Vet bills

[MatsyLR]

People need to stop getting dogs that have medical issues from the get go too.

I mean things like bulldogs and pugs have a life expectancy of what 5 years!?

They will continue to exist though until humans stop forcing them into existence. That's not something that is gonna stop unfortunately.
Having a healthy mut mix isn't fashionable! It's better having one with breathing issues, joint problems, bone diseases and a very short life. Pugs look like they love existing.

My 3 year old cat costs 25 per month at the moment on Manypets, nothing wrong with him but boy cats are like double what girls cost to insure. That's already ridiculously expensive and it's only going to get higher and higher.

It's hard to know what kind of cover to get as there's so many variables

 

[Johno please?]

It does all seem a bit mental. We adopted a french bulldog before Christmas and knowing what they can be like for issues I looked at petplan.
£167 a month for their lowest cover was the quote, which of course will only get worse. I just decided we will save the money and have other money around us to cover anything needed ourselves.
Plus there's the admin fee from the vet to deduct for any claim made to add to the expense!

Well they are demented with genetic health problems.

The people breeding those dogs are scum.

 

[cheesyboy]

Vets generally make a loss on large animal work these days. Small animal practicing does subsidize farms

Nah, our horse vet is an actual 'equine vet', so that's how they make their living.

 

[drakioned]

Did I suggest that at any point in my post, or did I say you can ask for prices upfront and decide whether or not to go ahead?

You said that vets will give me prices up front, but this is totally meaningless, maybe they can tell me what an initial consultation will cost, but the bulk of the cost will be dependent on what they find.

You also said, "As owners you need to be able to make judgements about your animal’s welfare and not simply throw money at them to assuage your guilt." No, as an owner, I can make judgements about my wallet's welfare, the animals welfare I have to defer to the vet for the most part because between the two of us, they're the one with the animal welfare training. They can certainly try to tell me quality of life conditions and maybe in some cases that can deteriorate beyond what is reasonable, but for the rest of the time, it's it's not an "animal welfare" decision. Also, where is this "guilt" coming from?

 

[loftie]

One issue is people just don't understand how expensive health-care id in general because they are not exposed to thanks to the NHS. Unfortunately my wife has had major cancer surgery. Here in CH we see the medical bills and pass them on to insurance because there is a co-pay. Totaling the bills is around 200k for the surgeries.

You mention the NHS, this popped up on my YouTube feed (no idea why), junior doctor comparing NHS costs Vs the US. Also has a short bit on his experience in Japan. It gives you an idea of what the NHS costs are.

(Where is CH?)

 

[pastymuncher]

My 3 year old cat costs 25 per month at the moment on Manypets, nothing wrong with him but boy cats are like double what girls cost to insure. That's already ridiculously expensive and it's only going to get higher and higher.

It's hard to know what kind of cover to get as there's so many variables

That's who I am with now for Ozzy and Cleo who will be three on 1st May. Ozzy is £15.34 a month and Cleo is £11.21 a month and both are on the "Complete" plan.

You also said, "As owners you need to be able to make judgements about your animal’s welfare and not simply throw money at them to assuage your guilt." No, as an owner, I can make judgements about my wallet's welfare, the animals welfare I have to defer to the vet for the most part because between the two of us, they're the one with the animal welfare training. They can certainly try to tell me quality of life conditions and maybe in some cases that can deteriorate beyond what is reasonable, but for the rest of the time, it's it's not an "animal welfare" decision. Also, where is this "guilt" coming from?

I have to agree with this. I don't spend my money on them because of guilt, I do it because I love them and they need it. My cat's are a part of my family, there is my wife, me and the three cat's. If they go missing I worry and will walk miles looking for them. They get injured or feel unwell and I worry about them and get them the care that they need until they are better again. Exactly the same as if they were a person. Some will say I am stupid for treating them this way as they are "just a animal" and should be treated as such. I say that I couldn't care less what anybody thinks, my babies mean the world to me and I will do whatever I can to keep them safe and in the best of health and if someone doesn't like that then tough, it's got nothing to do with you. I love them to bits and they love me back. I usually have one of them on my lap, Cleo sleeps on the bed cuddled up with me, Ozzy wakes up from his daytime sleep, claims my lap and goes back to sleep after some cuddles and a brushing and Abby is all over me the minute I walk into the living room. Four years ago we lost Garfield, a cat we took on after his owner abandoned him. Just nine months later we lost Jade who was our first ever cat. Losing the two of them so close together and especially Jade did a real number on me, I am still not over them. My wife couldn't understand what was making me so upset as she said they are only cats. That quickly resulted in a arguement as labelling them as "only cats" suggests that they don't matter or are disposable. Well they do matter to me and they sure as hell aren't disposable. I would take my cats over most humans every time!!

