1:00 AM 28th December 2024
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Pet Owners Want More Clarity Around Vet Fees
![Image by Fran • @mallorcadogphotography from Pixabay]()
Image by Fran • @mallorcadogphotography from Pixabay
Recent research by John Lewis Pet Insurance has found that 78% of pet owners want more clarity from vets when it comes to how much treatment costs, with 28% stating that they were not always fully informed about how much pet treatment will cost prior to proceeding.
The study amongst 2,000 UK pet owners was commissioned by John Lewis to understand perceptions of veterinary care costs and the importance of pet insurance.
Just over half (52%) of pet owners said that their veterinary practice clearly displays their pricing information. In Northern Ireland, the survey found 38% of practices to clearly display prices, whilst those in London were the most likely (75%).
Some pet owners said that they have been charged more than anticipated when visiting the vet, with over a third (38%) believing that they had been charged more than they were originally quoted. This perceived lack of clarity was found to be having a knock-on effect on treatment too - with 23% of pet owners saying that they’ve had to discontinue treatment for their pet due to unexpected or increased fees.
Martin Stevens, veterinarian, comments:
“For those that are in the unfortunate position of needing veterinary care for their pet, my number one piece of advice is to always ask questions about any treatment that is recommended for your pet. Be sure to ask about any potential medicines, necessary overnight stays, and any post-treatment needs. This will give you a full a picture of the costs and care required. Vets are always happy to help and want pet owners to feel comfortable and informed.”
Veterinarian Martin Stevens’ top tips for mitigating and managing vet fees
Consider taking out pet insurance when your pet joins your family, it could provide peace of mind and financial cover.
Register at a vet, as you would do a doctor, so that you know where to go and have the paperwork in place before your pet actually needs an appointment.
Shop around - don’t be afraid to enquire at several practices to get a better understanding of their costs and service, as there could be some variation. Enquire about several different costs such as a routine check-up, X-rays, and an ultrasound.
Consider an annual health check for your pet to help spot any warning signs - catching an issue early could mean less care and costs required further down the line.
If your pet does require treatment, always ask about the full picture and associated costs with every step of the treatment journey e.g. which medicines will be required and when, will the treatment involve overnight stays, what’s the recovery period, how many follow up appointments are required - and importantly, the costs of these steps.
Niall Lownie at John Lewis Pet Insurance said:
“What’s clear from our research is that many pet owners are sadly in a position where their pet needs veterinary care, but some aren’t aware of exactly how much it will cost them. Pet insurance could help take away some of the worry should the worst happen, and it may cover treatment you might not have considered such as behavioural treatment and treatment food.”
For more information and to see the full research, including the average price of the most common veterinary treatments across the UK, click
here