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!

[ganesh]

Insurance is a gamble really.I pay £50 per month for my three pets and that's with £70/£90 excess. It is a lot but one necessary operation will cripple you if you haven't got it,and my last dog cost me a fortune when she was on loads of tabs and having consultations in her final years. I actually had insurance then but it was one that didn't cover for life and after a year of treatment I just had to fork out.It's an expensive game!

[Jemisa]

I've told my G/daughters to train to be vets when they grow up, Its a licence to print money.

jem

[arwyn]

The last time I was in my vets I over heard them on the phone, they were chargeing £80 for putting the pet to sleep, then other £80 call out charge. the person on the end of the phone was crying as she thought it was £80 for the lot. as the pet had already been put to sleep she had no choice but pay.

[arwyn]

Jemisa that is a great idea.

[Andyvon]

I'm not wishing to be cynical but those people struggling to pay their vet bills are usually also paying for the vet's BMW, five-bedroomed house and expensive foreign holidays!

I think as Billandhiscat said, there are many vets who are very caring but also many who will psychologically blackmail a distraut owner at a very vulnerable and distressing time. I think that if a vet has the ability to ease an animal's suffering them there is an onus on them to do so without pressurising an owner who really doesn't know where the money will come from.

[Chaffinch]

Hold on.........should you have pets of any sort if you can't afford to pay for their care?

I'd sugest shopping around for insurance, or you'll get "bitten" in the end.

[Andyvon]

There are many people such as pensioners and the sick who have no other companion except their pets Chaffinch. It's recognised that the companionship of an animal is very beneficial to many people who are ill or elderly, and to people in general. The pet improves their lives, health and well-being and almost certainly relieves some burden from the taxpayer with regard to social and medical care they would otherwise have used.

A pet may only be considered unaffordable in light of the very expensive vet bills, which in my opinion have always been inflated to take advantage of an owner's distress. If vets lowered their prices to a more reasonable level then pet ownership wouldn't be so expensive. The focus should be on the vet, not the owner.

[arwyn]

I know someone who cancelled their pet insurance because he had 3 dogs and it was expencive, a few month later 1 of the dogs was ill and it cost him £2,000

[Chaffinch]

Andyvon, Remember vet has many overheads, they have to pay for their premises, their staff, electricity, vehicles for getting to and from farms, equine premises, drugs, courses, cleaners etc etc, they do not get anywhere near 100% of what they charge, and most certainly DO NOT bump up their costs for people in distress. The elderly and anyone else on benifits can use the PDSA and make a donation if they want or can afford it, but they do not have to. Also the PDSA is staffed in the main by volunteer vets.

Insurance is not that expensive for those who can be bothered to shop around, I insure my 4 horses for just under £18.00 per month, and my two dogs for £6.00pcm,. I understand that some cannot afford this, but this is not the Vets fault.

I have always found that, if one of the horses needs a vet they come out at the drop of a hat, on Bank hollidays, weekends and in the middle of the night etc, where else do you get this service, certainly not your Dentist, and how much do they charge?