Out vet's practice since they were taken over now charge £25 per prescription if you want to buy the medication elsewhere which can often wipe out any saving.

 

[One More Solo]

You said that vets will give me prices up front, but this is totally meaningless, maybe they can tell me what an initial consultation will cost, but the bulk of the cost will be dependent on what they find.

You also said, "As owners you need to be able to make judgements about your animal’s welfare and not simply throw money at them to assuage your guilt." No, as an owner, I can make judgements about my wallet's welfare, the animals welfare I have to defer to the vet for the most part because between the two of us, they're the one with the animal welfare training. They can certainly try to tell me quality of life conditions and maybe in some cases that can deteriorate beyond what is reasonable, but for the rest of the time, it's it's not an "animal welfare" decision. Also, where is this "guilt" coming from?

I think the biggest challenge is we have a healthcare system which is a) free at the point of use and b) at times prioritises life over quality of life (not least because we don’t have assisted dying). That makes cost decisions, or debating euthanasia, alien concepts in our decision making about treatment.

Vets I have dealt with have never pushed me towards any particular decision with the 80+ animals we’ve looked after over the years. They’ve given us options but ultimately the decision over treatment is one we make in consultation with them balancing all the factors including age, expected outcomes and, yes, cost. If people are deferring that decision to the vet then of course they’re going to do whatever it takes to save the animal because they’re rightly don’t want that on their conscience.

Similarly, if vets aren’t keeping you informed about treatment pathways and likely costs then you need to find a different vet. I’ve never given an animal into their care and received a four figure bill without plenty of communication.

The guilt point is I feel a lot of owners throw exponential sums at treating animals because they’re not prepared to make difficult decisions. We’ve been on both sides of that as pet owners and I know letting go is really hard but putting animals through really invasive treatment with low probability outcomes is cruel.

 

[Semple]

Pro tips:
Vets will give you prices up front if you ask for them.
Vets will prescribe medication for you to buy elsewhere if you ask them to.
You are not obliged to pursue any particular course of treatment. Vets will give you the options and should be prepared to discuss what is best for your animal. As owners you need to be able to make judgements about your animal’s welfare and not simply throw money at them to assuage your guilt.

I actually do get advocate on prescription as I think that works out about £4/5 per pipette versus the vets charging £12-15 a go. Cost of the prescription isn't cheap though.

It's the emergency medication that isn't really viable to source elsewhere that you get stung on. If your pet is in pain and the vets have prescribed something, you're not going to wait a few extra days for your online order to turn up, all whilst your pet is in pain. You just have to suck it up and accept the cost.

 

[One More Solo]

I actually do get advocate on prescription as I think that works out about £4/5 per pipette versus the vets charging £12-15 a go. Cost of the prescription isn't cheap though.

It's the emergency medication that isn't really viable to source elsewhere that you get stung on. If your pet is in pain and the vets have prescribed something, you're not going to wait a few extra days for your online order to turn up, all whilst your pet is in pain. You just have to suck it up and accept the cost.

I’m with you on the emergency medication, some of the costs are ridiculous. Paracetamol >£20 for a course, chloramphenicol >£50 for a thing of eye drops.

I’ll be honest and say there are times where I just buy this stuff OTC and treat myself where it’s a recurring issue.

 

[200sols]

I’m with you on the emergency medication, some of the costs are ridiculous. Paracetamol >£20 for a course, chloramphenicol >£50 for a thing of eye drops.

I’ll be honest and say there are times where I just buy this stuff OTC and treat myself where it’s a recurring issue.

My dog was prescribed paracetamol after surgery. They have to prescribe it rather than just telling you to go and buy it but its the same stuff as humans, basically they add on a charge for the prescription to the medication. Same for chloramphenicol eye drops, same stuff just a lot cheaper over the counter in a pharmacy. No doubt they do add a huge market to the medication as well though and when its something you cant easily buy elsewhere you're kind of stuck.

 

[One More Solo]

My dog was prescribed paracetamol after surgery. They have to prescribe it rather than just telling you to go and buy it but its the same stuff as humans, basically they add on a charge for the prescription to the medication. Same for chloramphenicol eye drops, same stuff just a lot cheaper over the counter in a pharmacy. No doubt they do add a huge market to the medication as well though and when its something you cant easily buy elsewhere you're kind of stuck.

Cocodamol (aka Pardale) is the one that gets me - 38p/tablet when the same medication can be bought for 12p/tablet in a pharmacy. I've no doubt the same private equity businesses that own the vets themselves also own the medicine supply chain so no doubt some double dipping going on.

