Staff and Equipment Costs for Vets They need to pay their vets –– who are highly qualified and in demand–– as well as other staff members, such as nurses, receptionists, practice managers and so on. All these costs quickly add up, meaning practices need to find ways to recoup this money.
Veterinary surgeons, like lawyers, charge for their professional time. Aside from medicines we sell our expertise, which are charged on a time-incurred basis. In order to qualify, vets need to undergo a five-year period of study after which they can typically expect a salary of between £30,000 and £40,000.
Research from the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) found that on average dog owners will spend over $25,000 over the course of their pet's life, while cat owners – in addition to the initial costs during their first year – will spend around $880 every year, although that is highly dependent on their age and ...
Vet costs may vary depending on numerous factors. But on average, it might take between £165-£365 to spay a female dog and around £110-£300 to castrate a male dog. Cats cost less than dogs to be neutered. On average, it costs around £40-£80 to neuter a male cat, and around £50-£100 to spay a female cat.
How much does it cost to see a vet? You should expect to pay £50 to £60 for a standard vet consultation. However, an emergency, out-of-hours consultation with a vet could cost you £200. The vet bill can soon mount up if your dog needs expensive care such as an operation or an MRI scan.
Some vets offer payment plans through a credit company if you need help spreading the cost. Not every vet can offer this, but it's worth asking if this is an option. To decide if signing up for a payment plan is right for you, please contact: The Money Advice Service.
Does it cost just to be seen? Some vets may charge £30 or £40 – or even more – as a 'consultation fee' just to see your sick or injured pet. However, other practices – such as those run by not-for-profit organisation, Animal Trust – do not charge.
There is a common misconception among the public that vets are very well-off individuals, when in fact this is generally not the case, and vets tend to earn considerably less than our human medicine counterparts.
Most vets expect full payment from the pet owner at the time of treatment. This is true even if there is a pet insurance policy in place to cover the vet bills.
Each veterinarian sets the fee for service based on the nature and technique of the treatment, the expertise available as well as the cost of supplying the service. This will include salaries, overheads and specialist equipment. These costs can vary from clinic to clinic.
Pets are expensive - get covered
To sum it up, it costs a huge amount of money to run a veterinary clinic and treat animals with the standard of care you come to expect as a pet owner. Often bills account for actual costs to the clinician and clinic alone, and labour is rarely even included on the bill.
Contact Your Local Animal Shelter
Many animal shelters offer financial assistance to help pay for emergency veterinary care. They can provide access to veterinarians offering discounts on pet medical services. If you find yourself in a pet medical crisis, do not hesitate to contact your nearest animal shelter for help.
The average cost of a routine appointment at a vets in the UK is around £40-60. But an emergency out of hours appointment is between £200 and £300. (This is before any diagnostics or treatment are carried out).
Veterinary practices are businesses, and like any business, they aim to make a profit. This means that prices may be higher than what it costs them to provide the service. Additionally, practices must cover overhead expenses such as rent, utilities, and staff salaries.
Holding an animal against unpaid fees
9.26 Although veterinary surgeons do have a right in law to hold an animal until outstanding fees are paid, the RCVS believes that it is not in the interests of the animal so to do, and can lead to the practice incurring additional costs which may not be recoverable.
Blue Cross animal hospitals
We offer free neutering to pet owners who are eligible for our veterinary care.
If your pet becomes unwell or is injured and you'd like to spread the cost of your pet's treatment, it's worth mentioning this to your vet. Some vet practices may offer payment plans via a third-party finance provider which allow you to pay for your pet's treatment in installments.
Why are veterinarians underpaid in Australia? The average salary of a normal Australian is 80k but a vet earns 66k according to PayScale.
Salary progression
A middle grade doctor typically earns an average of £51,000 per year, while a consultant and a surgeon would earn £103,000 and £105,000 per year on average respectively. For GPs, the average yearly salary is set at £92,000. However, this is understandable as the data is sourced from a 2021 report.
You can go with the cheaper option or go back to your original vet and let them know someone else will charge less. In some cases, negotiating with your vet might go nowhere. If that happens, you can simply go elsewhere and get the same service. This includes prescriptions, which vets will often mark up.