Vet charges

meadow79

Why are vets charging up to six times the price for medicines than online suppliers

sheramber

Because they cannot buy in bulk as online chemists do. Medicines have a used by  date so vets can only keep limited stocks due to their smaller turnover than on online chemist.  Just as your corner shop cannot  buy at the cheaper price that supermarkets can, so charge more.
A vet is limited as to where he can buy his stock. It has to be from designated suppliers. So he pays more for it than the online chemist who can go to the cheapest supplier.

A vet has to meet the running costs of a surgery- rates, staff wages, utilities, buy/service, replace equipment, keep up with training to be allowed to continue to practice. Where do you think the money for all that comes from?

A vet spends tens of thousands of pound training to be a vet and gaining the knowledge and expertise to diagnose  and treat your pet.  Your online supplier just makes up the prescription that your vet has supplied after examining and diagnosing your pet.  He doesn't have the knowledge to know what is wrong with your pet or how to treat it.

Without  enough money to run his practice and pay his staff and get a wage himself you would not have him to vaccinate your pet when needed, to diagnose and know how to treat your pet.