Anyone paying a fortune for veterinary medicine?

[Phil Pascoe]

Watch Rip Off Britain at 9.15am (near the beginning) this morning on BBC1.
Have you noticed the sign at your vet's? I hadn't. You can thank me later.

 

[Glynne]

Your vet may also be charging you a fortune for medication you can buy over the counter!
Fortunately my wife (who used to be a nursing sister) recognised the medication the vet wanted to charge us for and knew you could get it from Boots over the counter at a much cheaper price. There was a slight hiccup as I was too honest when asked who it was for and Boots refused to sell it to me for animal use. My wife went in a bit later and said the medication was for me and got it no problem. Never knew I could do a Black Lab impression!

 

[transatlantic]

My mum is having a very hard time with the price of flea treatment at the moment.

I think the pricing system by veterinary practices is very broken at the moment! .. I believe the insurance companies are to blame for this. I think more and more people are leaning more towards animal insurance as it's initially quite practical. Which then means the vets can charge what they like, which then increases your insurance premium. Repeat.

It becomes a real problem when your pets become much older and the insurance premiums become too rediculous to even consider.

 

[thetyreman]

I don't watch TV lol would rather work on dovetails instead

 

[Phil Pascoe]

What are you doing here, then?

 

[MattRoberts]

I'd love to be able to get advocate for less than the £50 they charge at the vets!

 

[RobinBHM]

Our local vet is now offering prinovox which was a bit cheaper than advocate if buying a quantity.

I dont like dosing our dog with advocate every month, especially as with a small dog, it ends up in the same place each time, but the risk of lungworm / heartworm is too great.

Lymes disease from ticks sounds very nasty and for dogs alabama rot seems to be spreading around the UK

I believe it should be possible to ask a vet for a prescription and then order online, although Ive not tried this -I cant see vets being very keen to do this, unless they charge a fortune for a prescription and therefore stopping any savings to be made.

The other annoying thing, is that pet insurance companies usually insist on an annual vaccination, which means in some cases animals end up with unnecessary dosage with possible long term implications for health, apart from the cost.

There seems to be more

 

[Gerry]

I had my Spaniel at the vets last night for conjunctivitis
£25 just for the examination
£5 for some dye she put in the eye
£15 for some drops
£30 for some anti inflamatory/pain killer solution

I also picked up some prinovox for the three dogs.

Total charge was £103

Gerry

 

[MattRoberts]

You're lucky - if I say hello to my vet she charges me £35

 

[Phil Pascoe]

"I believe it should be possible to ask a vet for a prescription and then order online, although I've not tried this -I can't see vets being very keen to do this, unless they charge a fortune for a prescription and therefore stopping any savings to be made."

Take ten minutes and watch the programme, Robin.

 

[woodpig]

For some time now I've been of the opinion that they're in danger of putting themselves out of business. They said on tv that vets fees had doubled in recent years, this doesn't surprise me at all. Shame most folks wages haven't doubled as well. We would love to get a dog when our beloved cats pass but to be honest I don't think we'd be able to afford the fees they charge. I wonder how many other people have or will be put off buying another pet due to vets fees? It's a shame really as the time that many folks most appreciate the company of a pet is in retirement when many are least able to afford it. It was interesting that on that programme one vet charges £15 just to write out a prescription, very expensive paper huh.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

The one I gave up using because she was too expensive bought her daughter a £30,000 horse box/truck ... and the £30,000 horse to go in it.

 

[transatlantic]

Thing is, at least in my experience around where I live, they all seem to be expensive and not that busy. You'd have thought someone would catch on and charge reasonable prices and making a killing due to demand.

As for the written prescription thing, we've tried that and it's not often you save anything.

 

[stuartpaul]

"I believe it should be possible to ask a vet for a prescription and then order online, although I've not tried this -I can't see vets being very keen to do this, unless they charge a fortune for a prescription and therefore stopping any savings to be made."

Take ten minutes and watch the programme, Robin.

One of our mutts is on HRT and the initial course of tablets was over £50.

I found much cheaper tablets on line but needed the prescription which cost me £18 (I still save on the tablets though). When I asked why it was so expensive I was told it was their standard charge. I asked again why it was so expensive and was told it was their standard charge (can you see where this is going? ). I asked again and I could tell the vet was getting a bit impatient with me and at that stage my darling wife gently steered me out but I managed to ask over my shoulder if he'd answer the question that I asked and not just BS me!

Apparently I'm not allowed to go and bet the repeat prescription for some reason!

Yes, - I find vet charges a bit on the steep side!

 

[Claymore]

........

 

[bugbear]

it cost our insurance £3000 to fit a titanium knee joint

No wonder the premiums are going up. Replacement joints for sodding dogs!

The world has gone mad.

BugBear (farmer's son)

 

[doctor Bob]

Your vet may also be charging you a fortune for medication you can buy over the counter!
Fortunately my wife (who used to be a nursing sister) recognised the medication the vet wanted to charge us for and knew you could get it from Boots over the counter at a much cheaper price. There was a slight hiccup as I was too honest when asked who it was for and Boots refused to sell it to me for animal use. My wife went in a bit later and said the medication was for me and got it no problem. Never knew I could do a Black Lab impression!

Let me guess, eye cream............ same happened to me, boots are dogist!!!

 

[Claymore]

..........

 

[ColeyS1]

I'm sure my tesco pet insurance is £12 a month. Got me wondering now what's covered by paying 90 a month ? - or perhaps what aren't I covered for.
90 quid a month is almost worth taking a gamble and just saving the money in a pot

Coley

 

[Claymore]

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