Veterinary fees in the UK

RE: Veterinary fees in the UK

Nicola Cole — Thu, 27 Jan 2022 21:14:52 GMT

Do some insurance companies ‘cap’ how much they’ll pay for a procedure? (If they don’t then surely it’s only a matter of time?! Some ‘cap’ how much they’ll pay for medicines don’t they?)

RE: Veterinary fees in the UK

Lucy Fleming — Thu, 27 Jan 2022 17:22:20 GMT

[quote userid="13196" url="~/001/nonclinical/veterinary-practice-management/f/misc-discussions/30160/veterinary-fees-in-the-uk/235395#235395"]would the insurers be happy to pay out on these very large claims?[/quote]

As long as not a pre-existing condition, seems to not be too much of a problem. Can eat up even quite a large policy limit quite quickly though...and interestingly those don't seem to have increased much (at least on the small animal side of things) while both vet fees and insurance premiums have increased. Pet plan has been at £12,000 for as long as I can remember (at least as long as I have had my two insured with them which is about 9 years). They're also an annual total limit, where a lot of people seem to think they are a "per condition" limit.

RE: Veterinary fees in the UK

Jill Butterworth — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 13:12:08 GMT

Yes, they are known as 'direct claims'. You always have a slight worry the insurance co will try to wriggle out of payment. If really worried, you can submit a pro forma. Some insurance co's do discounts for vets and you can also have high excess cover to lower the premium, which can remove all the small things you can treat yourself.

RE: Veterinary fees in the UK

Stephen Pointing — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 11:53:52 GMT

[quote userid="8858" url="~/001/nonclinical/veterinary-practice-management/f/misc-discussions/30160/veterinary-fees-in-the-uk/235387#235387"] couldn't afford the fees that are being charged[/quote]

I will certainly give serious consideration about getting another dog to replace our current one when I return to the UK. As a matter of interest does taking out pet insurance make a big difference and would the insurers be happy to pay out on these very large claims? One of the reasons we keep our charges so low is because we do not have pet insurance down here nor access to any of the animal charities which might be able to help out. We're lucky that our service is paid for by the government so we only charge enough to cover our consumables and a small amount towards our salaries.

RE: Veterinary fees in the UK

Neil Wheadon — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 11:12:10 GMT

[quote userid="5726" url="~/001/nonclinical/veterinary-practice-management/f/misc-discussions/30160/veterinary-fees-in-the-uk/235385#235385"]Had a client quoted £4000 for a pyo OOH[/quote]

I suspect as a profession we have driven ourselves into a corner

There is a shortage of both OOH and referral vets doing the work. As a result there is plenty of work anyway, so economics say that you can charge what you like. I've just had £5500 estimated for a patella fix (this is more than 2 men replacing our bathroom for 4 days including materials) It's also 1/5 of average yearly wage before tax, do both sides and that's nearly half a years salary, that puts it into context

I have comparisons, in the Bristol area we have a bunch of brilliant orthopaedic roving surgeons who will do it for a 1/5 of that. Practitioners with training are doing these for similar figures.

Until vets start to take on these operations at a local level and in my opinion there is no reason why not, then these prices are simply a reflection of supply and demand

Neil

RE: Veterinary fees in the UK

Jill Butterworth — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 08:31:48 GMT

Surely we have reached a turning point when the vets themselves couldn't afford the fees that are being charged...?

RE: Veterinary fees in the UK

Clive Ansell — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 08:12:52 GMT

[quote userid="3685" url="~/001/nonclinical/veterinary-practice-management/f/misc-discussions/30160/veterinary-fees-in-the-uk/235380#235380"]£5500?! I’m sorry, but how is that even possible? Could they have just misheard?[/quote]

I doubt it. Fairly sensible client who was taken aback by and asked again.

We have had other cases with similar fees, but this is the highest so far.

We had another last Friday night. Dyspnoeic cat with suspected HCM estimated £3-4000 for investigation and weekend hospitalisation. It was pts.

RE: Veterinary fees in the UK

KMurphy — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 05:43:47 GMT

[quote userid="3685" url="~/001/nonclinical/veterinary-practice-management/f/misc-discussions/30160/veterinary-fees-in-the-uk/235380#235380"]Could they have just misheard?[/quote]

Unlikely. Had a client quoted £4000 for a pyo OOH (2yo, otherwise healthy, slim- just unlucky!). I do feel very uneasy about fees like that but I’m just not in a position to do my own on-call.
I believe with staff shortages referral and OOH clinics are simply trying to price people out of treatment. I’ve had daytime referrals refused on a number of occasions by two local referral centres or else quoted up to £8000 for things like possible ex-laps, which to me is as good as refusing.

