Vet warns that people are shooting their own animals because they cannot afford vet bills
A vet with over 50 years’ experience has warned that dog owners are shooting their own pets because they cannot afford fees for treatment.
David Thomson, 72, has called on the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) to intervene as he claimed some corporately-owned veterinary chains have put profit before care, allegedly recommending costly treatments where simpler ones could work.
“I know of dog owners in my community who, unable to pay hefty vets’ fees, have shot their pets to put an end to their suffering. Vets should be offering care, but the first question the big chains ask now isn’t, ‘let me see what we can do for your pet’ it is, ‘are you insured’? or, ‘what is your credit card number’.”
In 2013 just 10 per cent of vet practices were run by large corporations, but that figure has risen to 60 per cent. Many vet chains have strengthened their positions by also offering pet insurance.
The current RCVS guideline is that if a pet owner has no funds to pay for treatment, isn’t eligible for charitable assistance and no other form of financial assistance can be found ‘euthanasia may have to be considered on economic grounds’.
Mr Thomson, from Stoke-on-Trent, wrote in a public letter to the RCVS, which has been shared 2,500 times on Facebook, saying that he was “unhappy that the veterinary profession, once beloved by the masses, is now considered a profession of greed, avarice and uncaring…….the RCVS say charities should help [pet owners without funds]. But how? They are all strapped for cash.”
Mr Thomson cited an example of one veterinary practice charging £540 for one stitch in a dog’s leg, with the dog under sedation.
“We wouldn’t sedate a human for one stitch…..wouldn’t cleaning it and putting in two quick staples have done the job just as efficiently at a fraction of the cost?” he said.
It comes as vets face a probe by the Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) into how much they charge pet owners amid “multiple concerns” that customers are getting a bad deal.
The CMA said in March that it would launch a formal investigation into the vet sector after preliminary inquiries found evidence that the market wasn’t working properly.
Evidence
There is evidence that customers are not getting enough information on prices to allow them to shop around and fears that pet owners are overpaying for medicines. The CMA flagged in September that prices for pet care had risen faster than the rate of inflation.
Mr Thomson claimed some vets routinely insist on expensive overnight stays, although pets are often better off at home. “How can a little old lady with her Yorkie be a bad owner because she can’t afford a £1,000 bill?” he said.
Mr Thomson charges just £15 for a consultation – the average fee in 2023 was £53.82 according to insurers Many Pets.
He said: “Vets shouldn’t automatically insist on scans and x-rays to diagnose. They need to use their skills to assess it, only ordering scans to confirm if they are unsure.”
He said he recently saw images of a dog with pelvic fractures for which a vet from a large operator had quoted £9,000 for surgery. “The dog was eating and moving around but in a little discomfort so I advised rest and anti-inflammatory medication and the dog fully recovered,” he said.
Strong feeling
Sue Patterson, president of the RCVS said: “We are aware that David Thomson’s letter has generated a lot of strong feeling. We regulate vets, not the companies that employ them, but we would very much like to see the industry regulated.
“It is facing huge challenges with a chronic shortage of vets and veterinary nurses combined with the huge growth in pet ownership during Covid. Vets aren’t very well paid.
“The recent investigation into the industry by the CMA is very welcome and lots of issues such as pricing will be covered.
“Contextualised care – the recognition that there is more than one way to treat an animal – is so important which is why our guidelines state that vets must offer affordable treatment without compromising animal welfare.
“Some good things have come out of corporate vets running practices, as they can invest in equipment and premises, and so whilst it’s not for everyone, it’s nice to have access to things like scanners and so on. It’s good to have the choice.”
