Dr Charlotte Inness said you had a legal right to ask about it
A vet has disclosed one of the “best-kept secrets” within the profession that could be silently pushing up pet owners’ costs by hundreds of pounds annually. Dr Charlotte Inness, a veterinary surgeon and founder of online veterinary pharmacy VetMedi, revealed that numerous owners remain unaware they are legally entitled to request written prescriptions and purchase medications elsewhere for considerably less.
She cautioned that purchasing long-term medication directly from veterinary practices is frequently “the most expensive way to provide care”.
“This is the single easiest way to save hundreds of pounds, yet many owners feel too awkward to ask,” Dr Inness exclusively told creatorzine. “Vets naturally make a margin on the medications they sell in-house, but you have a legal right to ask for a written prescription.”
She explained that owners could often save more than £200 per year by purchasing medication from licensed online pharmacies instead. The alert comes amid mounting scrutiny over escalating veterinary costs throughout the UK.
According to findings from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), veterinary practices owned by large corporate groups charge approximately 16.6% more on average than independent clinics. Dr Inness noted that many pet owners don’t appreciate their local surgery may have been acquired by a larger chain. “One of the best-kept secrets in the industry is who owns your vet matters,” she explained.
“Large corporate veterinary groups often have standardised pricing structures that can be significantly higher than your local independent practice for the same treatment.”, reports Glasgow Live.
“If you feel your bills are creeping up, check if your surgery has recently been bought out by a larger group – you might be paying a premium for the same treatment.”
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She also cautioned against hefty out-of-hours charges, warning that emergency providers can bill “double or triple” standard consultation rates. “Unless it is a genuine life-or-death emergency, waiting until the next morning for a standard appointment can save you at least £150 in consultation fees alone,” she said.
Dr Inness highlighted that routine procedures can rapidly spiral far beyond initial expectations due to additional charges for blood tests, imaging and aftercare. She added: “A quote for a simple procedure might not include the pre-op bloods or the follow-up imaging that are required before treatment begins.
“My insider tip is to always ask for an itemised, written estimate for any treatment expected to cost over £500.” She urged pet owners to specifically enquire whether aftercare and take-home medication are incorporated within estimates, in order to avoid any “nasty surprises” further down the line.
