With the cost of living on the up, it’s vital to have a rough idea of how much a vet appointment is likely to set you back. This can also be helpful when choosing a practice that aligns with your budget as well as you and your pets needs. From when you first pick up your pet and for their life with you and beyond, your vet practice will likely be your port of call for any pet-related questions or concerns, so it’s important to pick the right one.

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As you probably know, veterinary health care is not paid for by taxpayers like the national health service (NHS) in the UK. So in many cases the full cost must be paid by the owner. At first glance the prices can seem high; but there is more to health care than what clients often see above the surface. 

Calling up a clinic you’re interested in can be a great way to get to know them and their prices, but can also take time. You’ll probably find that it’s difficult to get an exact estimate for treatment unless it’s a routine procedure because price relies on so many factors. So what else can you do to get an idea of how much you’ll be spending at the vets?

Why is getting an estimate tricky without an appointment?

Firstly, it’s important to understand a little about how veterinary pricing works. The cost of what you are paying doesn’t just cover that item or procedure in itself; it aims to cover staffing costs, overheads (like electricity bills), medications, consumables (like needles and syringes) and equipment (ultrasound and x-ray machines are expensive to buy and maintain) to name a few. 

Crucially, the size of our patients also hugely varies. A three kilogram chihuahua will need a much lower dose of medication than a thirty-five kilogram German Shepherd; costing less to the veterinary practice and therefore less to the client. The cost of specific medications fluctuates too, with some being more difficult for practices to supply. Hence coming with a bigger price tag. 

Until your vet is able to weigh and examine your pet in person, it’s almost impossible to give an exact estimate of costs. As this is so dependent on the type and quantity of medication needed (if at all) and whether your pet needs further investigations like blood tests or imaging. 

What prices can I find out before phoning my vet?

Most practices will have a website where flat fees for routine treatments can be found. For example, the cost of an initial consultation, vaccinations and neutering. Many practices offer health plan services where a monthly fee covers many routine treatments; including vaccinations, anti-parasite treatment and nurse consultations for things like claw clips. You can usually view and sign up for these plans on the practice website. It’s important to know that these plans don’t often cover non-routine treatments or appointments if your animal is sick, so double check this with the provider beforehand. 

Don’t forget that if your pet needs to be seen out of hours, this will often cost more. And may even be provided at a different location to your normal vet clinic. Most practices will share who provides their out of hours care on their website. You will usually need to call the out of hours practice directly to find out their prices.

How can I compare the costs of vets near me? 

If you’re looking for a new vet practice, it can be time consuming and even a little overwhelming to research these prices by yourself. VetHelpDirect have a handy price comparison tool where you can find the cost of initial consultation and routine treatments of vets in your local area all in one place. All vet visit journeys will start with a first consultation. So this is a great baseline when it comes to pricing up. The page is regularly reviewed with a wider range of service fees set to be added soon; so you get a great overview of where that particular surgery sits amongst others in the area. 

Remember it’s always a good idea to follow up any online research with a quick phone call to the practice as not only will you get a better taste for who they are but you can confirm any charges with them before booking that first appointment.  

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