Dog vet bill costs

EVH said:
Someone explain pet insurance to me.

Just want something which covers the dog. All this "lifetime" cover versus "time limited" seems needlessly convoluted :confused:
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From what I was reading the other day they aren't allowed to sell as "lifetime" cover, now? Due to several companies offering "lifetime" cover, and then pulling out of the market altogether.

AFAIK, most cover is now 12-month recurring. And once your pet has something that is likely to recurr (liver problem, for example), either your next renewal skyrockets or they flat-out refuse to re-cover, as a "pre-existing" condition.

According to the body that represents insurers, vet's bills have risen some 10-20% in the last few years (hence why some pullled out of the market).

It's becoming like US people healthcare. The vets know that most have insurance, or at least we've reached critical mass of those that do. They now feel free to push up prices as much as they like, knowing that insurers must pay out.

On the consumer end, premiums are going up every year. Many now choose to go without insurance. This also means that many, many pets are not getting the treatment they need, or are being put down.

Vets, on the other hand, are saying that "consumer demand" has led to things like MRI scans for pets, which cost >£1000 for a single scan (this is what vets will tell you is the cost to push the button... makes my 1950s washing machine look super energy efficient...)

P.S. My vet charges >£60 for a consutlation. No treatment, just a basic check-up.
 
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Sparx said:
Hi gents, anyone had experience with vet costs mainly Vets4Pets? We have a 5 month old cocker spaniel pup, we want him neutered for various reasons. More so because he's become a horny git recently. :D

He has a hernia that when we first got him and took him to the vets for a jab, was told will hopefully heal. Also the poor bugger only has 1 ball but will hopefully drop later in life...

Well months later now he's nearly 6 months, took him to vets today for pre-assessment to be neutered. He still only has 1 ball that's dropped, his hernia needs closing as it hasn't healed. So they want to charge us £270 to do the lot! :eek:

£130 neuter
£90 op to close hernia
£50 to find/remove his other ball :o

Yet they do all this in one single op under anaesthesia - is this pricey or what? It sounds like they are just charging me set rates if I was doing the ops separately, feel like they are trying to take us for a mug.
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That is dirt cheap. Make sure the vet has good reviews.
 
Don't get pet insurance, (Or even personal health insurance!)

Look at what insurance costs and put the same into a savings account so you have funds available should you need them. (And a nice egg if you dont :D )

Should the worst happen and your pet (Or you!) has something happen that is treatable, but stupidly expensive, be realistic about it!!

Ultimately, NOLF!
 
FoxEye said:
Vets, on the other hand, are saying that "consumer demand" has led to things like MRI scans for pets, which cost >£1000 for a single scan (this is what vets will tell you is the cost to push the button... makes my 1950s washing machine look super energy efficient...)
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But that MRI machine cost something, as does employing the person to 'press the button' as well as someone to interpret the results and diagnose.
 
The_Abyss said:
But that MRI machine cost something, as does employing the person to 'press the button' as well as someone to interpret the results and diagnose.
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well the human parts of of that process could well become automated in a few years

but yeah the cost of buying the machine in the first place and whatever maintenance/service contract they have to pay for will need to be recouped
 
That's cheap OP.

Spent thousands over the years. (We have 4 dogs) only just before xmas £560. Luckily they are insured by direct line so just got a cheque back for 440 but some bits are covered due to defects at birth. Just have to suck it up.
 
kindai said:
With due respect, what a plonker.

Theres doing right by your animal, and pushing things within reason, but there is a point where you have to just sit back and think, that's too far.
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Yeah it seems stupid if you're being pragmatic, but it's her baby. She's a lovely Dog as well.
 
It is like you've never been to the Vets before.

They have a licence to print money.

Vets and Dentists.
 
FoxEye said:
Vets, on the other hand, are saying that "consumer demand" has led to things like MRI scans for pets, which cost >£1000 for a single scan (this is what vets will tell you is the cost to push the button... makes my 1950s washing machine look super energy efficient...)

P.S. My vet charges >£60 for a consutlation. No treatment, just a basic check-up.
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You do realise how much a MRI scanner costs dont you? Anything from £150k to £1.1 million depending on the model.

How many scans at £1,000 each do you think you need to get your £1.1 million investment back? Plus there is still support staff time and cost.
 
In total we paid in total £3.5k for our cat to have a stomach operation plus intensive care. Don't regret a penny it as she has thrived since. However the one certainty with vets whether the local one on the corner or the specialist centre where she had the op, is that they charge for every teensy little item. As the old cliché goes, no NHS for pets.

We had gambled on not taking out insurance hence had to stump up the cash ourselves. We did take it out for a couple of years after but loaded with so many post-op clauses not worth the paper it was printed on, so we cancelled and went back to taking the risk ourselves.
 
dowie said:
well the human parts of of that process could well become automated in a few years

but yeah the cost of buying the machine in the first place and whatever maintenance/service contract they have to pay for will need to be recouped
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and all the liquid nitrogen, and helium :p
 
Over the past 3 years I've had one mate who had insurance for his dog but it still cost him an extra £5,500 and the dog died a couple of weeks later. He's still paying it off.
My lead guitarists girlfriend had no insurance and her dog cost £8,500 and he died last year.
The cost of owning a pet frightens me.
I'm pretty sure one of our members said he spent £11,000 on his cat.
 
SexyGreyFox said:
Over the past 3 years I've had one mate who had insurance for his dog but it still cost him an extra £5,500 and the dog died a couple of weeks later. He's still paying it off.
My lead guitarists girlfriend had no insurance and her dog cost £8,500 and he died last year.
The cost of owning a pet frightens me.
I'm pretty sure one of our members said he spent £11,000 on his cat.
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That's just absurd.

I have always had pet cats and dogs, but when it comes to spending that kind of money on them the answer is just a flat no.

My animals get regular trips to the vets, are tagged, spayed, neutered etc, but I wouldn't even consider paying thousands for treatment.

We had a trip to the vet before Christmas because the Maine "idiotic PC swear filter cat" decided to spend all day eating tinsel while we were out (£250) said cat was spayed 2 days ago costing another £150 odd.

That's just the normal costs expected with owning a pet, which I pay quite happily as that's what cats do, they eat stuff they shouldn't and they need "doing".

3 or 4 thousand pounds for treatment though? No.
 
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