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Girlfriend took my dog to vets the other day, she (the dog) had a tooth infection. She was told she needed antibiotics and was handed them by receptionist as she walked out the door. no mention of what they’d cost, or fact there was always option to get prescription and go online to buy them
anyways, I called up today to pay the bill. 40 quid for 12 tablets, I can get them next day delivered online for 12 quid
surely the vet has an obligation to make people aware of their options in this scenario, as they are pretty much taking the pee pee at that price
Our vet did that, our cat needs a daily laxative due to a bowel issue.
Here's the prescription, but it's quite expensive. It's basically the same as this human laxative, you can get those loads cheaper from the chemist, just change the dose to this.
Can't fault ours with it
Unfortunately vets now have an obligation to keep shareholders happy, not customers.
Fortunately not ALL vets (yet). Ours is still independent, good and fairly-priced.
Tbf if they want to charge £40 quid then that’s their prerogative, but they should have an obligation to make the owners aware of their options.
it’s blatant profiteering and taking advantage of owners worried about their pets health, which is wrong on both levels.
there doesn’t even appear to be any kind of ombudsman to complain
It's a learning experience, now you know to ask for a prescription. Be warned, they will charge you for it though so you don't save as much as you think!
I have to get an ongoing prescription from the vet and buy it at a pharmacy, after a year or so I realised there is a different drug that does the same thing for a fraction of the price, he was kind enough to switch the drug and now I buy 6 months at a time online.
Annoyingly my vet now charges over £60 just for the consult!!!!
Your vet can issue you a prescription (at a cost) which you can use to purchase the drugs from elsewhere.
We do of course treat animals for far more things than ever. And many vet practices put local NHS surgeries to shame with the kit and skills they have.
Back in the 70's you took Tiddles to the vets to be put down and picked up Tiddles 2 on the way home.
Keep in mind what prices would be like for us humans if not for the nhs. Which is why in places like the US, you get something nasty, its more a case of go and die at home as the cost to fix you is extremely high.
How much of that £40 is for the prescription and how much is for the drugs?
Its really frustrating as you can buy the drugs online but if the prescription cost is the significant element of the charge then you won't save much.
Don't get me started on vets. I've just changed ours to an independent after my vet failing us with bad blood tests and costing us a fortune for an emergency operation after offering to put the dog down because of the results. The costs are getting scary these days.
The costs are fine and not much different to what it costs when you use the NHS (you just don't see the costs when using NHS but maybe they should be printed off for everyone each time they use it so they have a better understanding)
A vet needs buildings, equipment, staff etc, etc,. Not sure why people feel that 'just' because it is an animal being treated it should be cheap.
You cannot get them next day online for £12 because you need a vet prescription, for which you will be charged £20.
Honestly though, I'd suck it up for £40, but for long term repeat prescriptions you save a lot.
Everything's cheaper on the Internet, everything!
Long term, then yes, on-line may be better with a prescription. We have 3 cats with Pet's 4 Vets as the annual vaccination 'offer' was well worth it (£100 Vac for life). These 3 are insured.
One cat, who we've had longer has health issues (rescue), so not insured, but I binned the Vets off a year ago as they went corporate after the owner retired - refused to supply my cat with a specific vaccination he'd had previously due to his condition - as it wasn't the one they did. I'd been paying upfront for it. They also wouldn't back date any flea treatments if you hadn't been able to go in every couple of months to collect it (10 mile round trip) which I'd paid for with a monthly subscription - but 'borrowed' from the other cat's supply.
I've had no issues with the 'corporate' Vets 4 Pets at all.
Why don’t you ask how much the cost will be before leaving or settle the bill before leaving?
It costs a lot to train as a vet, pay for staff, the equipment, the items and running costs all need to be paid some how.
I use an independently owned vet practice, they’re excellent and costs reasonable. However, it still was an irk pay £12 for charcoal solution that I use to prescribe at work.
It’s basically the same as this human laxative, you can get those loads cheaper from the chemist.
same with the anti histamine my gf needs for her dog.
Some of our insurance claims were rejected as the vets had over 100% mark-up on drug costs.
This is the referral/specialist vets so not your high street chain place.
It costs a lot to train as a vet, pay for staff, the equipment, the items and running costs all need to be paid some how.
Perhaps, but there is also a lot of blatant profiteering going on.
