News1 min ago
Vet fees
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If there was a national campaign to introduce the regulating / monitoring of vets' fees, would you back it? Personally, I think they are out of control and take absurd advantage of the British willingness to do - and therefore pay - anything to keep their pets happy and healthy. What are the worst examples of vets bills you've encountered?
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I tried, and failed, to become a vet many years ago. They have a tough job, but it's one they chose and in most cases, love. Where they do have problems is in having to run a business for which they get no training and for which many of them have neither aptitude nor liking.
Those of them whose parents were vets or farmers perhaps have the best start, but many of them struggle. Either they grapple with the mysteries of tax and National Insurance or they have to give up a proportion of their income to an accountant. On top of that vets of the James Heriot era got a steady income from farming. Starting in the 60s, however, drug firms have increasingly targeted direct selling to farmers. Much of the antibiotics and dosing administered to farm animals today never sees a vet.
I'm afraid what you see is pretty necessary pricing by vets if they're to make the sort of living they think they're entitled to.
Those of them whose parents were vets or farmers perhaps have the best start, but many of them struggle. Either they grapple with the mysteries of tax and National Insurance or they have to give up a proportion of their income to an accountant. On top of that vets of the James Heriot era got a steady income from farming. Starting in the 60s, however, drug firms have increasingly targeted direct selling to farmers. Much of the antibiotics and dosing administered to farm animals today never sees a vet.
I'm afraid what you see is pretty necessary pricing by vets if they're to make the sort of living they think they're entitled to.
I have to admit that I have never been given a bill that seemed too high. I have a good vets practice and I trust them to look after my most precious family members.
The campaign does have merit as I have no doubt that some vets know that they are an important service and overprice their services.
A few times I have not even been charged - for simple advice at the surgery. I don't suppose that happens everywhere.
The campaign does have merit as I have no doubt that some vets know that they are an important service and overprice their services.
A few times I have not even been charged - for simple advice at the surgery. I don't suppose that happens everywhere.
I'd suggest shopping around - if you can.
For something like a teeth clean phone a few local ones and ask for a quote - make sure they are quoting for the same thing ( like price per extraction, medication needed etc)
My sister (who doesn't live near me) was recently told it would be almost �300 to do her cat's teeth. I phoned my vet (who are very good and reasonable) and asked how much they would charge - for the same thing exactly (original price included some extras because the cat is old) and they said a maximum of �200...
My sister phoned around a few vets and was quoted �210 (although some didn't want to give a quote over the phone -they often did give a maximum price when pushed) and eventually paid �150 because when the vet examined the cat she decided it didn't need some of the extras.
Guess which vet she uses now...
For something like a teeth clean phone a few local ones and ask for a quote - make sure they are quoting for the same thing ( like price per extraction, medication needed etc)
My sister (who doesn't live near me) was recently told it would be almost �300 to do her cat's teeth. I phoned my vet (who are very good and reasonable) and asked how much they would charge - for the same thing exactly (original price included some extras because the cat is old) and they said a maximum of �200...
My sister phoned around a few vets and was quoted �210 (although some didn't want to give a quote over the phone -they often did give a maximum price when pushed) and eventually paid �150 because when the vet examined the cat she decided it didn't need some of the extras.
Guess which vet she uses now...
I'm afraid I have to disagree!
Loving the job just doesn't come into it any more - mechanics like cars but they aren't expected to work cheaply. Being a vet is one of the most stressful jobs out there, as the four times population average suicide rate shows.
The vets are the only people who bring money into a practice. The fees have to cover: the nurses wages, the receptionists wages, the animal cares assistants wages, the cost of electricity, phone, internet, heating, property rental and/or maintenance, the cost of the drugs, the cost and maintenance of all the equipment (autoclaves, x-ray machines, processors, in-house blood and biochemistry machines, microscopes, the computer systems, and anaesthetic and monitoring equipment, otoscopes, spectrometers and other diagnostic aids), the cost of animal feed and bedding, the cost of keeping every vet and nurse registered to practice (around �200 each per year), membership fees to veterinary associations and insurance costs. And the vet wages also have to come off this too!
Loving the job just doesn't come into it any more - mechanics like cars but they aren't expected to work cheaply. Being a vet is one of the most stressful jobs out there, as the four times population average suicide rate shows.
