Vet costs - euthanasia at home
Discussion
We are on the brink of losing the totally loved furry member of family that is Poppy. She's a beautiful 12.5 year Tuxedo cat. About 6 weeks ago we noticed she was drooling. Vet took a couple of teeth out but suspected underlying cancer. Further investigation confirmed the worst...squamous cell carcinoma in the mouth. Although allegedly a slow growing benign cancer, it has grown significantly. But...she still has an interest, goes out, eats and poops. The time will come though when eating becomes difficult.
We contacted our vet today to ask about euthanasia at home. The vets have done very well out of situation and it brings home just how much they charge for things.
Stupidly, we did not ask what they charge to come out, but told us that for euthanasia a vet would be accompanied by a veterinary nurse.
Can someone please explain why they would do this or is it another excuse to charge extra for something that is not necessary? We already feel bereft for such a lovely cat losing many years to cancer, and we are trying to hold it together.
We contacted our vet today to ask about euthanasia at home. The vets have done very well out of situation and it brings home just how much they charge for things.
Stupidly, we did not ask what they charge to come out, but told us that for euthanasia a vet would be accompanied by a veterinary nurse.
Can someone please explain why they would do this or is it another excuse to charge extra for something that is not necessary? We already feel bereft for such a lovely cat losing many years to cancer, and we are trying to hold it together.
I’ve had all my dogs euthanised at home. Only the very first time many years ago did we have the vet and nurse. The other half dozen times over the years it was just the vet. Last time was just over a year ago for my GSD and the cost was around £350ish. We’re about a 20 mile round trip from the practice so probably about 90 mins of professional time.
Where are you?
It can be a bugger getting a vet to come out. I had to ring around a few, and the trauma of this was - well - traumatic.
Anyway, Surrey / Sussex borders - £271 for a cat. (Previously seen.)
I personally think, always have the vet come to the house rather than transport in a noisy smelly box to be killed.
My beloved Jasper went to sleep on my bed, purring like a train, tummy full of rib-eye steak dinner.
ETA: Reading back, I'm not getting the 'vet and nurse' thing. It should be two-stage euthanasia where first they get Methadone plus an anti-emetic intra-muscularly, then, once off with with the fairies, barbiturate into a vein which stops the heart. The vet did it all. Anyone in the SE I could not recommend Eleanor St John highly enough.
It can be a bugger getting a vet to come out. I had to ring around a few, and the trauma of this was - well - traumatic.
Anyway, Surrey / Sussex borders - £271 for a cat. (Previously seen.)
I personally think, always have the vet come to the house rather than transport in a noisy smelly box to be killed.
My beloved Jasper went to sleep on my bed, purring like a train, tummy full of rib-eye steak dinner.
ETA: Reading back, I'm not getting the 'vet and nurse' thing. It should be two-stage euthanasia where first they get Methadone plus an anti-emetic intra-muscularly, then, once off with with the fairies, barbiturate into a vein which stops the heart. The vet did it all. Anyone in the SE I could not recommend Eleanor St John highly enough.
Edited by Mobile Chicane on Tuesday 10th December 01:43
https://www.peacefulpetfarewells.co.uk/prices
Appear to be in your area, £240 for a cat, hope this helps.
Definitely the best option doing it at home, it’s a s
tty time saying farewell to a family pet/member 
Appear to be in your area, £240 for a cat, hope this helps.
Definitely the best option doing it at home, it’s a s
tty time saying farewell to a family pet/member I had to do this in April 2022, the vet charged £158 to come out and administer the coupe de grace.
Not a pleasant experience TBF, she struggled like hell and it was not the peaceful end I thought it might be - she had to have another shot and for some bizarre reason he insisted on shaving her leg which she hated.
In the light of that I'm not sure it's something I would do again but I guess most of the time it goes 'well' if I can use such a term.
PS: we are only 4 miles from the surgery
Not a pleasant experience TBF, she struggled like hell and it was not the peaceful end I thought it might be - she had to have another shot and for some bizarre reason he insisted on shaving her leg which she hated.
In the light of that I'm not sure it's something I would do again but I guess most of the time it goes 'well' if I can use such a term.
PS: we are only 4 miles from the surgery
Yes, it is horrible. We have been through this before but with a very well aged cat - we had her 17 years and was not a kitten then.
Our current furry though - well, as of 2 months ago we would never have dreamt we would be in this situation. The vet bills are astronomical, but you do your best for an animal you love a lot. I do feel aggrieved at vets loading things up though if something is not required.
Our current furry though - well, as of 2 months ago we would never have dreamt we would be in this situation. The vet bills are astronomical, but you do your best for an animal you love a lot. I do feel aggrieved at vets loading things up though if something is not required.
