For Mups. Vets.

[Raven]

Bit late for myself and Dageus but good news for you..... Hopefully.

BBC News - Vet prescription fees to be capped under rule changes - BBC News
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqzjz2gx18ggo

[Dextrous63]

Love the bit where it said competitions "watchdog". 🙂

Mind you, I suspect that they'll cover potential losses by adding a few quid onto their standard charges so everyone chips in to the shortfall.

Well intentioned policy though.

[Alex]

At last vet's fees are being looked at. 
I hope they turn their attention to pet insurance costs next. 

[Dextrous63]

It's more the mark-up for prescriptions.  I have to get my cat some meds twice a year.  Costs me circa £36 each time, delivered from online store.  If I bought it from the vet, they'd charge me £50.

Identical product as there's only one manufacturer of it.

[Mups]

Bit late for myself and Dageus but good news for you..... Hopefully.

BBC News - Vet prescription fees to be capped under rule changes - BBC News
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqzjz2gx18ggo

Raven,  thanks very much for letting me know about this.   
I have been hearing bits about this on the news on the radio,  and there's been bits about it  on the telly too. 

I don't think locking prescription charges is going anywhere near far enough though.
As that woman on the link said - they will just up the charges on other things,  like consultations and meds  instead.

They were saying on the radio just today, how many elderly pets are being dumped on animal rescues now,  because owners cannot afford their care as they age.   I think that is so, so sad to abandon them in their old age.

I am inclined to believe its all these 'chain store' vets who have caused this.   They are buying up every practice they can lay their hands on, and their huge bulk orders with the drug companies give them enormous buying power, gaining big discounts because of their bulk orders.   But they then still keep upping their fees to clients,  so are making more and more profit.    I've heard people say they never see the same vet twice too,  so they never get to know your animal like smaller practices.
They are also buying up every pet cemetery and crematorium they can get their hands on too,  so are monopolising that market now as well.

I will stick with my vets as they are about the only independent practice I know of around here,  although when Liffey was first diagnosed with her Cushings disease about 5 years ago  they wanted somewhere around £180- (ish) for her medications (each month),      but I found it on a reputable veterinary pharmacy for around £120,  so asked for a prescription to get it myself.
Even the prescriptions used to be £10  which covered each monthly repeat for 6 months.   
Nowadays it is £21  and only for 3 months supply.  

But what can we do?    When you love your animals,  you have to find a way.

Thanks again for thinking of me though, Raven.  


Mine also show all their prices on their website.   
In all fairness though,  I don't see how they can say exactly how much to say . . . spay a bitch for an example,  when general anaesthetics  usually cost more according to the dog's weight,  so in theory,  a Great Dane or Mastiff  should cost a lot more than say . .   a Chihuahua!