What is a reasonable vets consultation fee??? RANT!!!

[Feline Costumier]

Bumping this as I have just been to the vet with Dave for his first jabs. No idea what a plain consultation is but his jabs came to the grand total of £68.84, that includes his second lot in three weeks. I also got a worming tablet for him which cost a whole £3.28. For London I think that is pretty reasonable. They are also lovely, the vet nurse always asks how Chilli is getting on, gives her a cuddle and now Dave.

As an aside, Dave apparently is huuuuge (could have told them that), he has a long back so is going to be a big boy. All confirms what I thought really.

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

Think mines quite high around £28 but cant remember plus 50 miles of petrol some crawling  grrrrrrrrr......however I choose to use them cos they are good.

[Tiggy's Mum]

Well, looks like my vets are joint highest with Leanne's    -  they only charge £21 for the 2nd (follow up) consulatation though. There is also a very nice vet at one branch who charges less than she should.  On the first visit she only charged me the follow up fee, and when I went for the 2nd consult she only charged for the meds - no consult charge at all.  She is also a 'proper' old school vet who takes home sick hedgehogs etc rather than some super brainy new graduate who is only in it for the money.

[Debsymiller (Rufus' mum)]

well we're off to the new place tomorrow morning so fingers crossed! Rufus is being microchipped and they're also going to have a look at Layla about her cold as the previous vets don't seem to have been able to clear it up and the poor thing is sooo fed up of sneezing!

[Desley (booktigger)]

Mine are £20.50 for the first consult, then it goes down - I get a shock when it comes to their 6 monthly checkups, as it is probably the only time that I get a bill for just a consultation, I get a shock everytime it happens (mind you, I probably go more with fosters than my own). I did change to a cheaper vet for a while, but I changed back - I prefer a practice with more than one vet, as I like them to be able to speak to others, and I like that my vet goes on courses (I always get warned about her courses and hols, cos they know I am fussy!!). My vet broke her wrist recently and I had a female in to be spayed, they booked her in at the branch I use, and someone drove her over to the other one to be spayed, and then brought her back for me, cos it would have been tricky fitting it round work, and if they have ever had to go to the other practice (Pebbles did for her leg amputation), they bring them back for me, so it is easier for me to collect. They are also good at letting me have sample bags and stuff, and she will charge me for as little as possible. Best of all, it is a 3 min drive/8 min walk, and will do their best to squeeze me in if needs be.

[Millys Mum]

My vets lovely and lets me off a lot of things and only charges £17 for boosters  will often just charge £3 if its a simple case of needing antibiotics or a jab  thats for my personal account too not the stray/feral one which has a discount on everything.
I wouldnt change them for nothing so you'll definately know when you find the surgery for you, no doubt will ever cross your mind.

[Liz]

We are paying £8.00 for a consultation but we never only take one cat - in fact you can see the vets eying up the ones who come in to the practice for experience - we usually get our lot for them to practice on - crush cages have them looking nervous then we whip of the towels covering them!  Shame really as we only have 6 using them now all are under 4kgs apart from Sabrina and Sailor who ar both big cats - leggy and weigh in at 6 and 6.5 respectively!

I took 2 months to find a vet I liked when we moved and ended up at this one after getting lost and the Owner spoent 2 hours with me and showed me round and was delighted we had fuill records for each cat in paper and on CD Rom and also that I knew each ones history off by heart and that we had a lot I got a very nice discount and they have been wonderful through all our losses, our new additions and the illness's we have discovered with our lot in the last 2 years.

The vets know us and we trust them and having had harvey in for the weekend on a drip - we got to visit on Sunday for an hour can only say I sometimes prefer them to the human doctors!!!

[Marcia]

we're paying £12.50 thereabouts for a consultation fee.

[moiramassey]

A full consultaion fee at my vet is about £22 but they give 'half consultations' and 'quarter consultations' depending on how long you are in there! Also, if it is ongoing, you often get a free consulation. For example Mitzi manged to yank out all her stitches after being spayed and my vet gave me all the subsequent treatment free of charge (gluing plus stapling, plus numerous quick checks as she managed to do varying amounts of damage to the incision site, e.g. yanking out the staples one by one - did you know that a determined kitten can get a buster collar off no matter how well you secure it?).

He is old fashioned type of vet. He owns his own practice, which is neat and clean but not posh. He has one receptionist/assistant. He doesn't do so many tests in house as some other vets. I could afford a 'fancier' vet now, particularly as the younger cats are insured, but will continue to support him because I think he concentrates on what is important.

