Discussion
I've just come back from the vet with my cat and a much larger than usual bill to go with her.
I'm not going to bother querying after the event, but I was just wondering if anyone who has any recent experience could confirm if they think some of these costs are high or just standard now:
Hospitalisation - £190 per night, plus £36 for a 'late night check' each night as well as some other costs.
X-ray 'simple' - £220 each time.
Faecal analysis - £250
The remaining £1.5k all relates to blood tests and drugs, none of which look that high on their own.
I'm just interested to see if I might be better advised looking for another vet if this recurs or if this type of pricing is standard. I'm in outer London.
I'm not going to bother querying after the event, but I was just wondering if anyone who has any recent experience could confirm if they think some of these costs are high or just standard now:
Hospitalisation - £190 per night, plus £36 for a 'late night check' each night as well as some other costs.
X-ray 'simple' - £220 each time.
Faecal analysis - £250
The remaining £1.5k all relates to blood tests and drugs, none of which look that high on their own.
I'm just interested to see if I might be better advised looking for another vet if this recurs or if this type of pricing is standard. I'm in outer London.
They are all higher costs than where I work but we are Bristol so prob not as much as outer London. All you can do is may be ask for prices at another vet.
The faecal analysis does sound high but it could depend on how extensive the faecal analysis was.
£220 each xray seems steep. One plate (one picture) done conscious with us is about £90
Hope your cat is feeling better.
The faecal analysis does sound high but it could depend on how extensive the faecal analysis was.
£220 each xray seems steep. One plate (one picture) done conscious with us is about £90
Hope your cat is feeling better.
bexVN said:
They are all higher costs than where I work but we are Bristol so prob not as much as outer London. All you can do is may be ask for prices at another vet.
The faecal analysis does sound high but it could depend on how extensive the faecal analysis was.
£220 each xray seems steep. One plate (one picture) done conscious with us is about £90
Hope your cat is feeling better.
She is, thanks, and that is the main thing!The faecal analysis does sound high but it could depend on how extensive the faecal analysis was.
£220 each xray seems steep. One plate (one picture) done conscious with us is about £90
Hope your cat is feeling better.
I think I’ll have a word with the other local vet to see how it compares.
We have been with the current one for years, but have got the impression that they had really started jacking up their prices a few years ago. I haven’t really worried
about moving until now because the bills I’ve been smaller - if they are charging £250 for a service I could have got for £150 elsewhere it is easier to live with than £2,500 instead of £1,500!
smn159 said:
Does pet insurance not cover these sorts of costs?
It does if you have it, although as with all insurances they can be a bit picky about what they pay for.Ours are rescue cats that we adopted when they were older which makes insurance difficult to get.
I was reading a bit about this last night, and the general consensus is that the prices at vets have risen exponentially because they know that insurance companies are footing most of the big bills.
^^Not true for many.
Vets have started charging correctly for services rather than capping costs because insurance helps them do that.
Capping usually causes the vet to be out of pocket especially for trauma cases.
We can also offer a lot more in the way of services. Treatments, specialist care etc etc bt they come at a cost and usually people who have insured pets will go for these gold standard approaches where as those without are less likely to.
That's not to say that some costings seem more than they should be but it is hard to advise blanket costings due to area they are based in, overheads etc etc.
Vets have started charging correctly for services rather than capping costs because insurance helps them do that.
Capping usually causes the vet to be out of pocket especially for trauma cases.
We can also offer a lot more in the way of services. Treatments, specialist care etc etc bt they come at a cost and usually people who have insured pets will go for these gold standard approaches where as those without are less likely to.
That's not to say that some costings seem more than they should be but it is hard to advise blanket costings due to area they are based in, overheads etc etc.
bexVN said:
^^Not true for many.
Vets have started charging correctly for services rather than capping costs because insurance helps them do that.
Capping usually causes the vet to be out of pocket especially for trauma cases.
We can also offer a lot more in the way of services. Treatments, specialist care etc etc bt they come at a cost and usually people who have insured pets will go for these gold standard approaches where as those without are less likely to.
That's not to say that some costings seem more than they should be but it is hard to advise blanket costings due to area they are based in, overheads etc etc.
I guess it depends on the individual practise. As you mentioned above, what I have paid is several times what your practise would charge. Yes, it’s ‘London’, but we’re talking about Surbiton in zone 6, not Knightsbridge.Vets have started charging correctly for services rather than capping costs because insurance helps them do that.