Why don’t you ask how much the cost will be before leaving or settle the bill before leaving?
I would have if I’d been there
It costs a lot to train as a vet, pay for staff, the equipment, the items and running costs all need to be paid some how
and so they should be able to charge what they like. I have no issue with that but they surely have an obligation to tell you the costs and be the alternative options available
You cannot get them next day online for £12 because you need a vet prescription, for which you will be charged £20.
if that’s the case that again is taking the piss. It takes about 15 minutes max for a check up and cost 40 quid. To not include the cost of writing the prescription in that is ridiculous
As for there being no rich vets. Well someone must be making some money out of it as last year alone my cat and dog ran up vet fees of 2.5k on various scans and overnight stays. Luckily I was insured.
"Never met a rich vet. If they didn’t price drugs up they’d need to increase consultancy charges to make up the shortfall."
I know a rich vet, used to be an Indie and sold out to a corporate for 7 figures. (2 Practices and large animal call outs). He still works part-time for them and is easily in the higher rate tax bracket.
2 large premium SUV's on the drive, chalet in Les Gets lives in a massive detached house with a stonking garden.
He used to charge us full whack for meds for our dogs now he's not the one making the profit he just sends an amazon link most of the time.
I would have if I’d been there
It’s a general question. Why didn’t your girlfriend ask?
and so they should be able to charge what they like. I have no issue with that but they surely have an obligation to tell you the costs and be the alternative options available
No but they charge to cover costs and make some profit. Customers can also ask, I’ve always been presented the bill before I have left. Could it be someone is not being accurate with what happened?
As above still need to pay for the private prescription, so I guess you can do the maths as to which way is cheaper.
I don't get the complaint.
When you go to McDonalds, would you expect them to tell you that chips , also made from potatoes like theirs are, could be obtained in a larger volume for less cost down at Dave's Plaice fish and chip shop just down the road ? No.
Or get a new TV from Currys and expect them to tell you you can buy the new TV stand from John Lewis or new cables down at Potts ? No.
So why is it different for vets ?
They cost more at the vets for the convenience of getting them right away, with no additional admin or faff on your part, a better chance they are genuine rather than counterfeit (don't pretend for a second that counterfeit drugs don't exist), and because it cross-subsidises the cost of seeing the vet in the 1st place. If the vets (indy ones particularly) don't make the ££ on prescribing, then the consulting fees will have to increase instead. Decide which one you want to cost more. And whether you're happy the animal has another day or two untreated and ill just because you want to save a few quid.
There's a whole lot of bigger consumer problems to sort, like the water companies, gas companies, electricity companies, banks, shit landlords, car dealerships, and a load load more before there's any need to think the attention to beating up vets.
Ultimately having a pet is also a choice. Vets costs need to be considered in that equation.
Said as someone who had to cough up about £12k for cancer treatment for my angel of a Lab last year inc a couple of k in drugs alone. Which I'd do again in a heartbeat if necessary. We made a commitment to him when he was a pup. And if we have to go without holidays.or nice cars etc as a result, or turn the heating down and put a jumper on in winter instead, so be it.
It’s basically the same as this human laxative, you can get those loads cheaper from the chemist.
same with the anti histamine my gf needs for her dog.
Please note: it is illegal for pharmacies to sell products licenced for human use for giving to an animal without a vet prescription. If the pharmacy is knowingly selling you the products for animal use, then they are really quite foolish as if any problems come from the use of that medicine, they will suddenly find they hold all the product liability as they have sold it outside of its licence... and their insurance may well not want to cough up as it's fairly clear-cut negligence making that sale.
If, on the other hand, you're lying about how the medicine is going to be used, then you're not going to have any come back if Tiddles suddenly goes paws up.
The prices are as they are for a reason - a lot of money has to be spent proving that medicines are safe to use in particular animals (varies by species), and the market is obviously limited, so it's only reasonable for the prices to be high to allow some return on that investment. And vet bills are high in general as, as others have said, there is a lot of equipment and expertise present at every consultation, and having that there "just in case" has a cost of its own even if your pet didn't need it this time.
I would suggest having a good think about the legal protections you're throwing away for the sake of a few quid.
£40? Sounds fine.
walking out without asking ‘how much’? Weird.
folks have already run through the potential problems of taking this into your own hands to save a modest amount in the scheme of things care related.