[Sam (Fussy_Furball)]

I don't blame you for changing vet.  My lot are all registered with two vets ... my local vet is only 5 mins round the corner but is pretty expensive but is very convenient in case of emergency (they charge £30 per consultation and charge for follow-ups at a reduced rate). 

However the vet I use most is a 15 min drive away ... they charge £20 per consultation ... no follow up charge ... and alot of the medication they prescribed only has a 10% mark-up on cost price so is incredibly reasonable.  Of course as a result of these cheaper prices they are a very busy practice ... but I have never had a problem getting an appointment and all the vets are lovely.  The Chief vet endeared himself to me when he announced on my first visit that he was definitely a "cat man" and that he had recently lost his old boy who was called ... wait for it ... ZEPHYR    The only downside to them is that because I live a distance from them they won't do emergency call outs ...  which is fair enough.

[Susanne (urbantigers)]

I pay £20 plus VAT for a consultation.

A new vet sounds like what you need - I cant be doing with unpleasant vets and staff.  That's the last thing you need when you have a sick pet.  Fingers crossed the new ones are much better.

[Michelle (furbabystar)]

I am really out of touch with proper prices but i think its about £22.50 but i could be wrong as havent paid it for ages.

There is a group called "park vets" that are charging £35...which IMO is disgusting

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

So agree that trust and behaviour of vets is so important and that you are as sure as you can be that they look after your cats and know what they are doing.

My vet is not the cheapest but also not as expensive as the snooty ones LOL, but I saw a new vet at the surgery for Sasa a month a go and then took the other three to see her and she was great with them. I have now seen 3 of the vets there and all are good.

Franta has to go back soon to have some work on his mouth and she has recommended that he has tests too but also has said that he will go on a drip cos of his age when he has treatment and they will take him in overnight too before, so I is a happy bunny about them.

My only complaint is that they use Vets Now after hours and I will not do that. Sasa is registered at another vet also who gave her emergency treatment before Chrismas, so that is where I would take the others in the event of a problem cos they were also very good.

I travel a long way for all of this, 50 miles return but reckon its worth it to have a decent vet and not like one closer who didnt treat Kocka properly before she went to the Bridge.

[Leanne]

Ours charge £28.50 for the first consultation.

I think this is a lot but to be honest I am happy to pay it given they really are lovely, and at times when I've been with Jess I've been in with them 15/20 minutes and they only work 9-10 at my branch surgery, so I feel I've had my moneys worth.

They do charge less for the following consultations relating to the same condition. In fact when I had a spate of having to take Jess daily they weren't even charging me.

I should add its only a 10 minute walk from home to the branch surgey which is perfect for us as we don't drive and I wouldn't want to walk the boys any further. The hospital however is in the next town and it a £20 taxt ride (round trip).

[Rosella moggy]

Whilst cost is of course a big issue, trust is a bigger one.  I've bored the pants off peeps on another thread about nasty vet I saw on Saturday and have lost so much sleep as a result.

I wouldn't give moving to another practice another thought if it were not for the other 2 vets at the practice who I can talk to very easily.  Bedside manner is so important. If I feel bullied, I forget stuff which obviously is not in the puds' best interests.

[clarenmax]

Defo think its good that you're changing, having friendly and helpful staff makes you have much more faith in them I think.

[Debsymiller (Rufus' mum)]

Thanks everyone! I knew I was right to move vets but it's nice to hear it form other people just to make sure I'm not just being neurotic. The new vets have just called me again to let me know they've received the medical records from old vets. Must say I am very impressed with them already and they haven't even met my furry family yet. Being polite goes a long way in my book and they obviously know how to liaise with customers so definately a good start. Rufus is off to be microchipped on Thursday so hopefully they will be as nice in the flesh!

[Mark]

I would change vets - I changed in January. My old vet was good but too greedy. My new vets did it all for me They phoned and asked for the cats records to be sent over - so you won't even need to speak to the old vet 

[Maddiesmum]

I don't blame you for changing vets.  I changed vets after 18 years with the same vet as I felt he had let Dragan down and if I had listened to him actually Dragan would have been dead instead of which he was hospitalised by the emergency vet three hours after my previous vet saw him.  As for charges, I think they are getting ludicrous.  Yesterday Charlie went for a weight check (which would have been free had I seen the nurse but as he was shaking his head again I thought it better the vet looked).  Cost me £27 for the consultation and ear drops which wasn't too bad.  My current vet does, however, charge for second visits, albeit at a reduced rate whereas my old vet didn't.  However the important thing for me is the trust.