RE: Veterinary fees in the UK

Nicola Cole — Mon, 24 Jan 2022 22:17:02 GMT

[quote userid="5012" url="~/001/nonclinical/veterinary-practice-management/f/misc-discussions/30160/veterinary-fees-in-the-uk/235368#235368"]Had a client this morning that was quoted £5500 over the weekend for a c-section.[/quote]

£5500?! I’m sorry, but how is that even possible? Could they have just misheard?

RE: Veterinary fees in the UK

Clive Ansell — Mon, 24 Jan 2022 19:17:33 GMT

[quote userid="13196" url="~/001/nonclinical/veterinary-practice-management/f/misc-discussions/30160/veterinary-fees-in-the-uk/235369#235369"]

Clive Ansell said:
quoted £5500 over the weekend for a c-section

And what would you expect to pay for that a) during the week and b) over the weekend?

[/quote]

Where I am at the moment a c-section in the day, straightforward with no complications is around £800 - £1200, depending on size of dog and time taken. OOH, last one i was involved with was about £2000,

[quote userid="13196" url="~/001/nonclinical/veterinary-practice-management/f/misc-discussions/30160/veterinary-fees-in-the-uk/235369#235369"]Reading all your prices I'm beginning to think twice about replacing my old dog when she eventually comes to an end. [/quote]

? but you could treat her yourself

Or have lower/more realistic/pragmatic expectations?

Insurance? although that is becoming so expensive as to be effectively prohibitive, plus the maximum payouts often cover referral fees. One of the nurses I work with, it costs her £200 a month to insure 2 dogs, although admittedly they are a Bulldog and a French Bulldog.

RE: Veterinary fees in the UK

Stephen Pointing — Mon, 24 Jan 2022 16:17:42 GMT

[quote userid="5012" url="~/001/nonclinical/veterinary-practice-management/f/misc-discussions/30160/veterinary-fees-in-the-uk/235368#235368"]quoted £5500 over the weekend for a c-section[/quote]

And what would you expect to pay for that a) during the week and b) over the weekend? Reading all your prices I'm beginning to think twice about replacing my old dog when she eventually comes to an end.

RE: Veterinary fees in the UK

Clive Ansell — Mon, 24 Jan 2022 15:48:04 GMT

Had a client this morning that was quoted £5500 over the weekend for a c-section. They turned it down and took the bitch home, luckily she whelped eventually unaided.

RE: Veterinary fees in the UK

Clive Ansell — Mon, 24 Jan 2022 15:46:08 GMT

[quote userid="2457" url="~/001/nonclinical/veterinary-practice-management/f/misc-discussions/30160/veterinary-fees-in-the-uk/235366#235366"]

Clive Ansell said:
Why? most are not the fault of the vet or the practice, or in fact anyones fault.

Maybe it's already factored into the neutering fee? Not a bad idea tbh - add £10 to every bitch spay so you can avoid the hassle of arguing about cost for the odd one that requires further treatment/surgery?

[/quote]

many different ways to do I guess.

The problems arise when routine neuters have to go to OOH clinics for post op complications. The fees are often more than the original surgery.

I once knew of a case, a £99 bitch spey, and a £1200 OOH bill to replace herniated omentum and resuture the wound.

RE: Veterinary fees in the UK

Gillian Mostyn — Mon, 24 Jan 2022 15:13:38 GMT

[quote userid="5012" url="~/001/nonclinical/veterinary-practice-management/f/misc-discussions/30160/veterinary-fees-in-the-uk/235360#235360"]Why? most are not the fault of the vet or the practice, or in fact anyones fault.[/quote]

I had a quote for a surgery to be done privately years ago - it was inclusive of 'normal' complications.

RE: Veterinary fees in the UK

Clive Ansell — Sun, 23 Jan 2022 18:46:28 GMT

[quote userid="4256" url="~/001/nonclinical/veterinary-practice-management/f/misc-discussions/30160/veterinary-fees-in-the-uk/235340#235340"]we don't charge anything, even meds, for post neutering complications [/quote]

Why? most are not the fault of the vet or the practice, or in fact anyones fault.

All of the practices I routinely work in include two or sometimes three post op checks in with the surgical fee. Anything above that and any meds, dressings, tests are charged. They get very few though.

