LETTER: Is there any wonder so many animals are abandoned?
For example, recently I took my dog to the vets regarding his eyes and as a result he was prescribed eye drops and because he needed to start on the treatment straight away I purchased them from the vet’s practice concerned. They cost me £14.05 for a 10mg tube which only lasted me for four days. When I returned home I rang a chemist which also deals in veterinarian medicines and was told the same medicine for the same amount would cost me £5.97. I then rang a second local veterinary practice to see how much it would charge and was told £16.13. Now, in order to obtain this medication through the pharmacy chain I have to obtain a written prescription from the vet’s. From the first vet’s a written prescription with one item on costs £9.49.
However, a second item on the prescription would cost me a further £5.83 and this same charge would be added for every additional item for the same animal.
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Hide AdThe second vet practice charges £12 for the first item on the prescription and £6 for each additional item.
I wonder how many pet owners out there have any idea of the huge mark-up they are paying for on medicines their pets are on? If their pets are on long-term medication they would do well to pay for a written prescription and obtain the medication from somewhere else.
However, I don’t believe these huge mark-ups are acceptable and I believe that these charges will undoubtedly be having consequences regarding animal welfare throughout the UK.
I don’t mind paying vets’ fees and I expect to pay them. However, I do feel that these fees are not reasonable and pet owners are being taken for a ride. Is there any wonder so many pets get abandoned?
I would be most interested to know what other pet owners think.
J.A.Ainsworth
By email