Livestock, Veterinary | – How on earth can they defend the prices?

The commitment around veterinary prices is enormous. There are several Norwegian Facebook groups that discuss veterinary prices and the “galloping prices in parts of the veterinary industry”. The largest has 19,200 members.

Nettavisen has compared the prices of four veterinary chains in Eastern Norway. Several of them operate throughout the country. The dental cleaning treatment for dogs is almost twice as expensive at the most expensive clinic.

• Empet has a branch in Mosseveien in Fredrikstad.

• Evidensia has branches in Moss and Sarpsborg.

• AniCura has a branch in Moss.

• Petrus only has branches in Oslo.

All prices can be found on the chain’s website, located in Oslo. See the rest of the price comparison of the most common treatments at the bottom of the case.

Several reasons for the price difference

Hilde Røssland, head of the Association of Small Animal Practicing Veterinarians, tells Nettavisen that veterinary services require specialized equipment, medicines and qualified personnel.

– It is something the vet has to charge for. Health services on the human side are supported by the state, they are not too expensive.

– Why is there such a big difference in prices for treatments at the various veterinary clinics?

– Price variations are due to differences in what is included in the treatment, the type of equipment and instruments used, continuing and further training of veterinarians, whether the clinic offers 24-hour security, and the location and size of the premises.

– A large animal hospital that offers 24-hour veterinary care must have animal health personnel available 24 hours a day, and that costs money.

She says a small clinic may only want one employee and less extensive equipment and premises than an animal hospital will have.

– This means that the total costs for the veterinarian in a small clinic are lower and the price for the treatment can be lower.

– High price does not equal high quality

Petrus Veterinær is one of the veterinary chains that comes out best in the test in terms of price. Operations manager Caroline Husby points out that a low price does not mean poorer quality.

– Good equipment and skilled veterinarians with experience cost money, but a higher price does not always equal higher quality. The most requested treatments are not very complex, but the prices still vary extremely, she writes in an e-mail to Nettavisen.

– It therefore becomes too easy to say that the highest in price is the best in quality. For the more complex treatments, Petrus is closer to our competitors in price, she adds.

– Must relocate or choose Sweden

In one of the posts on the Facebook group Veterinæropprøred, a member writes that she has lived in Spain for the past five years.

She writes that she is now faced with two choices, to relocate her two dogs, or to move to Sweden instead of Norway. That because of the veterinary prices.

«We simply cannot afford it.»

«How in the world can Norwegian vets defend the prices they operate with?»

«The worst thing is that they take advantage of people’s love for their animals. ONLY for your own profit. What a shame!!!!!! Now someone has to wake up soon and put their foot down.”

In a comment, another member writes “Norway is in the process of showing itself off. This applies to goods and services. If it continues like this, soon no one will be able to afford to have any pets, and soon no one will be able to afford to live in this country.”

– Sees the challenges

Røssland says that pet owners can freely choose which clinic they want to go to.

– If you choose to go to an animal hospital with specialized equipment and animal health personnel, the treatment will have a higher cost than if you go to a smaller clinic.

She says that if it is a standard treatment, it is entirely possible to investigate the price at which another clinic offers the same service.

– But as in all other professions, there is often a connection between price and quality.

The manager says that they see the challenges for some pet owners is that it costs money to go to the vet.

– MAs an animal owner, you have a statutory responsibility to provide the necessary veterinary treatment if the animal becomes ill or injured. It is the owner’s responsibility that the animal does not suffer.

She adds that animal welfare can be affected if high prices lead to animal owners choosing not to treat the animal or choosing not to go to the vet.

– An alternative choice is euthanasia. It is not bad care to choose this. Treatment is not always the best solution.

The most common surveys

Nettavisen has obtained prices and summarized an overview of the price differences for the most common veterinary treatments below: