The cost of veterinary treatment

[lankeela]

Just picked up my thirteen and a half year old from the vets. He had a lump come up on his shoulder which started off looking like a wart. Last week he managed to scratch it with his back foot and knock the top off. It was very red and nasty (looked like a sucked fruit pastille) so ended up with antibiotics as it was infected. Today he had the lump removed, all very clean and nothing sinister thank dog, but the cost was just under £200. I don't insure my dogs (I have six) but this is the first treatment for many years that has cost anything more than would have been under the excess. I do wonder though how some people afford vets treatment and how many dogs get put down rather than pay. Thank dog for credit cards!

[Count-A-Strong]

lankeela you were very empathetic towards my recent troubles with Zac (who seems 100% better BTW) so I hope your daog is fighting fit again very soon.
Vet's bills are a bit of a shocker aren't they. Like you, we have no insurance and for a weeks worth of tablets and 2 visits to the vets it was £100!

[wolf63]

I have insurance and with wee Frankie being diagnosed with Feline Asthma am glad that I have it.

Our Vet has just introduced consultation fees, I have no problem - when you take your furry friend to the vet for more drugs for a chronic condition they had only been charging for the drugs and not for their time. They usually do a mini- MOT when you are there.

They charge £10 for a prescription - which is not too bad but not covered by the insurance.

I suppose it boils down to the fact that the vets are becoming more high-tech and some of the machines that they use must cost a fortune - so if we want the new technology then we have to pay our pennies.

Lankeela - do you know the laws governing prescriptions? I haven't had Frankie at the vet since February 2010 but he is still on regular treatment for an inhaler. Does he have to be seen by the vet every so often? His inhaler will run out soon and I am not well enough to lug him to the vet.

Susan

[arwyn]

I have insurance but a friend of mine did'nt and her dog had a growth, she put off taking him to the vet for a long time. when she did take him, the vet said the dog needed to be put to sleep (he was 16 years old). afterwards the vet said "had you come sooner we could have saved him" it cost her £80 to have him put to sleep.

[linedancer16]

I adopted my dog when she was ten on a special scheme at my local RSPCA to encourage people to adopt older animals. I pay £5 per month to the branch and for that I get consultations with the vet at the animal centre clinic for £5 and any medication needed at cost price.Also senior dry food at cost price.They cant do operations or emergency treatment but for that certain local vets help the scheme and give members 20% discount. Its a very good scheme and really helps with costs.

[237SJ]

I think vet`s fees increased alongside the increase in the popularity of pet insurance to be honest. My neighbour was on some sort of income support and she used to take the cat to the PDSA who were very good. I guess that`s how people with no money manage to cope.

[Count-A-Strong]

linedancer - my Zac would like her! she has the same pointy markings on her black bits. sounds like a fantastic scheme!

[linedancer16]

Thanks Count- A- Strong! I'll put in a good word for Zac! Is he a Border Collie too? Sally is 13 now and has arthritis in her back legs but still enjoys a run in the fields (well more of a trot!) It is a very good scheme for people willing to take on an older dog as many of them get overlooked because of the possible expense.

[woofgang]

Dogs need to be seen every six months to continue to receive prescription meds from a vet, That's the law. My vet is quite relaxed about providing a repeat just before the six months runs out as they understand that my boys hate the vet,

[jules77]

I have three policies, which cost more per month than our joint BUPA policy. I feel it gives me peace of mind but I am probably out of pocket now, although I have had some rather expensive tests and emergency ops in years gone by. TBH I would rather not have to claim than the dogs be poorly. At least I know that I dont have to worry if they need anything above and beyond the excess.

[ruthann58]

cassies insurance is renewable on the 23 of this month as she is now 9 it has come in at over £32 amonth its nearly £400 for the year i must admit i am debating renewing it

[boxtops]

My cats' insurance costs more than £200 per cat per year now, as they get older - but Rover's claims in the first three months of his policy have already come to more than his premium less excess. IMO, worth it - his tablets alone cost me £30 a month.

[divegirl]

I too have 6 dogs but only my Danes [tow of them] are insured....and I thank God for that! My bitch has HD and a dodgy front leg too, would have cost me thousands by now and my boy, the accident prone one has been attacked once and then a few months back managed to nearly cut his foot off on some glass in the forest....total bill for that £1997.00....eeeekkkkk!

Lisa x

[divegirl]

obviously meant two not tow!!!!!

[joanne]

My cat was ill so i phoned the vet to come out to him,i was told £85 was the call out fee,thats before any treatment.He had to be put to sleep unfortunatly,but it was kinder to be at home than the smell etc.at the vets,We are devastated.

[boxtops]

Joanne - so sorry to hear that. Thinking of you ♥

[JonnyBoy12]

Did you hear about the dyslexic, agnostic insomniac?

He stayed up all night wondering if there was a Dog!


Sorry to make light of your plight, but really have nothing to add to these previous posts.

[lankeela]

Nothing wrong with a bit of light humour when we are feeling miserable.

[icemaiden]

FACT-Vets are the most profitable small business in the UK.
Says it all really.

[Legseleven]

My collie/lab developed a very inflamed right eye and I decided to treat it myself with some Gentamycin drops I had bought for my sore eye whiie in Spain (fine dust, methinks).
If drops are properly applied, they should not touch the eye at all, and while I know there are many out there who maintain dogs should not have human medication, I bathed her eyes eye with normal saline and used the drops: the inflammation cleared in 24 hours.
I was the one who was stinging, having been charged £50 for a Viacutan pump spray some weeks earlier - it's available online for less than £19.
While I appreciate that vets have costs and overheads, I cannot see how they can justify charging such a price.
However, I would never give my dog ANY internal human medication.