Understandably, the cost of veterinary care is a very emotive subject. Especially in the wake of the Competition & Markets Authority’s recent report. Naturally, no one wants the added stress of worrying about finances when their pet is poorly. Trust me, your vet doesn’t either!  

It’s important for all pet owners to understand the cost of veterinary care, the options available to them, and how to compare prices between clinics. This will enable you to make the right choices for you and your pet. It’s not always as simple as it seems! 

What makes up the cost of veterinary care? 

There is no NHS for pets, so veterinary businesses operate in a commercial world. All veterinary practices need to make a reasonable profit in order to continue offering the latest treatments, high quality care and to invest in new equipment. 

The costs of running a veterinary practice include: 

  • Rent or mortgage 
  • Business rates 
  • Utility bills  
    • heating 
    • electricity 
    • gas  
    • internet 
    • telephones 
  • Insurance  
    • professional indemnity 
    • buildings  
    • public liability 
  • Practice management software subscriptions (for the necessary IT systems) 
  • Marketing costs  
  • Staff: 
    • wages (Veterinary Surgeons, Registered Veterinary Nurses or RVNs, Student nurses, Nursing assistants, Cleaners, Reception team, Practice Managers, Finance and Legal team) 
    • Employer National Insurance contributions 
    • Pension contributions 
    • Staff training and Continued Professional Development (CPD), which is mandatory for vets and RVNs 
    • Uniforms and PPE 
    • Membership of professional bodies (Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), for example) 
    • Locum cover when needed 
  • Out of hours (OOH) care (either the cost to outsource or the cost of night shift / OOH team members) 
  • Equipment running and maintenance 
  • Replacement equipment 
  • Hire of certain equipment 
  • Vehicle costs 
  • Laboratory fees 
  • Pharmaceuticals 
  • Consumables  
    • gloves 
    • bandages 
    • needles / syringes 
    • fluid therapy set ups etc. 
  • Cleaning materials, sterilisation equipment  
  • Laundry costs 
  • Clinical waste disposal 
  • Regulatory compliance costs 
    • GDPR 
    • Health & safety 
    • Veterinary Medicine Directorate (VMD) obligations 
  • VAT 

The cost of vet care in the UK has indeed risen over recent years, for various reasons. The rising cost of living is an obvious factor affecting all businesses. Veterinary treatment has also shown significant advances in recent years. The benefit of these advances is that previously untreatable conditions, when an owner would have had to make the heartbreaking decision to euthanase their pet, are now treatable. This comes at a cost.  

On that note, it’s important to point out that just because we can, does not mean that we have to, or that we should. Each case will be unique, as will everyone’s budget. Your vet will be able to advise you on all treatment options, so you can make informed decisions. 

Comparing veterinary costs between clinics 

Costs can and will vary between clinics. However, as the RCVS advises, the most expensive isn’t necessarily the best; nor the cheapest the best value for money.  

When choosing a veterinary practice, consider: 

  • Location 
  • Facilities  
  • Opening hours (do they suit your daily / weekly routine?) 
  • Out of hours services (are they on site or at a location nearby? could you access them easily in an emergency? what is the OOH consult fee?) 
  • The experience and qualifications of the team members  
  • Costs. 

When comparing veterinary costs, it’s important that you compare ‘like for like’. For example, if you are comparing estimates for a surgery, look at a detailed breakdown. What is included? As an example – are there any aftercare costs, such as post operative checks, not shown on the estimate? An estimate that includes an aftercare package will naturally appear to be higher than one where aftercare comes as an extra cost later on.  

Things to consider (and ask about) when comparing estimates:  

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  • Does the estimate include sedation or full anaesthesia? Which would be best for the intervention your pet needs? 
  • Are there RVNs monitoring patients during the procedure and during recovery? 
  • Is there multiparameter monitoring during anaesthesia? 
  • Is post operative care included? 
  • Is pain relief to go home included? 
  • Is placing an intravenous catheter +/- fluids included? 
  • Are any laboratory fees such as pre-op bloods or histopathology included? 
  • Does an estimate for hospitalisation include OOH care if needed? 
  • Does the estimate include any imaging needed (for example dental x-rays if your pet is having extractions)? 

In other words, it’s important to compare the level of care that your pet will receive, and not just the price. An estimate that includes RVNs (Registered Veterinary Nurses) caring for your pet during the (often risky) post operative period is likely to be higher than one that includes unqualified or training nursing assistants doing the monitoring, for example.  

It’s important to say that lower cost veterinary care isn’t necessarily bad or a lower standard, just that you need to be comparing like-for-like services when it comes to comparing costs. 

Budgeting for veterinary care 

Veterinary costs are an unavoidable part of owning a pet. Before welcoming a pet into your family, it’s important to look at your budget. Consider how you will cover ongoing costs such as food, vaccines and / or annual health checks, and for any treatment they may need. If you go on holiday, factor in the cost of boarding, a home sitter or the extra cost of travelling with your pet. 

There are many ways to budget for the cost of veterinary care, including: 

  • Taking out pet insurance (there are various options for level of cover and excess amount, so you can tailor pet insurance to your budget). 
  • Setting up a savings accounts (although keep in mind that your pet may become unwell before you have had time to save enough money to cover their treatment) 
  • Payment plans  
  • Health care plans 
  • Accessing low cost or free veterinary care for those who are eligible.  

It’s also important to choose a vet that you trust, and ideally who you can build a working relationship with. Your vet should be happy to discuss all treatment options with you, so that you can come up with a plan together. Offering various levels of investigation or care isn’t a scam, it’s your vet empathising with your situation and allowing you to decide how you feel comfortable proceeding. This is known as ‘contextualised care’. 

Some people decide that owning a pet is out of their budget. Many people compromise by choosing a pet that is cheaper to look after, or by using services that allow you to walk other people’s dogs (for example).   

Parting thoughts 

We all love our pets! Well, the veterinary team does too. I can guarantee you that the vets and vet nurses working tirelessly on the ground are not ‘in it for the money’. To quote the Chair of the CMA inquiry in his foreword: 

“It’s very important that pet owners don’t take out their frustrations on individual vets. From everything we’ve seen, they work incredibly hard, act ethically and care about animal welfare.” 

So, by all means shop around; only be sure that you are comparing like-for-like and are comfortable with the level of care being offered. Ideally, work with your trusted vet to determine the best course of action for both your pet and your personal circumstances. This approach sits at the core of ‘contextualised care’, which many vets are now adopting.