Still a bit peed off with the new vets though.  Saw a female vet six weeks ago who told me Charlie was overweight and needed to cut down on his intake of food.  Since then he has put on .1kg and the vet I saw yesterday said there is no problem whatsoever with his weight and I can increase his food!  Two vets, same practice, conflicting opinions, very confusing.

Good luck with your new vet

[sixfurballs]

I think you are right to move. A vet should have a bedside manner just like a doctor. You are there because your beloved pet is sick and need their help. A caring vet should recognise that.

My vet charges £12 for a consultation and £35 for boosters but I know that my vets in N. Ireland are cheaper than my vets in Sussex were.

[Debsymiller (Rufus' mum)]

Sorry if this is a bit of a rant but I'm rather cross this morning!!!

Well I was paying £37 before I even walked through the door and to be honest some of the vets there are nice but generally they are quite snooty and make you feel like you have done something wrong for the animal to be sick. I understand that they probably have a lot of people that they see that maybe don't take the best care of their pets but the nice vets I see there always comment on what nice coats and how well-kept my animals are. It may just be that they have a odd-manner about them but when I am worried about a pet, I don't need someone trying to make me feel worse... I need support. Also to be honest, I haven't been that happy with the recent care of Layla as she is still snotty, despite several visits to the vets. (They keep telling me to bring ehr back but don't seem to be doing anything-I feel like I've thrown my money away TBH!)

As well,  the price of annual boosters at the normal vets was £80 so I must admit I looked around and found a vet who charges £35 and used them. I informed my current vet of this at the time but to be honest when they're using the same medication, it shouldn't be such a price difference. I do wonder if there should maybe be a standard charge for vaccinations- this would probably encourage more people to have their animals vacc'd in the long run. (But another thing entirely....)

Anyway, I called the normal vets this mroning to book my 6-monthly boosters for rabbits and the receptionist/nurse was rather shitty with me and informed me that my cat vaccinations were very overdue. I explained that they had been vacc'd elsewhere and that I had previously called them to let them know this so they didn't waste their resources sending me reminders. She then gave me a 5 minute lecture on how inconvenient this was to them and about how I shouldn't have 2 vets, how I was making more work for them.... etc... etc... Well you can imagine how impressed I was!!! I ended the conversation politely (without making the rabbits appointments!) and rang my partner in a bit of a huff.
I have been let down by them in the past and I know I ahve contemplated moving vets before. I wouldn't mind paying their extorsionate prices if I thought they were doing the best by my animals but I honestly don't think they are.

Basically as a result of this, I called around all the vets in the area and asked questions on cost and resources and have found a new vets who seem to be much more reasonable. Have great reviews (I know a couple of people who already use them) and have a really lovely lady who I spoke to on the phone. She took the time to speak to me for £20 minutes and even called me back to tell me something she'd forgotten. I rang previous vets to explain that I was changing sugeries and that I would appreciate it if they could fax my records over to the new surgery. As imagined, they were rather off with me but luckily, grudgingly have passed on my details.  

Sorry about the rant but I was a bit hacked off to be honest. I do feel really pleased about the new surgery though and am hoping they are as efficient and caring as they appear to be!

[kris]

Mine doesn't usually charge a consultation fee, just for any treatment (hence why I love them and will organise a lift 10 miles away to go there!!)

I was horrified when I used a more local vet with a cat who didn't deal well with the car to find that I was charged just for the vet looking at her 

I didn't realise how spoilt I was.

[Rosella moggy]

Depends on which vet and whether or not a repeat consultation but anything from £20 to £28 in Birmingham.

[Mark]

I think ours charges £19?

I paid £36 for a consult and some Metacam - they did Alice's anal glands as well so no sure if that was extra.

They don't charge for a 2nd consult for the same thing - ie for a check up following antibiotics.

[Tiggy's Mum]

£28.50 in Bucks, there are cheaper vets nearby but the ones I go to have the best facillities and I like the vets themselves.

[Dawn F]

mine is £26 for a consultation

[Debsymiller (Rufus' mum)]

They seem to be going up and up and sppointments getting shorter! What do others pay?