I have just been wandering around the pet suppliers on the net, and have found on American sites, that the complete vaccination kit for a dogs booster is $2.84, that is to cover 7 different diseases.  That includes syringes, wipes and medication, how come it costs so much more in England (approx 2000%more)?

Vets mark-up and service charge :D

Hi there,

Everything is cheaper in America isn't it?

I think the package you have found for sale in the USA is a DIY kit as over there any Tom, Dick or Harry can vaccinate animals. The only vaccination which has to be performed by a qualified vet is the rabies shots.

We're in rip off Britain don't forget!

The vets over here are charging for their time and experience and ususally make approximately 30% profit on drugs but this depends on which vet you use (33% is an average markup in many british businesses not just veterinary).  The manufacturers in this country are also more expensive  due to taxes and VAT and the various legal and safety procedures and regulations which they have to adhere to.

At the end of the day we all need vets regardless of the cost.  Hopefully most of them are in the profession because they love animals but unfortunately some are just in it for the money, however, it pays to shop around.  You will be surprised at the savings to be made by just ringing around a few surgeries.  I saved money by ringing round the local equestrian practices when I wanted a pony castrated - the first vet wanted 300, the second 200 and third time lucky 115, you can guess who I used in the end and he did a fantastic job. 

I hope but doubt that one day veterinary medicine and treatment will be regulated across the country so that the charges for treatment and drugs is the same and of a reasonable tariff, but then again this could be said of lots of businesses, I suppose we would all like the things we want in our lives to be affordable and not expensive!

Anyone in the UK can vaccinate their OWN dogs just not anyone elses. So you can get vaccines from Ireland (which are cheaper) and vaccinate your own stock. Or do what I do and don't vaccinate that regularly. Never vaccinates my dogs annually!!

Jesse

Are dogs who are not vaccinated annually covered by their insurance policies though? Our policy says all annual health checks and vacs must be done

I dont insure my dogs after a year as if they are not sick as puppies chances are they will stay healthy.
I do however have a small savings  account  in the bank separate from mine, and I put money in each month in case i need it .Anything I had left over after raising  my last litter also went in to that account.
So I am covered in the event of an emergency.
or if I need a vet when I get in a rescue bullmastiff I can take from that as well.
Insurence companies are there to make money ,so in my op, it is best have something  aside and not depend on them .
Mari

Hi there,

You are right, most insurance policies are invalid if your animal isn't vaccinated.  Also if you show your dogs or wish to use boarding kennels then you need a valid upto date vaccination certificate and this is ONLY valid if completed by a qualified vet.

Regarding insurance then it is upto the individual but as an ex veterinary nurse I have seen 1000's of animals who have managed to lead a healthy life then all of a sudden be struck down by illness, many fatally.  The diseases which we vaccinate for in this country are so severe it seems silly not to vaccinate against them, have you seen the pain and distress that a dog goes through with any one of these diseases, especially Parvo virus, where the dog goes so quickly down hill and pours blood from the anus, you can actually smell them dying (sorry, its a long time since I saw this happening but I'm in tears now as there is nothing worse, when you see things like this it stays with you forever, it is a terrible disease and no animal should have to go through it if there is an alternative). 

Veterinary treatment can run into hundreds of pounds, thousands in some cases, so insurance is a necessity unless your rich that is. 

All my animals are insured except for my litter of pups who aren't old enough to be covered yet at only 3 weeks of age.  Unfortunately I have just had one of them in the vets overnight due to an abcess and the bill for 1 night hospitalisation and antibiotics is 144 pounds, if your not insured this gives you an idea of what it may cost for treatment for something which can happen to any animal at any time!

If anyone does know of a company who insure pups from birth to 8 weeks then please let me know the contact number, much appreciated.

Truely.

Hi Truely,

I know exactly what you mean about Parvo virus.
It is very nasty and as you so rightly said, you can 'smell' them dying.

We had a Chihuahua pup many many years ago (I'm talking 20 years) and he contracted parvo, as his breeder had given us tablets rather than him having his vaccinations.  We trusted her completely, but unfortunately, the pup died of parvo.....I still, to this day, remember the smell.

So anyway, all my dogs are vaccinated....although it's expensive, it has to be done!
They're not insured though, as with 8 dogs....it'd be very expensive to insure them.  They're particularly healthy, and it's probably cheaper for us to pay the vets bills if and when they occurr.

Lisa

Hi,

Have you a contact web address or 'phone number for the supplier in Ireland, I also need worming tablets - I have six rescue dogs and its getting a bit expensive - thanks loads

Over here vaccines cost the vets about £5-£7 a vial (if I remember rightly). In Ireland its about £4 (from what I've been told). Remember that with the annual vaccinations comes a thorough health checkover from the vet (and for some dogs this can be the only time they see the vet in a year). Therefore, the markup is pretty sensible - of course there are those that charge way over the odds! I think to be able to vaccinate at home, you should be able to prove that your dog has had a full veterinary check first - I just wouldnt feel safe about it otherwise!

Hi there,

I agree with you totally!

However, the last veterinary practice I worked at allowed staff to buy the vaccines at cost price and one of the vets would do the injection for us without charge.  The cost price I paid was 12 pounds and that was in 1999 just before I left the practice.  Many practices don't make as much of a markup on vaccs that people seem to think. The profits that they do make also have to cover the general bills like so many other business such as electric, heating etc, wages (not just vets and nurses but the ambulance driver, cleaner, accountant etc) tax, insurance the list goes on. 

I am not trying to defend the pricing on veterinary medicine as I know a lot of practices which are severely overpricing their treatments but we need to step back and look at the bigger picture.

The other point I wish to bring up is that its not just vaccinations which are available in Ireland.  You can purchase the antibiotics as well amongst other things, so does this mean that anyone can TREAT their pets too!

when i had a well known vet when i lived in london he is canadian i was told that dogs only needed vacination only every 3 years now i hav moved  to a new area the vet  here says  vacinate every year on top of that i saw a programme on the telly and it stated our dogs are over vacinated ,at the same time i could never attemp to do it myself

Hi there its me again,

I have made a new post under the heading 'Yearly vaccines Update' as I have now found some information regarding legality of giving vaccines in this country.

It is illegal for pet owners to give THEIR pets vaccines in the UK and there is an example of a dog breeder who was successfully prosecuted last year as an example. 

Hope this message finds you well.

Truely.