Cheap vets

Layo909

Just looking for ways to reduce vets bills. MSE main website has an article on reducing pet insurance, but doesn't give advice on how to find a reasonably priced vets.

Can anyone offer any advice?

ali-t

Phone round the ones in your locality and ask what they charge!

I don't think there is any secret or special tips to finding this out. TBH I am less concerned about price than the quality of care given and how effective they are at finding out what is wrong.

I used to go to a vet that I was fairly happy with but when one of my dogs had a problem that was not immediately diagnosable I found that they just kept treating the symptoms with no effort going into finding out what the problem was. I then changed to a much more modern and probably more expensive surgery but they find the cause and treat it which works out cheaper in the long run.

Fire_Fox

If you have pet insurance it doesn't really matter what the vets charge for tests and treatment, the excess that you pay remains the same. It is worth finding out exactly what your vets arrangements are for out of hours and emergencies as some use an outside company who charge though the nose and require full payment upfront.

Are you thinking of ongoing costs such as vaccinations, dental cleaning and parasite treatment? Vets4Pets which is a chain offers lifetime vaccinations for ~£100, but you must remember to vaccinate on time every year. Some branches have a very poor reputation, so you might consider asking around locally and only using them for vaccinations if the service is not good. Flea and wormer can be purchased online cheaper than from most vet practices, for any regular prescription only medication you can ask the vet for a repeat script.

DitaVonTee

My own vet is very, very cheap, especially on vaccinations and Spay/Neuter operations for cats and dogs, depends where in the country you are though!

One problem for us though, they aren't reptile specialists which is a great shame!

Vets4Pets personally I wouldn't use them for reasons best known to myself

But, I have often wondered what would happen for instance if in the event you'd paid for lifetime vaccinations with them, and they then went into administration?....;)

snowman2_2

You shouldn't shop around for a vet solely on price, it is value for money that is the most important thing. Cheap vets bills can equal poor care standards - not always and similarly high price does not always equal high quality so value is most important. Ask the local dog walkers, they tend to talk about vets good and bad

Delphinum

It might be worth ringing up your local animal rescue for a recommendation as they usually employ good but reasonably priced vets to do all the neutering, vaccines, etc. I have an excellent vet because I volunteered in a rescue and they told me about him. The vet actually cares about the animals and prices are good.

lolly1

Your monthly pet premium £7.14

Inclusive of Insurance Premium Tax where applicable
12 months of cover for necessary treatment for each illness, injury or disease

up to a maximum of £4,000.


What is not covered

•

Preventative, non-essential or routine treatment/tests or any treatment

that as a pet owner you would expect to incur.
•

Any fees for treatment or complementary therapy that we do not

consider reasonable or necessary.
•

Any treatment connected with pregnancy or giving birth.

•

Treatment for tooth or gum problems.

•

Any food.

•

Any treatment or complementary therapy received during a period of

insurance if we have not received the agreed premium for that period
of insurance.

• More than 12 sessions of hydrotherapy per condition.

orlao

lolly1 wrote: »

Your monthly pet premium £7.14

Inclusive of Insurance Premium Tax where applicable
12 months of cover for necessary treatment for each illness, injury or diseaseLifetime cover would be better but is more expensive and you are stuck with the same company if you make a claim

up to a maximum of £4,000.Not brilliant but probably adequate for 12 month cover ie a big op


What is not covered

•

Preventative, non-essential or routine treatment/tests or any treatment

that as a pet owner you would expect to incur.:eek: who's/what is the definition of that? That could exclude everything.
•

Any fees for treatment or complementary therapy that we do not

consider reasonable or necessary.
As above!•

Any treatment connected with pregnancy or giving birth.Fairly standard

•

Treatment for tooth or gum problems.

•

Fairly standard

Any food.

•

Any treatment or complementary therapy received during a period of

insurance if we have not received the agreed premium for that periodFairly standard
of insurance.

• More than 12 sessions of hydrotherapy per condition. Just a warning, 12 sessions are a drop in the ocean so to speak, my dog started hydrotherapy doing 3 swims a week for the first 2 months, then very gradually dropped down to once a week. we'd have used up the insurance in less than a month in those circs

If you can afford lifetime insurance then it's probably worth it especially if you don't have savings/access to credit to pay the bills.
I always think of 12 month cover as "better than nothing" it'll cover the catastrophic accidents and injuries but it doesn't cover the ongoing costs of illness which could go for years...

Have a look at the last few pages of the pet insurance sticky at the top of page one for some ideas. There's also a guide on the main site.

zagubov

I'd recommend lifetime insurance, and if that's too pricey I'd check out Argos Platinum and read any online reviews for it - seems to be in a sweet spot for price, length of cover and customer satisfaction.