PET OWNERS are being hit by soaring vet fees due to soaring inflation and a lack of competition in the industry.
Laura Purkess takes a look at what is happening and explains how you can avoid being stung.
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WHILE enjoying the holiday of a lifetime in Tanzania last September, Sarina Kastendiek received a call that shattered her world.
After returning to her hotel from a day of exploring, the media executive was told by reception she had a message waiting for her.
It was from her local vet, who asked her to call them back as soon as possible.
Sarina, 31, from London, said she felt a wave of dread and feared the worst had happened.
On calling, she received the devastating news that her beloved cat, Calypso, urgently needed surgery to treat life-threatening injuries — and it was going to cost her £8,000.
Calypso had eaten 80cm of string, which had got wrapped around her tongue and was pulling on her internal organs.
The vets said they needed Sarina’s consent — and card details — to perform the surgery or Calypso would die.
“I was in utter shock,” said Sarina.
“The vet put me on FaceTime so I could see and talk to Calypso before the surgery. It felt like a goodbye.
“The next day, I lay alone on one of Zanzibar’s most beautiful beaches crying, waiting for news and wondering how I would pay for the extortionate operation.”
Thankfully, the surgery was a success and Sarina was able to fly home and visit Calypso while she was recovering.
Sarina had pet insurance, but it would only cover about half of the bill due to various exclusions and excesses, meaning she still needed to stump up another £4,000 herself.
And the spending didn’t stop there.
“Over the past two years, Calypso has cost me around £13,000 in non-routine vet bills,” Sarina said.
“When I look at her curled up on my lap, when she comes in the middle of the day wanting a cuddle and when she gets under the duvet at night to sleep next to me, it’s all worth it.
“But to this day, I am still paying off all the vet bills I’ve racked up on my credit card and I’ll be paying them for years.”
Sarina is just one of thousands of pet owners stumping up exorbitant fees to save their animals as the prices soar year on year.
Experts say this is due to an increasing lack of competition in the market as independent practices are being bought by larger firms.
Claims data from John Lewis Insurance, provided exclusively to Sun Money, shows average vet bills for a range of common incidents have risen anywhere from 70 per cent to 105 per cent over the past four years alone.
The average cost of treating a lack of appetite in cats soared by 105 per cent from £547.72 in 2020 to £1,125 in 2024, the data showed.
While the typical cost of treating a lump for a dog jumped from £554.83 in 2020 to £940 in 2024, a rise of 70 per cent.
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Bills are rising much more steeply for some animals than others.
For example, the price of treatment for vomiting, one of the most common ailments, increased by 28 per cent for dogs between 2020 and 2024, but just 2.6 per cent for cats.
Meanwhile analysis by Tesco Insurance found that the average cost of a claim for illness for cats was £796, while for dogs it was £964.
The huge rise in fees has led to owners being pushed into debt.
More than 11million people are thought to have less than £1,000 in savings to cover unexpected bills, according to the Resolution Foundation.
Other owners are not giving their pets treatment because they can’t afford it, even if it means that their beloved animal suffers.
Research by John Lewis Pet Insurance found almost a quarter (23 per cent) of customers had been forced to stop treatment for their pet due to unexpected or increased vet fees.
And Tesco Insurance found a quarter (25 per cent) of owners said they were concerned they would not be able to afford their pets’ upkeep in future.
Axel Lagercrantz, boss of store Pets4Homes, explained many independent veterinarians have been bought by six larger corporations, and this is creating a monopoly in the market.
He said: “The UK vet industry has changed massively over the past decade.
“The share of independent vets in Britain has dropped from 98 per cent to a staggering 40 per cent, and those that remain are being bought by six big players.
“The lack of competition this situation creates means that practices can charge much higher prices.”
He added that veterinary care has witnessed “rapid technological advances” which could reduce costs but there is no incentive for large practices to offer these cheaper methods.
He said: “Large corporate groups in the veterinary sector may have incentive to promote more comprehensive, advanced treatments because they have already invested in costly equipment to offer services.”
Our insurer covered Loaf’s £1,000 vet bill
27-year-old Alicia Boukersi, from Cheshire, had to stump up a whopping £1,000 after her dog developed an upset stomach.
Her Corgi, Loaf, had stopped eating and started vomiting and having diarrhoea.
Alicia and her boyfriend took Loaf to the vet twice for tests and an emergency-follow up appointment but were dreading receiving the final bill.
“After multiple tests, injections, and examinations, we were finally given some medicine and told it was likely just a bad case of the flu,” Alicia said.
“The total bill? £1,000. Some might not think that’s much, but in the week between Christmas and New Year’s, it would have been tough to cover without pet insurance!”
Thankfully, Alicia’s whole bill was covered by her insurer, Napo Pet Insurance.
“Never underestimate how important insurance is!” Alicia added.
PROTECT AGAINST PET COSTS
WHEN you visit a vet, ask about the specifics of what treatment is needed plus how much it will cost – then see if there are areas you could cut costs on without compromising on care.
Vet Martin Stevens said: “My number one piece of advice is to always ask questions about any treatment that is recommended.
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“Be sure to check about any potential medicines, necessary overnight stays, and any post-treatment needs.
“This will give you a full picture of the costs and care required.
“Vets are always happy to help and want pet owners to feel comfortable.”
Pet insurance can help protect you from vet bills.
Depending on the type of cover, it should pay out a lump sum to cover the cost of your vet bills.
According to Compare The Market, the average cost of pet insurance is £116 a year but cover for dogs tends to be more expensive, costing around £137 a year, while for cats the average yearly cost is £76.
Be aware that insurance costs tend to rise as your pet gets older or if they have any pre-existing conditions.
Always compare prices using at least two comparison websites as well as getting quotes from insurers such as Direct Line and Petplan who don’t appear on them.
Some pet owners choose to self-insure, which is when they put money aside each month into a savings account to pay for any potential pet emergency.
But make sure you would be able to come up with the money in an emergency or you could be in trouble if your pet needs aid before you have built up savings.
You may be able to get free or cheaper vet treatment if you are on certain benefits through charities such as the PDSA and Blue Cross.
Check if you’re eligible at pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/eligibility.
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