My wife is a vet. Sending a female out to a home/farm (whatever) alone is not a good idea. Policy to always send two.
Yes, vets bills are high but she went to Uni for 5 years to become a vet and had to have straight A's at A Level and appropriate extra curricular activities/work experience just to get onto the course, that's without mentioning the amount of unpaid overtime of hours and annual reading she has to do to stay up to speed with the science. Its an extremely difficult job. Also, if you had to pay a doctor to come out and perform similar, it would be twice as much, bearing in mind that vets are more qualified than doctors.
Yes, vets bills are high but she went to Uni for 5 years to become a vet and had to have straight A's at A Level and appropriate extra curricular activities/work experience just to get onto the course, that's without mentioning the amount of unpaid overtime of hours and annual reading she has to do to stay up to speed with the science. Its an extremely difficult job. Also, if you had to pay a doctor to come out and perform similar, it would be twice as much, bearing in mind that vets are more qualified than doctors.
Used this person for our very old cat last year:
https://www.pallivet.co.uk/
Not the cheapest thing in the world to do, but he went peacefully and with the dignity he deserved at such a grand old age.
Best of luck whatever you decide.
https://www.pallivet.co.uk/
Not the cheapest thing in the world to do, but he went peacefully and with the dignity he deserved at such a grand old age.
Best of luck whatever you decide.
welshjon81 said:
My wife is a vet. Sending a female out to a home/farm (whatever) alone is not a good idea. Policy to always send two.
Yes, vets bills are high but she went to Uni for 5 years to become a vet and had to have straight A's at A Level and appropriate extra curricular activities/work experience just to get onto the course, that's without mentioning the amount of unpaid overtime of hours and annual reading she has to do to stay up to speed with the science. Its an extremely difficult job. Also, if you had to pay a doctor to come out and perform similar, it would be twice as much, bearing in mind that vets are more qualified than doctors.
I certainly appreciate vets. What I have noticed though is more and more being taken over by chains and that seems to have driven up prices.Yes, vets bills are high but she went to Uni for 5 years to become a vet and had to have straight A's at A Level and appropriate extra curricular activities/work experience just to get onto the course, that's without mentioning the amount of unpaid overtime of hours and annual reading she has to do to stay up to speed with the science. Its an extremely difficult job. Also, if you had to pay a doctor to come out and perform similar, it would be twice as much, bearing in mind that vets are more qualified than doctors.
I used to work for a company that made IV infusions, a major supplier to the NHS. 1 litre cost about 45p to make and sold to the NHS at around 50p. We supplied a veterinary wholesaler with same product, but vet label. I took my sister's cat in for treatment and they used our product. Got charged £22 for the same thing. Paying for a vets time and experience, fine. But wow...someone is putting a huge mark up on.
My question is to make sure that we don't get taken advantage of when our guard is low because, it has started to feel that way.
welshjon81 said:
My wife is a vet. Sending a female out to a home/farm (whatever) alone is not a good idea. Policy to always send two.
Yes, vets bills are high but she went to Uni for 5 years to become a vet and had to have straight A's at A Level and appropriate extra curricular activities/work experience just to get onto the course, that's without mentioning the amount of unpaid overtime of hours and annual reading she has to do to stay up to speed with the science. Its an extremely difficult job. Also, if you had to pay a doctor to come out and perform similar, it would be twice as much, bearing in mind that vets are more qualified than doctors.
Vet who comes to our farm is female and she always comes on her own,what sort of farms does your wife visit?Yes, vets bills are high but she went to Uni for 5 years to become a vet and had to have straight A's at A Level and appropriate extra curricular activities/work experience just to get onto the course, that's without mentioning the amount of unpaid overtime of hours and annual reading she has to do to stay up to speed with the science. Its an extremely difficult job. Also, if you had to pay a doctor to come out and perform similar, it would be twice as much, bearing in mind that vets are more qualified than doctors.
It's a highly emotive subject.
Our last cat was pts at home - brought her home after the diagnosis at the vets. She was very ill with cancer & kept slipping in & out of consciousness.
Our current two - unless unconscious on the operating table - will go the same way.
I don't remember the cost & TBH I don't care. Much better than being pushed into a cat box & taken to the vet, both of which they hate.
Our last cat was pts at home - brought her home after the diagnosis at the vets. She was very ill with cancer & kept slipping in & out of consciousness.
Our current two - unless unconscious on the operating table - will go the same way.
I don't remember the cost & TBH I don't care. Much better than being pushed into a cat box & taken to the vet, both of which they hate.