The vets are the only people who bring money into a practice. The fees have to cover: the nurses wages, the receptionists wages, the animal cares assistants wages, the cost of electricity, phone, internet, heating, property rental and/or maintenance, the cost of the drugs, the cost and maintenance of all the equipment (autoclaves, x-ray machines, processors, in-house blood and biochemistry machines, microscopes, the computer systems, and anaesthetic and monitoring equipment, otoscopes, spectrometers and other diagnostic aids), the cost of animal feed and bedding, the cost of keeping every vet and nurse registered to practice (around �200 each per year), membership fees to veterinary associations and insurance costs. And the vet wages also have to come off this too!
Continued...
Take for example: an elderly cat dental with three extractions. The cat is admitted by a nurse or vet - this takes fifteen minutes of their time and blocks the use of a consult room for this period. As it's old, a blood sample is recommended to check kidney and liver function before putting the cat under anaesthetic (�25 upwards). The cat is put into a kennel with newspaper, a bed and a litter tray. Later on it is sedated (�30 per cat - the drugs are incredibly expensive - plus the cost of the needles and syringes used), given long acting injections of painkiller and antibiotics (about �8 for both, again including syringes and needles) and then put under general anaesthetic (around �30 per cat - paying for gas and oxygen used, the use of the anaesthetic machine, and a nurse for the duration of the anaesthetic to monitor the cats vital signs). Then the vet carries out the dental - a scale and polish is around 15 to 20 minutes. Extractions take up to ten minutes each. This tme must be paid for. A sterile dental kit is used (which has to be cleaned and resterilised afterwards), along with the scaler and polisher, sterile gloves and face mask for the vet, and a new polishing head. Afterwards the cat is watched while it recovers, before being put back into its bed. A course of antibiotics tablets will be required if teeth were removed, or if the gums were particularly bad (�10). After the cat has gone home the kennel it was in must be disinfected, and this takes time, and disinfectant.
Starting wage for a vet is �18-23K. That includes 2-3 nights on call per week, maybe working one weekend in three. No extras for working out of hours. Average graduate debt ~�20K.
A lot of people don't realise the cost of veterinary treatment because we have the NHS here. Compare the cost of private medical treatment with your local vet and I think you'll find the vet considerably cheaper.
Take for example: an elderly cat dental with three extractions. The cat is admitted by a nurse or vet - this takes fifteen minutes of their time and blocks the use of a consult room for this period. As it's old, a blood sample is recommended to check kidney and liver function before putting the cat under anaesthetic (�25 upwards). The cat is put into a kennel with newspaper, a bed and a litter tray. Later on it is sedated (�30 per cat - the drugs are incredibly expensive - plus the cost of the needles and syringes used), given long acting injections of painkiller and antibiotics (about �8 for both, again including syringes and needles) and then put under general anaesthetic (around �30 per cat - paying for gas and oxygen used, the use of the anaesthetic machine, and a nurse for the duration of the anaesthetic to monitor the cats vital signs). Then the vet carries out the dental - a scale and polish is around 15 to 20 minutes. Extractions take up to ten minutes each. This tme must be paid for. A sterile dental kit is used (which has to be cleaned and resterilised afterwards), along with the scaler and polisher, sterile gloves and face mask for the vet, and a new polishing head. Afterwards the cat is watched while it recovers, before being put back into its bed. A course of antibiotics tablets will be required if teeth were removed, or if the gums were particularly bad (�10). After the cat has gone home the kennel it was in must be disinfected, and this takes time, and disinfectant.
Starting wage for a vet is �18-23K. That includes 2-3 nights on call per week, maybe working one weekend in three. No extras for working out of hours. Average graduate debt ~�20K.
A lot of people don't realise the cost of veterinary treatment because we have the NHS here. Compare the cost of private medical treatment with your local vet and I think you'll find the vet considerably cheaper.
I have always found my vets to be proficient and caring. Fees do seem expensive but that is because of the high standard of training, care and technology required. I have never begrudged a penny.
For those who cannot pay, the PDSA offer a tremendous service but expect some contribution if you can afford it.
There is also Pet Insurance available but as abers have found in the past cover and premiums do not always seem reasonable.
For those who cannot pay, the PDSA offer a tremendous service but expect some contribution if you can afford it.
There is also Pet Insurance available but as abers have found in the past cover and premiums do not always seem reasonable.
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