My vet has just prescribed antibiotics for my hound - at a cost of £27.67 (plus VAT) for 21 tablets.  When I checked online, I see I could have bought them for .65 per tablet = £13.13 (or thereabouts).  If that's right.  The trouble is these are on prescription and they charge £15 for a prescription.   So in the end, I'd have been paying fractionally more.   Still, I know vets have to survive, but these increases seem to me, to be ott.

My vets are now charging £20 for a scrip lasting for up to 6 months.

> Still, I know vets have to survive

I use a very expensive veterinary hospital.  It cost many millions of pounds to build.  I, along with anyone else who was interested, was invited to look round.  The labs, x-ray rooms, operating theatres etc were out of this world.  And vets are there 24 hours a day, so pets are never left alone.  I've spoken to vet nurses at midnight to ask how my dog is.  Of course, I have to pay for all this.

However, when I learned (from one of the admin staff) exactly what my vet earned, I was shocked.  It was terrible, given that he's there 12 hours a day.  I appreciate what you're saying MamaBas, but I do understand that it isn't my vet needing the money to survive.  It's needed to keep such a huge place running.

We’ve always chuckled that we bought our vets bmw for him over the years. Thing is he has been running around in the same car for 12 years.

> Thing is he has been running around in the same car for 12 years

I'm laughing because my vet drives an ancient old thing.

> My vets are now charging £20 for a scrip lasting for up to 6 months.

Mine only give me one every time - which means they get £15. each time I need a refil.   I may have to ask about that next time!!

Not only drugs mammabass, my boy had xrays yesterday and the bill was £458.  £220 of that was for the anaesthetic!

> my boy had xrays yesterday and the bill was £458.  £220 of that was for the anaesthetic!

How about £800+ for x-rays, a Sunday evening call and 2 nights in the vet's on a drip.   I guess he was having the best care but still it was a bit of a shock (no anaesthetic).   He'd blown.    Having a pet is def. a luxury, not a necessity these days.  I'll be ok as long as my Savings last which is why I'm having to question all my bills now.  He'd never have been a candidate for insurance, almost from the 4 months he was when I bought him - from a breeder I'd class as experienced and who I'd known for as long as I've been around the breed.  Older and wiser - perhaps.

Let's just hope we never lose the NHS  imagine what our charges would be or the equivalent for insurance

Zuma wasn't well for a couple of days, vet check as he started throwing up intermitantly after food - lot of gas - maybe obstruction. They refered to Dick White in Newmarket (just down the road from me)
X-ray, scan, bloods and ONE night 'bed & Breakfast' Bill was £1127
This was back in 2012
I dread to think what it would be now!

> They refered to Dick White in Newmarket (just down the road from me)

Clearly a vet who is used to their wealthy equine customers!!!   I know my vet didn't charge for all the x-rays he took during Frankie's stay.  I also knew I was in for a hefty bill with the Sunday evening visit (I was there for an hour before he finally decided to admit him) and then the Monday night stay too.

Wish we still lived within visiting distance of Newmarket where we used to regularly go Racing.

Clearly a vet who is used to their wealthy equine customers!!!
It is Rossdale equine hospital that do most of the equine referals round Newmarket - and Suffolk/Norfolk/Cambs generally, I know several people 'ordinary' horse owners who have taken horses there.
D W do horse stuff but not as specialised as R E H.
When you look at DW website they seem to have as many - or more - vets, specialists and consultants as Fitzpatricks keep pushing in the Supervet intro, all of whom have to be paid the going rate for their expertise.

DW Referrals -  Gosh, with that number of staff, small wonder they have to charge!!  Add to which how do you get the 'same' vet every time?   Or like NF, do you only go there on a referral from another smaller vet practice, for something specific?    Ditto for the other Practice, Rossdale?

I did a home check for a vet up the road from Six Mile Btm, closer to Newmarket, on the right hand side, going towards Newmarket.  I felt quite embarrassed to be doing that for a vet!!  This was when I worked for Wood Green, out of Godmanchester/Heydon.   This was years ago and they (that vet) are probably closed now.

DW Referrals
As the name says they are a referral centre, their website lists the Consultants and specialists, there are about 6 or 8 for each specialism ( just looked :- 92 vets, 94 vet nurses ) and 24 hour service.

https://www.dickwhitereferrals.com/department/veterinary-surgeons/