My local vet was charging £80 for a solution for our cat's conjunctivitis. This is 8 years ago.
I found the same stuff at the chemist for a fiver.
One of our cats was hit by a car and in a bad way. Late at night I got her to a free emergency vet who stabilised her. Poor thing was in a bad way, blind and her lower jaw ripped off.
We had insurance so she was moved to another vet who was going to fly over an expert from Belgium.
She was barely alive and the kindest thing would have been to put her down but the vet insisted that she would recover with lots of help and have a good life.
My wife fell for this, as did the kids.
Poor cat had a heart attack and died after a week when she was transported to the South coast for an MRI.
The bill in the end was £7500, which funnily enough, was the same amount as the insurance limit
She was a lovely cat with a kind attitude. Awful way to go
I found the same stuff at the chemist for a fiver.
One of our cats was hit by a car and in a bad way. Late at night I got her to a free emergency vet who stabilised her. Poor thing was in a bad way, blind and her lower jaw ripped off.
We had insurance so she was moved to another vet who was going to fly over an expert from Belgium.
She was barely alive and the kindest thing would have been to put her down but the vet insisted that she would recover with lots of help and have a good life.
My wife fell for this, as did the kids.
Poor cat had a heart attack and died after a week when she was transported to the South coast for an MRI.
The bill in the end was £7500, which funnily enough, was the same amount as the insurance limit
She was a lovely cat with a kind attitude. Awful way to go
That's what I mean. We have to trust a vet and want to. When your pet is poorly, you want to do the right thing. However...there are instances where I feel that trousers are being pulled down. I am feeling that having a cat PTS is unpleasant enough but sense we may being taken advantage off.
At the same time, it would feel unseemly ringing around local vets for a quote. Feel rather torn up.
At the same time, it would feel unseemly ringing around local vets for a quote. Feel rather torn up.
Lotobear said:
I had to do this in April 2022, the vet charged £158 to come out and administer the coupe de grace.
Not a pleasant experience TBF, she struggled like hell and it was not the peaceful end I thought it might be - she had to have another shot and for some bizarre reason he insisted on shaving her leg which she hated.
In the light of that I'm not sure it's something I would do again but I guess most of the time it goes 'well' if I can use such a term.
PS: we are only 4 miles from the surgery
That's shocking to hear. Not a pleasant experience TBF, she struggled like hell and it was not the peaceful end I thought it might be - she had to have another shot and for some bizarre reason he insisted on shaving her leg which she hated.
In the light of that I'm not sure it's something I would do again but I guess most of the time it goes 'well' if I can use such a term.
PS: we are only 4 miles from the surgery
It should be a two-stage process: sedative into the muscle / under skin to relax, then barbiturate into the vein to stop the heart.
Shaving the foreleg is necessary to get at that vein, however at that point they should be off with the fairies on the sedative.
I'd be reporting that vet to their professional body.
We had our local vet come to us, was about £150 in 2021. We didn't want Tiny's last moments going to and being at the vet.
It wasn't nice, he got away from the vet and hid under the table. His leg was shaved and he was given one injection and it was all over
I've since looked online for his brother Snowy and found several specialist mobile vets, who start with a sedative and then the final injection. Luckily Snowy has defied the limited time the vet gave him and has recently turned 20, though on a high dose of steroids.
So whoever you talk to, ask how it's done.
Oh, it was a vet and a nurse that came out.
It wasn't nice, he got away from the vet and hid under the table. His leg was shaved and he was given one injection and it was all over
I've since looked online for his brother Snowy and found several specialist mobile vets, who start with a sedative and then the final injection. Luckily Snowy has defied the limited time the vet gave him and has recently turned 20, though on a high dose of steroids.
So whoever you talk to, ask how it's done.
Oh, it was a vet and a nurse that came out.
Edited by SlimJim16v on Wednesday 11th December 00:24
I paid £550 to have our labrador PTS at home last year.
The cost barely registered if I'm honest. The vet we used specialised in home euthanasia and came highly recommended.
They were absolutely incredible and I was able to take some comfort that my best friend could fall asleep on my lap one last time, surrounded by everything he loved.
The cost barely registered if I'm honest. The vet we used specialised in home euthanasia and came highly recommended.
They were absolutely incredible and I was able to take some comfort that my best friend could fall asleep on my lap one last time, surrounded by everything he loved.
So sorry to hear about your cat, SCCs are miserable.
I am a vet and run a home visit euthanasia service ( https://www.fondfarewellvets.co.uk ). I attend appointments on my own, but some practices will have a safeguarding policy that home visits are always attended by 2 people.
I would certainly be inclined to call and check the price beforehand.