RE: Veterinary fees in the UK

Stephen Courtney — Fri, 21 Jan 2022 22:24:40 GMT

We are busy AF

£53 per consultation, every consutation - only have one charge

post op consults charged as a fee with every surgery so not added on afterwards

we don't charge anything, even meds, for post neutering complications

Neighbour practices are usually same or more for consult fees

To be honest I'm so busy I we were cheaper I'd probably implode

RE: Veterinary fees in the UK

Clive Ansell — Thu, 20 Jan 2022 18:21:14 GMT

[quote userid="13196" url="~/001/nonclinical/veterinary-practice-management/f/misc-discussions/30160/veterinary-fees-in-the-uk/235312#235312"] inital puppy and kitten vaccinations[/quote]

£55 and £65 for a puppy and kitten primary vaccination course respectively.

[quote userid="13196" url="~/001/nonclinical/veterinary-practice-management/f/misc-discussions/30160/veterinary-fees-in-the-uk/235312#235312"]cat spey, dog castration, cat castration[/quote]

Cat castrate £75

Cat spey £108

Dog castrate £180 <35Kg< £250

In house bloods Comprehensive biochem panel, electrolytes and haematolgy £110

Pre GA bloods £55

External lab work at lab price + VAT + £48 sampling, processing and reporting fee.

RE: Veterinary fees in the UK

Neil Wheadon — Thu, 20 Jan 2022 18:17:56 GMT

[quote userid="5012" url="~/001/nonclinical/veterinary-practice-management/f/misc-discussions/30160/veterinary-fees-in-the-uk/235316#235316"]How do you keep them still in lateral recumbancy and get good diagnostic fully inflated chest rads?[/quote]

You need to pay more than £300

Neil

RE: Veterinary fees in the UK

Clive Ansell — Thu, 20 Jan 2022 18:12:52 GMT

[quote userid="8958" url="~/001/nonclinical/veterinary-practice-management/f/misc-discussions/30160/veterinary-fees-in-the-uk/235314#235314"]you'd get 3 exposures for that without the GA[/quote]

How do you keep them still in lateral recumbancy and get good diagnostic fully inflated chest rads?

RE: Veterinary fees in the UK

Neil Wheadon — Thu, 20 Jan 2022 17:51:42 GMT

[quote userid="5012" url="~/001/nonclinical/veterinary-practice-management/f/misc-discussions/30160/veterinary-fees-in-the-uk/235311#235311"]Most first opinion first consultations are in the region of £45 (Range from £35 to £49 across my regular practices) Not seen any at £50 as yet[/quote][quote userid="5012" url="~/001/nonclinical/veterinary-practice-management/f/misc-discussions/30160/veterinary-fees-in-the-uk/235311#235311"]GA and 3 chest rads £300 - £400 for a medium size dog[/quote]

Come to the Bristol area Over £50 and you'd get 3 exposures for that without the GA

Neil

RE: Veterinary fees in the UK

Thomas Johnson — Thu, 20 Jan 2022 17:51:04 GMT

[quote userid="7269" url="~/001/nonclinical/veterinary-practice-management/f/misc-discussions/30160/veterinary-fees-in-the-uk/235307#235307"]Do SPVS do a fees survey? I can’t quite remember if they only do salary or not. [/quote]

SPVS do a fees survey, but you need to be a member to see the results:

https://spvs.org.uk/spvs-survey/

RE: Veterinary fees in the UK

Stephen Pointing — Thu, 20 Jan 2022 16:12:38 GMT

Thanks Clive. The other procedures which I'd like a bit of info on are as follows: cat spey, dog castration, cat castration, inital puppy and kitten vaccinations and an in the field horse castration. I realise there will be signifcant variations but even a range is useful for comaparitive purposes.

RE: Veterinary fees in the UK

Clive Ansell — Thu, 20 Jan 2022 15:28:24 GMT

Fees vary so much with huge ranges, that giving an average is difficult.

Most first opinion first consultations are in the region of £45 (Range from £35 to £49 across my regular practices) Not seen any at £50 as yet

Cat dentals as discussed on another thread are in the £300-£400 range in the practices I work, but I read they can be as litle as £100 and as much as £1000.

Bitch speys tend to range from £200 - £450 depending on size of dog.

GA and 3 chest rads £300 - £400 for a medium size dog

OOH consults £150-£250, depending on area and time (>after 11pm usually)

RE: Veterinary fees in the UK

Joyce Whitehead — Thu, 20 Jan 2022 13:46:54 GMT

Do SPVS do a fees survey? I can’t quite remember if they only do salary or not.