Should vets be doing this in regards pricing?

RE: Should vets be doing this in regards pricing?

Clive Ansell — Fri, 09 May 2025 21:04:55 GMT

[quote userid="8958" url="~/f/non-clinical-questions/31175/should-vets-be-doing-this-in-regards-pricing"]

Is there a moral/ethical/regulatory reason to put this on a vet practice website?

'compared to £1500 or more in a typical vet practice'

This refers to a 'dental operations'

In a time where the CMA is after the profession, clients are questioning and as a caring profession we are having to deal with this on a daily basis.

I'm being really careful here not to name the place, but what's typical? where does the £1500 come from? I can honestly say that in 20 years of locumming in non corporate and corporate practice, I have never seen a dental go for £1500 in first opinion practice.

I feel I should report it, but too whom? Or am I just a dinovet living in another age?

Neil

[/quote]

I wonder if this clinic, whoever and wherever they are, is based on an American business model?

I have been in touch with my Brother based in the US this week. He has this week taken his dog for dental work at a "dental clinic" rather than his own normal veterinary pracice. He perceived this clinic to be a "specialist clinic" as they only deal with dental work. He has no medical or veterinary training, but is university educated and is no idiot.

Costs are around double or more, than that of a standard first opinion practice. Dental work including 10 extractions, pre and post extraction radiographs, pre op bloods, fluids, local anaesthesia and monocryl came out at $2400 (c£1800).

Business model works like this: Initial "package" is $695 for GA, bloods, radiographs, assessment and descaling, then a telephone call outlining necessary work with associated costs. Massive jump from the initial $695 to the total $2400 for 10 extractions.

Looking at the clinics website, they are staffed by regular DVM's (Equivalent to our M'sRCVS), who as far as I can tell hold no further qualifications or recognition in veterinary dentistry. In fact, in their very small print T&C's it states any complex extractions or endodontics would need to be refered to a board certified specialist.

A better standard of care, or a better standard of marketing?

RE: Should vets be doing this in regards pricing?

David Mills — Sat, 03 May 2025 22:02:23 GMT

I dunno, it's almost like people should probably find out the true context before talking about Trading Standards etc. Just a thought.

RE: Should vets be doing this in regards pricing?

Ben Walker — Sat, 03 May 2025 13:53:24 GMT

[quote userid="11308" url="~/f/non-clinical-questions/31175/should-vets-be-doing-this-in-regards-pricing/247118#247118"]Is there not also a section in the COPC that mentions about no making disparaging remarks about other MRCVS's?[/quote]

Yes, but the vet in question here is neither commenting on an individual veterinary surgeon nor being disparaging. The site is easy to find if you want to see it in context. It isn't saying other practices are doing something wrong. Just that they are cheaper. However, the number is unsubstantiated and could be misleading.

The £1,500 figure doesn't refer to the average price of dental surgery. It's in the context of a £700 price cap that the practice places on their surgeries. I don't know how they have got information on the maximum price of dental surgery in a "typical" practice and the use of that figure (as opposed to typical fees) could be misleading.

RE: Should vets be doing this in regards pricing?

Anthony Dennison — Fri, 02 May 2025 12:12:57 GMT

Is there not also a section in the COPC that mentions about no making disparaging remarks about other MRCVS's?

RE: Should vets be doing this in regards pricing?

Ben Walker — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 06:11:37 GMT

[quote userid="5012" url="~/f/non-clinical-questions/31175/should-vets-be-doing-this-in-regards-pricing/247055#247055"]Maybe one for trading standards?[/quote]

National Trading Standards is the legal backstop for the ASA. You have to go through the ASA first and NTS get involved if companies ignore ASA rulings.

RE: Should vets be doing this in regards pricing?

Ben Walker — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 06:07:53 GMT

[quote userid="8958" url="~/f/non-clinical-questions/31175/should-vets-be-doing-this-in-regards-pricing"]I feel I should report it, but too whom? Or am I just a dinovet living in another age?[/quote]

The ASA is responsible for non-broadcast advertising and the claim you’ve quoted likely does run afoul of the code.

3.38 says they need to make the basis of the comparison clear.

RE: Should vets be doing this in regards pricing?

Clive Ansell — Sun, 20 Apr 2025 18:24:33 GMT

[quote userid="8958" url="~/f/non-clinical-questions/31175/should-vets-be-doing-this-in-regards-pricing"]but what's typical? where does the £1500 come from? I can honestly say that in 20 years of locumming in non corporate and corporate practice, I have never seen a dental go for £1500 in first opinion practice.[/quote]

Me neither. I work across a range of first opinion practices, working to differing standards, and have never seen dental work at that price. Ball park figure would be between £500 and £800, and that would include routine dental radiography as standard in 2 of the practices.

[quote userid="8958" url="~/f/non-clinical-questions/31175/should-vets-be-doing-this-in-regards-pricing"]I feel I should report it, but too whom?[/quote]

Maybe one for trading standards?

because

[quote userid="8958" url="~/f/non-clinical-questions/31175/should-vets-be-doing-this-in-regards-pricing"]'compared to £1500 or more in a typical vet practice'[/quote]

Is untrue and misleading if it refers to routine first opinion dental work