Do all vets charge the same price?

Two vets may be charging around the same amount for any given treatment. But pet owners have to rely on their vets being honest about what treatments are actually required. An unscrupulous vet could recommend all sorts of expensive procedures and tests.

Why do veterinarians charge so much money?

Vet care costs have increased because of the rising prices for drug and pharmaceutical products, while new technologies and the latest medical equipment are more expensive, explained Mark Rosati, assistant director of media relations for the American Veterinary Medical Association,over email.

Can I dispute my vet bill?

Yes, but you can dispute that.

Is it legal to charge different prices to different customers?

Charging different prices to different customers is generally legal. The practice could be illegal, however, if the reason for the difference were reliance on a “suspect category” – race, religion, national origin, gender, or the like. The practice could also be legal if it violates antitrust or price-fixing laws.

Do vets charge too much for medicines?

Personally, I think vets usually charge too much for medicines, and too little for professional fees – we are constantly underselling ourselves. However, any change to pricing models (even to keep the same overall income for the practice) risks hitting the poorest owners the hardest.

Where does the money for vet fees come from?

It comes from the fees animal owners pay, and historically, vets have used markups on medicines (usually a 1-200\% markup, which is a LOT less than most high street chains!) to subsidise the business, keeping professional fees (consult charges etc) lower than they otherwise would be.

What percentage of vets now’s fees go towards rent?

Around 10\% of the money our customers pay in fees goes towards fixed costs such as rent, heating, lighting and equipment. At Vets Now, our services are run from “host practices” which have the space and facilities to enable us to provide the highest standard of out-of-hours care.