I put this video out on the 8th August. It's had 2.3k views. If you watch it on yoootooob you can read 116 comments. There are many stories there of other pet owners who have had similar experiences.
Something I picked up from tweeeter. . . . . .
Pets are simply corporate cash cows
As of 2024, approximately 56% of the UK’s 5,331 veterinary practices are owned by the top six corporate groups
IVC Evidensia owned by Nestle have 1,094 practices
Pets at Home owned by corporate investors has 554 practices
Medivet a Luxembourg company has 350 practices
CVS Group owned by corporate investors has 500 practices
As for insurance, petplan the countries biggest is owned by Allianz SE, a German multinational
Check out this article in the Sun.
PET CRISIS
As a former veterinary nurse I can absolutely confirm that things have changed in veterinary practices. The first job I ever had in a vet clinic was when I was in high school and the vet there was an old country vet and everything was easy-going and down-to-earth....animals were treated in a step-wise fashion: let's try this and if it doesn't help, we'll go to the next thing and so on. By the time I had qualified as a vet. nurse things were already changing and even private practices are encouraged to run like businesses. It was that shift in attitude that ultimately led to me leaving the profession. Having the knowledge that I do, I can spot when the vet I take our pets to is going straight for the expensive diagnostics and know to pull them up short and insist on taking one step at a time. It's criminal how people are taken advantage of. One last thing - my last nursing job was in a cats-only practice and I can see that Mayze is a healthy, happy cat (and you're right - her breathing is fine - so many youtube comments about that!). So glad I found your blog, btw! cheers, Melanie
ReplyDeleteHi Melanie. Thank you for sharing your insider knowledge with us. It seems to me that health care for pets is going exactly the same way as it is for humans. Jump in with both feet and write a prescription without trying an easy and cheap remedy first. See how it goes, then explore further with maybe a scan later. My vet suggested the scan quite early on in the conversation. When I questioned her she asked if she could take Mayze out of the room to get a second opinion with the main boss man vet. When she came back a different man also came in. I asked if he was a vet, he said he is a veterinary nurse. Mayze had the two injections and now she is eating ok. I found it incredibly frustrating that so many commented that her breathing does not seem right. That's the way of the world I suppose. Always someone that gives their opinion when they do not know the true facts of the situation. Her breathing is fine. She has always purred loudly when I make a fuss of her. It's good to know that I am not being unreasonable.
DeleteHi Ilona, I wholeheartedly agree with you. Teeth cleaning and tooth extraction seems rampant lately. So unfair because it tugs at the heart strings when there’s an underlying implication that we could be doing more for our beloved pets.
ReplyDeleteI think it's highly likely that animal lovers will cave in to any treatments that are suggested.
DeleteSorry, I forgot to add my name - Petra! x
ReplyDeleteThank you for adding that. I like to know who I am replying to.
DeleteI am trying hard to get my head around Nestle making money out of sick animals.
ReplyDeleteIt's just the same as pharmaceuticals making money out of sick people.
DeleteHi Ilona, the vet we use for our dogs & cat is a local practice, owned & run by the vet himself. It's a lovely practice. However, I take our 2 elderly rabbits to a different one - it's owned by a national firm who own lots of practices. One of the rabs was very poorly a couple of weeks ago. Anyway, he survived, after 2 days as an in patient . No surgery, just IV fluids, feeding, injections and observation - to the tune of £797!! What could I do!! I did feel pressured.
ReplyDeleteExactly, what can you do when confronted with a large bill. The process of euthanasia will sadly brought forward when people have to make the decision.
DeleteMy friends dog had a slipped disc,was in the vets a week £8,000. These greedy vets will be doing themselves out of a job because eventually people will just not be able to afford pets. It's absolutely disgusting greed. Money lovers not animal lovers.Nick
ReplyDeleteThanks Nick. That's a horror story. Enough to put anyone off taking on a new pet. This is only going to mean that more animals are abandoned.
DeleteI lost confidence in my vets recently - I was very disappointed and felt really let down by them - Now registered with an independent vet - I shall see how it goes x
ReplyDeleteI wondered whether you'd come across Dr Andrew Jones Veterinary Secrets online - I look at it regularly and find it quite useful x
ReplyDeleteNot heard about that one, flis. I will take a look. It might be time to shop around.
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