24/02/2026
With the recent publicity surrounding veterinary fees and the CMA asking for more transparency in pricing we would like to be clearer as to why our fees are what they are.
We think it’s important to be honest about why veterinary care costs what it does. A bill isn’t just paying for a single appointment — it reflects everything needed to provide safe and modern treatment for your pet.
• All of our prices include VAT. For every £100 you spend, £16.67 goes straight to HMRC. It is sometimes assumed that we are exempt like the NHS but the 20% vat fee applies to all treatment.
• Skilled staff. We are lucky enough to have a very experienced team of vets and nurses, not to mention our support staff and receptionists. As with other businesses we have a huge rise in employment costs and we believe in paying our dedicated team fairly for a very demanding job.
• Training. Vets and Nurses are required to undertake a specified amount of CPD (continued professional development) every year. This training, although costly, ensures our team are up to date with medical developments and allows us to look after your pet safely.
• Investment. The recent BBC program referenced the days of James Herriot. These times, although nostalgic, are thankfully behind us. Vets no longer treat from a small bag with a few bottles of medication on a kitchen table . We invest heavily and have modern drugs, dedicated theatres and advanced equipment and instruments.
We can diagnose, treat and cure more than ever before and most of the profit goes back into the practice for reinvestment.
• Medication. It is understandable that people perceive vets to be expensive when some medications given to animals have a human equivalent which is very cheap, for example paracetamol. The simple fact is that we are not allowed to use these drugs. In fact if we were to recommend or prescribe a human drug where a veterinary equivalent existed we would be breaking the law.
All of our dedicated team are in this profession because they do not want to see an animal suffer. Together we can make decisions for your pet; balancing safety, quality and affordability.