Capping usually causes the vet to be out of pocket especially for trauma cases.
We can also offer a lot more in the way of services. Treatments, specialist care etc etc bt they come at a cost and usually people who have insured pets will go for these gold standard approaches where as those without are less likely to.
That's not to say that some costings seem more than they should be but it is hard to advise blanket costings due to area they are based in, overheads etc etc.
The other difference is I wasn’t offered any options, it was either ‘we do this or we don’t’. Whether that is gold standard or not is another matter, but approaching £250 a night for the hospitalisation seems relatively high.
Thanks for the responses on this. I think it just confirmed my suspicion that I need to find a new vet for future large treatments.
kingston12 said:
bexVN said:
They are all higher costs than where I work but we are Bristol so prob not as much as outer London. All you can do is may be ask for prices at another vet.
The faecal analysis does sound high but it could depend on how extensive the faecal analysis was.
£220 each xray seems steep. One plate (one picture) done conscious with us is about £90
Hope your cat is feeling better.
She is, thanks, and that is the main thing!The faecal analysis does sound high but it could depend on how extensive the faecal analysis was.
£220 each xray seems steep. One plate (one picture) done conscious with us is about £90
Hope your cat is feeling better.
I think I’ll have a word with the other local vet to see how it compares.
We have been with the current one for years, but have got the impression that they had really started jacking up their prices a few years ago. I haven’t really worried
about moving until now because the bills I’ve been smaller - if they are charging £250 for a service I could have got for £150 elsewhere it is easier to live with than £2,500 instead of £1,500!
As I said you are within your right to ask around but it is worth remembering if you trust the vets who see your pets, have a longstanding relationship with them etc and never had cause to complain about services before that the grass isn't always greener and maybe talk to your vets re costs etc as well.
I worked for a vet (one of the few remaining independent vets around) and her prices were higher than many vets around her and we were always very open about that especially to new clients and yet she is busy, popular and has extremely loyal clients. The reason is her client care and service is exceptional (as is the other vets and team she has) all the vets have been there several years and the clients love the continuity and level of care. That is what they are paying for and why they won't change.
smn159 said:
Does pet insurance not cover these sorts of costs?
I have just dropped a claim form in to our vets to try and recoup some of the costs of a lump removal. They charged me £24 to fill their section of the claim form in !BexVN, where in Bristol do you work ? PM me if you'd rather. Not too impressed with our vets at the moment for various reasons and looking at moving.
bexVN said:
Yes I know what you mean!
As I said you are within your right to ask around but it is worth remembering if you trust the vets who see your pets, have a longstanding relationship with them etc and never had cause to complain about services before that the grass isn't always greener and maybe talk to your vets re costs etc as well.
I worked for a vet (one of the few remaining independent vets around) and her prices were higher than many vets around her and we were always very open about that especially to new clients and yet she is busy, popular and has extremely loyal clients. The reason is her client care and service is exceptional (as is the other vets and team she has) all the vets have been there several years and the clients love the continuity and level of care. That is what they are paying for and why they won't change.
The vets we've used for the last 14 years aren't the cheapest in the area, but provide honest, compassionate care. They also know greyhounds well (look after the local racing kennel) which is a big advantage.As I said you are within your right to ask around but it is worth remembering if you trust the vets who see your pets, have a longstanding relationship with them etc and never had cause to complain about services before that the grass isn't always greener and maybe talk to your vets re costs etc as well.
I worked for a vet (one of the few remaining independent vets around) and her prices were higher than many vets around her and we were always very open about that especially to new clients and yet she is busy, popular and has extremely loyal clients. The reason is her client care and service is exceptional (as is the other vets and team she has) all the vets have been there several years and the clients love the continuity and level of care. That is what they are paying for and why they won't change.
Finally, they provide their own out of hours service, rather than contracting it out like many nowadays.
I'm in North London and we've found a much more reasonably priced vet, just by doing some internet research.
Vets are Royal Vet College trained and are experienced.
They charge cost for all medicine. Rates are reasonable and they have happily disagreed with expensive elective surgery suggested elsewhere.
I suggest you look around.
Vets are Royal Vet College trained and are experienced.
They charge cost for all medicine. Rates are reasonable and they have happily disagreed with expensive elective surgery suggested elsewhere.
I suggest you look around.
Edited by rossyl on Wednesday 31st July 06:45
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