeks ago

Stalybridge


"Baffles me the thousands people spend on pets, then feed on other abused animals in our food chain "

Cats taste horrible but little piggies - mmmmmm.

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By (user no longer on site)
10 weeks ago


"VetPartners, owned by the private equity firm BC Partners, isn’t alone in keeping its clinics’ former brand identities intact when it acquires them. Four of the big six are guilty of the practice ...

I've not heard of Novara Media before (where this quote came from). It's interesting that they consider the use of branding to be a crime, suggesting that companies are "guilty" if they don't spend lots of money telling all of their newly acquired customers that ownership has changed."

Novara are far far left cranks !

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By *hrill CollinsMan
10 weeks ago

The Outer Rim

for those demanding balanced media, exactly the same points reported by far far right cranks

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/08/24/vet-costs-spiralling-corporate-ownership-fightback/

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By *ouple in LancashireCouple
10 weeks ago

in Lancashire

We've had pets, mostly dogs but cats too and other small creatures for about 26 of the last 40 years and apart from the latter have always insured them..

We definitely have noticed a difference in how they operated differently in the 80 and recently..

More 'pushy' towards high costing treatments which yes it will prolong the life of the animal but the quality will be much less ..

And several friends and family have said the same..

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By *e-OptimistMan
10 weeks ago

Stalybridge

Agree with above comments. I have notice how my vet recommends x-rays for almost every complaint. Last x-ray cost me just sort of £1000. When it came back with no obvious sign of a problem they were quick to advise a CT scan - guess what that was even more stupidly expensive.

Over the years I gave seen a decrease in empathy and a rush to push for more expensive treatment options. It's sad.

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By *oorlandtwoCouple
9 weeks ago

Stoke on Trent


"here's why ....

six corporations have bought out independent vetinary practices across the length and breadth of the country.

Deregulation chipped away at the small business model, allowing corporations to quietly gobble up clinics. In 2013, only 10% of vet practices were owned by the “big six”: Pets at Home, CVS Group, IVC, Linnaeus, VetPartners and Medivet. Fast-forward to 2024 and it’s 60%.

prices have increased threefold.

Until a legal change in 1999, only qualified and licensed vets could own a veterinary practice, meaning that vets tended to be independent practices or small local chains.

Deregulation chipped away at the small business model, allowing corporations to quietly gobble up clinics. In 2013, only 10% of vet practices were owned by the “big six”: Pets at Home, CVS Group, IVC, Linnaeus, VetPartners and Medivet. Fast-forward to 2024 and it’s 60%.

VetPartners, owned by the private equity firm BC Partners, isn’t alone in keeping its clinics’ former brand identities intact when it acquires them. Four of the big six are guilty of the practice, leaving pet owners no inkling that their local veterinary practice is now part of a multinational corporation.

Linnaeus is owned by American chocolate giant Mars, who are also behind pet food brands like Whiskas. Among Medivet’s investors is LGT Capital Partners, a Swiss private equity vehicle owned by the Liechtenstein royal family. IVC – the biggest of the six – is owned by Nestlé and private equity firms Silver Lake and EQT.

When Valley Vets, a veterinary practice in South Wales, was bought by VetPartners in April 2017, there was no sign for pet owners that the independently owned outfit had been snapped up by a private equity firm; the practice retained its name, branding and staff.

"

Wowww this is amazingly insightful, especially after having just spent £4k having some previous work put right that was causing an affection to our pooch.

But I will say, if anybody needs dog dental work I can’t recommend the pet dental surgery in Cheadle enough, and the surgeon was truly amazing.

You instantly know that he’s another level when it comes to pet dental care

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