 

[Freddie1980]

I see Noel Fitzpatrick is flogging Pet Plan these days. In the advert the guy starts crying when Noel returns his dog to him, I commented to my other half 'if he's crying now I wonder how he'll react when Paddy gives him the final bill for the surgery'.

 

[Blackjack Davy]

I could rant for hours about Vet bills, I swear that UK Vets simply prey on us being a nation of animal lovers. They're like modern versions of the stereotype tradesmen from the 1970s and 80s, you know...the *breath through teeth* ooh...I dunno love, looks bad, its gonna costya brigade. They do very little during a consultation or examination and then turn around and say right, thats £300 for the 20min examination, you'll need these 3 tablets and they are £150, so if you go to reception they'll take the £450 off you, thanks bye. *returns to counting gold coins into their pot*

Trouble is most are not independent these days and are owned by venture capitalists etc whose raison d'etre is to print money from customer's bank accounts

 

[Rimsy]

The most frustrating thing to me is that it's clearly not the vets themselves causing this massive inflation in costs.
There's no shortage of news articles about how being a veterinarian is an extremely taxing job and not at all well paid compared to other professions with comparable training.
I've read heart breaking accounts of (distressing)

Spoiler

vets taking their own lives after having to put down one too many animals

.
Where's the money going?

In the vast majority of cases - shareholders. The days of nice little independent family run vet practices is increasingly dying out with most practices being owned by corporates and is the corporates that set the prices for pretty much all procedures - not the vets themselves.

 

[tamzzy]

Where is CH?

My guess would be Switzerland

 

[That Jekka Gal]

I could rant for hours about Vet bills, I swear that UK Vets simply prey on us being a nation of animal lovers. They're like modern versions of the stereotype tradesmen from the 1970s and 80s, you know...the *breath through teeth* ooh...I dunno love, looks bad, its gonna costya brigade. They do very little during a consultation or examination and then turn around and say right, thats £300 for the 20min examination, you'll need these 3 tablets and they are £150, so if you go to reception they'll take the £450 off you, thanks bye. *returns to counting gold coins into their pot*

There’s an inneresting factoid I read somewhere that goes along the lines of:

75% of uk vet practices are all owned by 4 major venture capital companies.

Says it all, really.

 

[Efour]

We had to put a cat down a few months back and the vet charged us for the procedure and the actual deading part ..

It was a simple tooth cleaning but she was super old so a risk.

I said do the x-rays first and if it's the worst we can put her down or decide how to handle it.

They said no well clean her teeth while the x-ray is processing then see what comes up... They finish the tooth cleaning then discovered the huge tumour in her tongue xray causing the issue and recommended putting her down there and then.

Charged us for all 3 parts... I'm like seriously I'm paying 4000kr so you can kill my cat with clean teeth. Rather than wait ten minutes for the x-ray and analysis/opinion.

I paid. I Hate vets. It's highway robbery.
I've heard stories of them ( my vet) charging 1000s of krona and shaming and being emotional manipulative rather than professional and caring.

God knows if they even cleaned those teeth just decided it was ez money.

 

[drakioned]

We had to put a cat down a few months back and the vet charged us for the procedure and the actual deading part ..

It was a simple tooth cleaning but she was super old so a risk.

I said do the x-rays first and if it's the worst we can put her down or decide how to handle it.

They said no well clean her teeth while the x-ray is processing then see what comes up... They finish the tooth cleaning then discovered the huge tumour in her tongue xray causing the issue and recommended putting her down there and then.

Charged us for all 3 parts... I'm like seriously I'm paying 4000kr so you can kill my cat with clean teeth. Rather than wait ten minutes for the x-ray and analysis/opinion.

I paid. I Hate vets. It's highway robbery.
I've heard stories of them ( my vet) charging 1000s of krona and shaming and being emotional manipulative rather than professional and caring.

God knows if they even cleaned those teeth just decided it was ez money.

Why would they even x-ray for a teeth cleaning?

 

[happy_2008]

Its a bit like the dentist, prices are extortionate.

 

[~Divine~Wind~]

They’ve basically made insurance essential to have now. Vet bills have gone crazy.

Sorry to hear about your cat

This unfortunately

I do always say to ppl when they are looking at getting pets to budget for insurance.

We lots one of our cats i think 7 years ago now, 7.4k spent in a year and in the year after she spent almost 6k from her annual allowance in about 4 month on cancer treatment. She was a proper fighter but unfortunatley we lost her due to a stroke

I know for a fact tho had i not had insurance i like many ppl would paid on cc or skinned myself.

I'm currently paying about 100 a month on insurance for 2 cats, one is 15 so is most of the cost and the other only 5 but a randomly so cost a bit more too