There is a very good website with all things pet loss, including a list of at home euthanasia providers; https://www.theralphsite.com/index.php?idPage=74
There are different was of putting a cat to sleep, some more peaceful than others. Traditionally in practice, the cat would be taken to have a cannula fitted before being brought back to the consult room for the injection. However, cats generally don't like to be messed around with and so I, and most other home visit euthanasia providers, do it a different way.
I always give an injection to relax them, usually a combination of an opioid, a benzodiazepine and an anaesthetic agent. This allows them to drift off to sleep peacefully without any stress. I will usually give the injection into a muscle but this does sting a little. If the cat is not likely to tolerate this without stress then I will first give an injection just under the skin, as this is as close to painless as we can get.
There are also different routes to give the final injection, intravenous requires shaving the leg and ideally placing a cannula. With cats it also works very well just giving it into the peritoneum (tummy) , and is completely painless, but does require a larger volume. If they are completely asleep then into a kidney is also a good option as it is faster / more predictable.
Everyone always thinks that vets charge a fortune, the truth is that it is an expensive business. Most successful vet practices run at a profit of 10-15%, so the VAT you pay is significantly more than the profit for the vets... I almost opened a small clinic a couple of years ago, the cost to open the doors was circa £250k with all the equipment, 1 year's rent etc. I would then have been legally required to be on call 24/7 if I coulnd't find an out of hours provider willing to take it on.
We charge a flat fee of £350 for all home visit euthanasia, it covers 3 hours of my time, drugs, consumables, insurance etc etc. I don't charge less for cats than dogs as I use much more expensive drugs for them, and we felt that at such a difficult time the simplicity of a flat fee was more appropriate.
I am a vet and run a home visit euthanasia service ( https://www.fondfarewellvets.co.uk ). I attend appointments on my own, but some practices will have a safeguarding policy that home visits are always attended by 2 people.
I would certainly be inclined to call and check the price beforehand.
There is a very good website with all things pet loss, including a list of at home euthanasia providers; https://www.theralphsite.com/index.php?idPage=74
There are different was of putting a cat to sleep, some more peaceful than others. Traditionally in practice, the cat would be taken to have a cannula fitted before being brought back to the consult room for the injection. However, cats generally don't like to be messed around with and so I, and most other home visit euthanasia providers, do it a different way.
I always give an injection to relax them, usually a combination of an opioid, a benzodiazepine and an anaesthetic agent. This allows them to drift off to sleep peacefully without any stress. I will usually give the injection into a muscle but this does sting a little. If the cat is not likely to tolerate this without stress then I will first give an injection just under the skin, as this is as close to painless as we can get.
There are also different routes to give the final injection, intravenous requires shaving the leg and ideally placing a cannula. With cats it also works very well just giving it into the peritoneum (tummy) , and is completely painless, but does require a larger volume. If they are completely asleep then into a kidney is also a good option as it is faster / more predictable.
Everyone always thinks that vets charge a fortune, the truth is that it is an expensive business. Most successful vet practices run at a profit of 10-15%, so the VAT you pay is significantly more than the profit for the vets... I almost opened a small clinic a couple of years ago, the cost to open the doors was circa £250k with all the equipment, 1 year's rent etc. I would then have been legally required to be on call 24/7 if I coulnd't find an out of hours provider willing to take it on.
We charge a flat fee of £350 for all home visit euthanasia, it covers 3 hours of my time, drugs, consumables, insurance etc etc. I don't charge less for cats than dogs as I use much more expensive drugs for them, and we felt that at such a difficult time the simplicity of a flat fee was more appropriate.
Edited by jmsgld on Thursday 12th December 23:02
I think it was just over £600 for one of our dogs. Part of that was an "extra" as it was after noon when they turned up.. Of course, the fact we had arranged for 10am did not appear to be an issue to them. But I would still recommend it. Far better for the dog/cat IMHO, the comfort of their own home etc and for our dog we had her watching out in the garden too.
jmsgld said:
So sorry to hear about your cat, SCCs are miserable.
I am a vet and run a home visit euthanasia service (https://www.fondfarewellvets.co.uk/). I attend appointments on my own, but some practices will have a safeguarding policy that home visits are always attended by 2 people.
Nice website. I imagine that “service” would be helpful for many folk. I am a vet and run a home visit euthanasia service (https://www.fondfarewellvets.co.uk/). I attend appointments on my own, but some practices will have a safeguarding policy that home visits are always attended by 2 people.
I also found the people who run my local pet crematorium to have been wonderful and again imagine something that makes the arrangements for that easier would be appreciated.
In both cases it’s likely that, at least the first time, you don’t know what you need till you need it.
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