Vets.

[Raven]

About time vets charges were looked at, they are ridiculous. I don't know how most people can afford them.
I know there's Pet Insurance but that's a right royal rip off, only any good while the animal is young, one it starts to age the monthly payment rockets and limits are introduced.
When Dageus's reached £50 a month I refused and put £10 away every week, but not everyone can do that.
I see people older than myself so lonely and would love an older dog or cat from a rescue but can't have one because of vet bills. It would have been good for both the animal and the person.

BBC News - Vets may face caps on charges for prescriptions and cremations - BBC News
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c985617r7ejo

[muddy]

The fact is that most vets are francises . Ie George vets
Owned I suppose by big companies
I agree they are exhorbitant
They won't give even ( sell ) a repeat prescription without a four month consultation
The drugs used are very expensive .
Unlike the drugs on the NHS they are not subsidised .
My dogs insurance goes up every year .
This year it had gone up so much we rang twice  to argue the case .
First we pressed the existing customer button .
After half an hour in the queue I gave up ( this is an obvious ploy )
Mr m rang up next he pressed the 'thinking of leaving ' us button .
This worked much quicker
He said we can't afford it .
They immediately reduced it .
It's still expensive £45 a month and has an excess of £250
It doesn't cover his meds ( librela at £50 it's a monthly injection ) I buy when I go to Spain and give the injection myself .
Other various medications s he has arthritis and hip displaysia .( he was a young rescue dog when we got him you can't tell these things are going to happen )
The insurance is really for the very big things ie accident
Although any operation costs thousands .
I don't know how people do afford it .
I watch supervet and assume they must take out a mortgage .

My dog is nine and things can only get worse .

I agree it's a shame about older people and older animals .
Perhaps they could foster dogs temporarily ?
Although that is disruptive for older dogs too.

I was very tempted to take on a horse this week .
It was old and the family could not afford to keep it and were afraid it might  get sold for meat .
They appealed  on FB for someone to take it but when I rang there was no answer and the post  has been taken down ( they did get some adverse comments ) or maybe they found it a home -.
 ( or maybe someone up there was saying are you completely mad ? )

Our old friends are like us they get old and infirm
I think about this a lot .

[Alex]

I agree it's time vets fees were looked at, no wonder they can retire early - a bit like dentists.

My grand-dogs are 10 and 9 my son pays an absolute fortune for their insurance, as you say the premiums go up every year.

[Mups]

I heard about this just today, Raven,  but I won't get too excited yet as they are only 'thinking' about price capping,  and we also don't know what they price cap would be set if they did ever bring this in.

I would think any pet owner would agree this should have been done a long time ago,  and this is another reason why some owners don't take their animals for treatment when they need it,  and also why so many sick animals are just dumped.

My vet charges £50  (all but 5p),  just to walk in the door for a short consultation.
And exactly the same surgical op  can cost very different in different parts of the country.  Why?

One of my dogs has to have medication twice daily.  The capsules for her cost me £115 +  each month.
If I had bought them from the vet, they wanted nearer £200 p.m.!!    So I asked them for a repeat prescription and buy the drugs online from a veterinary pharmacy I know.

My lovely old vet who retired used to charge me £10 for a repeat prescription, and it covered 6 monthly repeats.
Now,  I am charged £25  and it is only for 3 months repeat.  PLUS, they have decided she also needs a blood test every 6 months now too which is - give or take a bit  - another £100 for the blood!

It really is crippling.  If my girl was in pain, or not enjoying life any more, I know what must be done,  but while she is happy and playful and still enjoys going out etc,  I can't do that to her,  but it has been a struggle, as she has been on these meds for over 3 years now.

These people who are buying up all the veterinary practices, cemeteries, and pet crems now,  are a huge concern.  Because of their sheer size, they have very good buying power from the drug companies,  yet the big discounts they get are not passed on to the customer,  so they make even more dosh.
My vet is one of the few 'independent'  Vets still around though,  but they are also  expensive, and its a worry when you need their help.

Most dog insurances shoot up and up once a dog gets to 8 yrs old,  but this probably also is according to breed.

We will have to just wait and see what, if anything,  happens.

[GrannyMac]

One of my son's dogs needed an op a few weeks ago, with regular visits two or three times a week to change her dressings.  They have insurance, but that only covers a %.  I know their costs ran into four figures.  Their other dog is a rescue, she's now on meds for a permanent condition, as is the cat.  I don't ask. 

[Scrumpy]

It all makes for sad reading.. 
Some discard their pets when they can no longer afford the upkeep..
So many stupid people bought pets during covid .. giving them or their children something to focus on and relieve the boredom.. I wonder how many still have them.. !!
Heartbreaking..

[Raven]

My vet charges £50  (all but 5p),  just to walk in the door for a short consultation.

Our vet was also charging £50 at the surgery just to look at the animal, but when it came time to let him go I knew there was no way I could have taken him there. I asked the vets reception to get him to come here, she said ok and promptly charged me £175 for a home visit, I almost passed out on the spot, I couldn't believe what she said. That didn't include the injection or the cremation, The end bill was far higher than I'd bargained for. That alone was enough to stop me getting another dog later on, I fumed over it for months, am still pi**ed in all honesty.

Do you ever watch The Highland Vet on the Telly? That's our vet based in Thurso. I know them all quite well with them coming to the farm over the years. My pal Jane's daughter is married to one of the vets.

https://youtu.be/Exj8WU6YBzk?si=jSus186zX-SIXnf6

[Diasi]

It's a constant worry & although I can cope at present, if needs be I'll take equity release to make sure I always have the funds for the cats.

I'm in an odd situation whereby I own a share of a property in Cambridgeshire (via my late wife) which could buy another house where I live but it's the subject of a Deed of Trust which means her waste-of-space mother can live in the house until she either dies or goes into long term care.

Personally I prefer the first option, as would my wife were she still with me.

[Mups]

I know what you mean about the costs, Raven.  But there is nothing much we can do about it.
Trouble is,  they know full well most people will do anything for their beloved pets.

Some costs are also determined by the dog's weight too.  So the bigger the dog, the more expensive anaesthetic required.    And if they have to stay in overnight . . .  well you might just  as well give them your bank card and be done with!

My Gertie, is only small.  Some cats would be bigger than her.
Anyway, when she was younger she had a very bad tummy and was passing blood, so I took her in.
They kept her in overnight on a drip.     

Late next day my favourite man, John, phoned me and said -  "Gertie chewed through her drip last night, so we put another one in.    She chewed through that one as well!  She had now chewed through THREE drips,  so if she is well enough to do that,  she is well enough to go home!  You can come and collect her."
Little monkey she is!  Can't remember what that bill came to now,  but it made my eyes water.