And vet bills are high in general as, as others have said, there is a lot of equipment and expertise present at every consultation, and having that there “just in case” has a cost of its own even if your pet didn’t need it this time.
im not grumbling about the cost of equipment and expertise. As I’ve said the charge a fortune and for those very reasons, and it’s also the reason I shell out the best part of 1800 quid a year on insurance
let’s not pretend that vets rely on expensive medicines to keep the lights on though. 500 quid for an X-ray on my dogs back last year suggests otherwise
as for why my gf didn’t ask the cost. Probably naively thought they’d be about a tenner, and I doubt she’d have even known you can get prescriptions online elsewhere
but as has been pointed out, if they are charging 20 quid on top of the consultation fee to write out a prescription (don’t know if my vet does this or not) then the savings would be minimal anyway
There’s a whole lot of bigger consumer problems to sort, like the water companies, gas companies, electricity companies, banks, shit landlords, car dealerships, and a load load more before there’s any need to think the attention to beating up vets.
apologies, next time I’ll clear it with you on what I should be posting comment on…
My daughter is a vet and she is very definitely not rich! Though partly because she now teaches at a university vet school and volunteers her skills part time for blue cross, so not money motivated.
When she was in practice, she was actually paid very poorly considering the hours she worked and the years to get qualified. Compared to other professions most vets, bar senior partners are not at all well off.
Animals are expensive shocker, I would suggest.
£40, if that includes the consultation fee, take it and run.
Animals are expensive shocker, I would suggest.
As soon as you need to pay for a qualified service in the UK everything is expensive isn't it. Not sure why people expect vets to be cheap just because it is animals. Probably need to redefine what is expensive and why you feel peoples time, running business, buying/renting premises, paying people etc,. should be cheap.
I know they're thin on the ground round these parts, but if anyone's wondering whether small-state government / private healthcare is a good thing, ...
My vet charges me less per hour than I get charged for my car servicing or the last company I had out to blast a blocked drain. Doesn't seem expensive to me.
On the other hand £500 for an X-ray sounds high. Our dog burst her cruciate ligament. The following day the visit to the vet included a consultation. Sedation. X-ray. And further consultation with results. Total bill around £300.
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kerleyFree Member
Animals are expensive shocker, I would suggest.
As soon as you need to pay for a qualified service in the UK everything is expensive isn’t it. Not sure why people expect vets to be cheap just because it is animals. Probably need to redefine what is expensive and why you feel peoples time, running business, buying/renting premises, paying people etc,. should be cheap. ................................................................................................................................................................................................Visit to the vet today,for my `animal, 10 minutes consultation fee- 35 pounds, so 210 per hour, so good to know that covers their costs tho...
Try going for a private medical consultation. Can be £500 per hour. Simple procedure with sedation. £2000
Just for a comparison
if that’s the case that again is taking the piss. It takes about 15 minutes max for a check up and cost 40 quid. To not include the cost of writing the prescription in that is ridiculous
Charging for issuing / signing documents that professional training is required for and which has taken years to become qualified to do and carries significant liabilities if you get it wrong is surely just sensible business practice.
the real question is how is the online pharmacy able to do it so cheap - there’s issues with the quality of some online pharmacy’s for human meds so I a suspect it’s similar with animals - cut throat margins don’t allow much room for a professional pharmacist to say “hang on, that sounds wrong”
last year alone my cat and dog ran up vet fees of 2.5k on various scans and overnight stays. Luckily I was insured.
does your insurance cover this?
However, presumably you wanted your animal to start getting better ASAP? So you wanted it to get the first dose right now, not 24-48h later when drugs-for-dugs.com sent them to you. That means the vet has to carry stock, deal with all the licensing and security issues etc anyway.
I’d be in no way surprised at paying £40 for prescribing, and dispensing a drug.
"It takes about 15 minutes max for a check up and cost 40 quid."
Add in the 10mins after that for cleaning/sanitising the consulting room, writing up notes, etc. Staff costs for the vet, plus the vet nurse, plus reception staff. Then add in liability insurances, etc.
As for using human medication on an animal- say something goes wrong, do you reckon any liability cover would still be in place?
I don’t get the complaint.
When you go to McDonalds, would you expect them to tell you that chips , also made from potatoes like theirs are, could be obtained in a larger volume for less cost down at Dave’s Plaice fish and chip shop just down the road ? No.
