JANET STREET-PORTER: I really like my border terrier Badger however why ought to it cost me hundreds simply to maintain him match and wholesome? Vets are ripping off pet house owners with extortionate costs

At final, our lacklustre authorities has finished one thing in style! This week, the Competition and Markets Authority introduced an investigation into the hovering prices of proudly owning a pet.

The watchdog plans to search out out why vets payments and medicines for animals cost a lot, and whether or not the general public is being ripped off. My solely criticism is: why did it take so lengthy?

Owning a pet is great, till they get sick. Then you’ll begin to really feel worse than they do, the second these vet invoice begin dropping into your inbox.

Pet possession soared throughout Covid and there at the moment are over 16 million dogs within the UK. Pets had been our assist throughout lockdown, however as we drift again to the workplace, the cost of taking care of our new pals – to not point out the walking time – begins to chunk. 

Not surprisingly, there was a rise within the variety of animals being rehomed or taken to shelters as many house owners cannot afford a pet together with childcare, the mortgage and every part else.

I take a look at our scruffy canine Badger the Border Terrier (who got here with a pedigree longer than my very own) and I see an costly luxurious merchandise, an extravagance which has cost me greater than designer footwear or purses. 

Yes, Badger is great, he by no means tells me I’m annoying, he is trustworthy and is at all times good for a lick and a little bit of a household sing-song (howl) – however none of this comes low cost.

Every day, this barely obese however extraordinarily macho 10-year-old stands proudly on the entrance door, prepared for a walk, lots of leg lifting and a sniff. 

We (the anxious house owners) mentally full a well being and security evaluation. If we let him off the lead, one leap too excessive or a nasty touchdown might end in hundreds of kilos price of vets’ payments. Can we threat it?

Many pet house owners know that anxious feeling. Over the final decade, funding banks, insurance coverage firms and varied metropolis establishments have labored out that there is large money to be made in animal care and insurance coverage. 

Six massive firms (considered one of whom, Mars, makes goodies) personal 60% of the vet practices within the UK. 

In almost half of the nation, there is no such thing as a alternative of an unbiased practitioner, simply the choice of a few chains. The cost of insurance coverage for pets has soared and is simply as filled with caveats and restrictions as grownup personal well being insurance policies.

My accomplice (a pensioner) determined to economise by solely paying for Badger to be insured for ‘accidents’. The coverage cost simply £12 a month in comparison with a extra complete coverage costing three to 4 occasions as a lot. 

Since then, we’ve got paid out hundreds in medical payments for an animal who hasn’t mentioned thanks as soon as.

When Badger fell badly chasing a deer in 2022, he broken his cruciate ligament, the bit that holds a again leg collectively. 

The invoice for X-rays and surgical procedure got here to over £3,200. Despite pet insurance coverage, we nonetheless needed to pay a shortfall over £600. 

On one other event, Badger obtained a blade of grass caught deep between the claws in considered one of his entrance paws operating on marshes. 

That wasn’t coated by the insurance coverage both and so I coughed up £700 for surgical procedure to take away it. Plus, an in a single day keep in a canine luxurious hospital chosen by the vet added £150.

When Badger broken his different again leg chasing one other deer final yr, the insurance coverage firm refused to pay any prices, claiming he was ‘accident inclined’ – although it was the opposite leg to the primary operation! I mentioned goodbye to £540 for x-rays, one other evening in a canine resort, and £3,000 in vets’ payments.

I’ve come to understand there’s little or no distinction in cost between well being take care of the canine and my very own. It’s a great job I’m nonetheless working and may afford myself and the canine as we enter our senior years collectively.

I’ve simply had a high-tech surgical procedure to insert a small stent in my proper eye to save lots of my sight from additional deterioration after Glaucoma surgical procedure and drops didn’t maintain my eye stress down. 

My insurers won’t pay the prices, and so I’ve coughed up £3,400 for the hospital, £1,700 for the surgeon and £600 for the anaesthetist – or I might have gone on the NHS ready record, hanging round no less than two months for an appointment, after which 4 months for potential surgical procedure. I’d have misplaced my sight by then.

The shockingly lengthy NHS backlog for cataract surgical procedure is being handled over weekends, as a result of with out it, older folks will lose their valuable sight and a few have been ready years.

I can afford my operation – so I don’t wish to deny anybody extra needy a place within the queue.

But is not it astonishing that my canine’s X-rays and medicine cost as a lot – if no more – than mine? How older individuals are presupposed to pay for his or her dogs (who will likely be their solely and finest pals on the planet) to remain match, God solely is aware of.

Any go to to the vet will cost £40- £60, some cost £7 to fill in an insurance coverage type, an anaesthetist will cost £100 and X-rays tons of extra. 

Removing cysts and small tumours prices over £800, and blood checks one other hundred – and VAT is added on to every part. 

Vets’ charges usually are not regulated, and practices make 1 / 4 of their income from prescriptions. When your canine is vomiting and sick, are you actually going to attend a day or two for a web based (cheaper) product to be delivered?

Charities like PDSA and Blue Cross may also help the needy and people on Universal Credit with their payments however they are saying calls asking for help have soared by 80% because the pandemic. 

Thank goodness Paul O’Grady left hundreds of kilos in his wills to animal charities. Let’s not neglect the poor pensioners who personal pets both.

It’s not simply the cost of holding your pet match – first rate pet food and treats do not come low cost. Badger’s dinner prices about the identical as mine, since he developed a style for swanky pet food like Lily’s Springtime Stew or Venison Casserole. 

The biscuits prices £25 for two.5 kg and even a designer pasta canine meal in a can will set you again £3.50.

Perhaps I can stability the books by getting Badger some paid employment as a mannequin?

Sadly, I worry he is somewhat bit too ‘road’ for the catwalk.

You would possibly see a characterful canine – I see a debit card on 4 legs.