Understanding the Costs of Pet Care

Why Are Vet Bills So Expensive?

Published on: Aug 23, 2020

Why does the vet charge so much?   

Owning a pet can be expensive – as well as the initial cost of the animal to the new owner, any responsible pet owner then has to factor in the ongoing costs involved in their upkeep and care, from food, to bedding, grooming and accommodation. Just like taking responsibility of a car, house, or even child, these on-going costs absolutely have to be considered and then budgeted for. One of the most expensive outgoings as a pet owner will be the health care of the animal and owners should ensure they are financially prepared for this before deciding to get a pet. 

 

Veterinary fees, whether this includes parasite prevention, medications, vaccinations, surgeries or consultations, can be expensive – there is no doubt about that, but it is really important to consider why. Veterinary costs are often unfairly and falsely singled out as being excessive and this can lead to a negative feeling towards vet practices, without considering the true value, costs relative to other industries, and the effort and dedication required to provide such a service. 

 

A common reason as to why costs of veterinary services may be undervalued and unappreciated or misunderstood by the public may be the National Health Service that the UK is lucky to have and be served by. With the NHS, human health care costs are not really apparent or exposed to the patient, so people may simply not be aware about how much health care does actually cost – that is the medicines, the equipment, and the professional time involved. Health care of animals involves essentially all of the same, yet the costs suddenly become very obvious, which can shock many people. 

 

It can cost a lot to research, manufacture, and market a medication. The RRP (recommended retail price) will be applied by a veterinary practice – this is necessary to sustain the practice and ‘keep heads above water’, but will be a lot less than applied in other service sectors such as clothing or food.  

 

These overheads include the upkeep of the building and equipment as well as the salaries of the staff. There seems to be a misconception about these wages in the veterinary sector – with higher fees than people may expect this might cause people to suspect earning potential is very high, but income in fact pales in comparison to similar professions such as doctors and dentists. Although providing an important service of keeping pets healthy, and acknowledging that the care provided is always an absolute priority, veterinary practices are also businesses. Practices have to make money to keep providing the services they offer, mainly using any extra funds after salaries and overheads are accounted for to go back in to the practice and reinvest, providing improved equipment and services for ultimately a better standard of care. 

 

The cost of a consultation may not have any take home value to an owner, unlike a product that can be used or visualised, but the expertise and knowledge involved should carry a lot of value. Charging for professional time can be all too easily dismissed, but the service provided is very specialised, using a university degree of at least five years’ intensive training, and many long hours of dedication and experience in the job. Time is similarly charged for in other walks of life – for instance legal fees, which will often exceed costs of veterinary time per minute or hour. This has to also be considered for out of hours care – it costs a lot to staff a veterinary practice and ensure a good quality is provided 24/7, 365 days a year – and is often comparable or even less expensive than call out fees associated with other professions, such as plumbers or electricians. 

 

When all is considered, the costs expensive as they may be are there for good reason. Insurance is available and heavily recommended for owners when considering budgeting for pet health care which can spread the cost and then come in handy in the result of a large bill associated with emergency surgery or lifelong medication. Most pet owners will surely agree that their animals are well worth it as these essentially extra members of their family need health care too, and that the love and company they provide is priceless. 

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