Uninsured pet owners charged more by vets

The independent consumer watchdog Which? has revealed that consumers who don't have pet insurance could be charged more than twice as much to cure simple pet ailments such as fleas when buying pet medicines directly from their vet.

Which?'s latest research shows that the cost of caring for an unwell pet can prove expensive - particularly for pet owners who are uninsured. With the best-selling flea tablets 'Frontline' thought to cost up to £38.95 when bought directly from a veterinary practice, when it is available, elsewhere, for a much lower £16.33.

Harvey Locke, President-elect of the British Veterinary Association, has explained that pet medicines may cost more when bought directly from a vet as "veterinary practices will mark up the cost of the medicines they supply in order to cover the costs of keeping and dispensing them".

However, this response is bound to offer little comfort to the many credit-crunch affected pet owners who are finding that they are unable to care for their animals due to financial restraints. And who may now, feel short-changed following the news that taking out a pet insurance policy would not only have helped to relieve financial pressure by covering the cost of unexpected treatments and vet bills - but would have seen those very same treatments cost much less.

Whilst Which? discovered that pet remedies including eye ointments and flea tablets could be found cheaper online or on the high street, the watchdog has urged pet owners to best protect their purse and their pet by comparing pet insurance policies.

Tue, 28 Sep 2010 01:00:00 GMT