Or get a new TV from Currys and expect them to tell you you can buy the new TV stand from John Lewis or new cables down at Potts ? No.
So why is it different for vets ?
Its different as the large vet groups have bought out the majority of independent vets so there is very little competition in the market. In an market, lack of competition is a bad thing.
Rather like the large cooperation restaurants holding the market or electrical giants on TVs.
I got a human medicine first and then a dog one later for my cat over the last couple of weeks 🙂
I'm not paying, it's a rescue animal, so I don't even know the cost (they don't seem unreasonable as vets go, and work very well with the rescue, so no complaints from me).
Well it's in the news that we are paying too much due to lack of competition so it must be true. Vets costs in Europe are so much less in my experience. My pets have all passed away in the last couple of years and I'm really not sure about getting another with the costs in the UK. My local independent was bought by one of the big companies and the costs went up and the service and attitude went down.
We have had pets over 20yrs and for us vets have always been expensive it took a few years and advice from a friend, how cheaper we could get medication.
The £40 the OP paid was for a veterinary consultation and medication so to compare this cost to an online pharmacy supplying only the medication for £12 isn't a fair comparison.
The online pharmacy can't supply the medication without a veterinary prescription. In order to get a veterinary prescription you need to take the animal to a vet for a consultation. So to make it a fair comparison you would need to add the cost of a veterinary consultation and prescription charge onto the £12 for obtaining the medication online.
I think the total cost would likely be very similar whether the medication was obtained directly from the vets or from an online pharmacy.
I got a human medicine first and then a dog one later for my cat over the last couple of weeks
Be very carefull if using human medicine for pets, and pay close attention to any additives or 'filler' ingredients, as well as the active drug dosage...xylitol for example is a sweetner used in some human medications and can be very toxic for pets.
https://sunnyview-vet.com/2016/03/14/xylitol-toxicity-in-cats-dogs/
Last time I went to the dentist's I was in there 10 minutes and it cost £50. I'm going to the vets next time.
The £40 the OP paid was for a veterinary consultation and medication so to compare this cost to an online pharmacy supplying only the medication for £12 isn’t a fair comparison
nope, it was 40 quid for the 15 minute consultation and an additional 40 quid for the medication.
How much would they have charged to write a prescription? Its usually around £20 so you would only have saved around £8 by getting it online - assuming the £12 cost for the medication from the online pharmacy includes VAT and delivery.
Yeah tbh I hadn’t appreciated they charge you 20 quid for a prescription (I’ve not confirmed that with the surgery but it seems the norm) . I suppose my gripe is still well why is the 1 min to issue the prescription not part of the consultation fee? I’ve previously seen them enter the medication requirement into the computer at the end of the consultation and it literally takes them 30 seconds. I struggle to see how they can justify that costing 20 quid
but as it transpires in that report, they can do pretty much what ever they like given it’s a monopoly.
nope, it was 40 quid for the 15 minute consultation and an additional 40 quid for the medication.
and 8 years of university to gain the qualifications (without earning) that allows someone to perform the consultation and prescribe. That outlay needs to be paid back somehow.
The online pharmacy doesn’t have that outlay to take into account.
If you get the medication from the vets they don't have to write out a prescription - they can just charge out the medication and print a label from the computer so this is a relatively quick process. If you want a written prescription the vet has to ensure that all the correct information as required by the Veterinary Medicines Regulations is present on the prescription and the correct wording has been used. If this is incorrect the prescription will likely be rejected by the pharmacist. It takes considerably more time for the vet to do this and check all information is correct then print out and sign the prescription. As it takes more time most vets will charge for issuing a written prescription and I think that is fair.
Whether there is a monopoly or not, people generally massively underestimate / don’t understand the level of costs associated with running something properly medical. They often compare costs to using other services which have a much lower costs.
The built in overhead is massive in comparison to running a shop / plumbers / even an opticians I’d suggest. The overhead costs involved in running a vets room for 10 minutes of patient time when you factor in staying the right side of regulation / indemnity / cross-infection / contaminated waste disposal etc and the staff costs involved in this on top of the actual face to face time are almost certainly much higher than you realise.
^^^This is so true. OP thinks it only takes 30 seconds to type up so is valuing the service on that alone without regard to all the other associated costs and time.