“Your money or your dog”, expensive vet tells customer to pay 1,700 euro in order to get her dog back

'WinWin' examined why some vets charge up to 4 times more for the same operation. According to figures from the insurance company PetExpert, Belgians spend an average of 1,250 euro per annum on their pets. A large portion of this goes to vets for medical care.  

Vets’ bills have increased considerably in recent years. The federal statistics bureau Statbel says that vets’ bills have increase by around 10% more than other household expenses during the past decade.

Since 2015 the amount charged by vets to treat pets has increased by 45%, while the cost of living in general has increased by 35%. 1 in 3 pet owners have difficulty finding the cash to pay bills for medical treatment for their pets.

Mia Bleus’ from Blankenberge (West Flanders) dog Kiara needed a knee operation costing 1,700 euro. Mia told the VRT "We had agreed in advance that I could pay in instalments. Moreover, I have pets’ insurance that would pay back the largest part”. 

Despite this "When I went to collect Kiara, the had changed their mind. I was told that I had to pay in full or I wouldn’t get my dog back. Even when I asked in tears if I could hold her for a moment, they said no.”

Eventually, Mia was able to borrow the money from her daughter. “I feel that I have been treated like a criminal. Some vets are real money-grabbers. Is a vet allowed to just hold on to my dog like that?”.

'WinWin' looked at the terms and conditions applied by the veterinary practice that treated Mia’s dog on its website and found no clause stating that pets would be held at the practice until fees are paid in full. Mia says that she was not told verbally by the vet prior to the operation. This begs the question of whether what happened was legal. 

Mia later discovered that another vet charged just 700 euro for the same operation. Mia is not the only pet owner to face hefty bills and big price difference between vets. ‘WinWin’ collected more than 170 complaints about vets’ bills on its Fecebook page.

For example, Freya from Ghent (East Flanders) received an offer of 1,400 euro to have one of her cat Fons’ teeth extracted. Another vet asked 700 euro for the same treatment. “That’s half the price fort he same treatment. The price differences are scandalous”. 

'WinWin' called 20 vets to ask for a quote for the treatment given to Mia’s dog. The cheapest quote was 400 euro, the most expensive 1,600 euro.

For the tooth extraction on Freya’s cat the cheapest quote was 350 euro, while most expensive price quoted was 850 euro. This confirms that there are very big price differences between different vets and that it is best to shop around. 

In Belgium vets are not allowed to set their fees at a uniform level and there is no maximum set for the amount they are allowed to charge. They are free to set their fees to the level that they feel is appropriate. Dr Griet Goethals is a vet in Ursel (East Flanders). Dr Goethals told ‘WinWin’ that "Even for vets there is no transparency. Setting fees has always been a matter of guesswork. It would be good if agreements could be made on this”. The Chair of the Order of Veterinary Surgeons Theo Borgers confirms that there is a lack of transparency compared with neighboring countries.

"In Germany they decided to introduce uniform tariffs at around the turn of the century. Each treatment has a code that is linked to a tariff. There are 4 lists, 1 for normal working hours, 1 for weekends and nights, 1 for public holidays and 1 for specialists. This works and is particularly useful for vets that are starting their careers. However, in Belgium the Order of Veterinary Surgeons is not allowed to intervene in the setting of fees”.   

Dr Borgers adds that "I always make the comparison with a garage. A small simple garage in a village will charge you less to change your oil than a posh, modern garage in town. It’s the same with vets. Some practices are very well-equipped with new equipment; they offer an emergency service and use the latest technology. As a customer you pay for this”. 

Dr Griet Goethals says that she understands that people often feel that vets’ fees are expensive. " Some medical equipment is incredibly expensive. As a veterinarian, you have to invest to provide good care, but that investment also has to generate returns. This translates into higher rates. Still, you shouldn't become a veterinarian for the money. Some vets earn barely more than minimum wage. We're certainly not money-grubbing”.

Dr Louise Mollaert is a vet in Vilvoorde (Flemish Brabant). “People sometimes wonder if I even love animals, simply because I charge for treatment. Of course I love animals, but that doesn't mean I can work for free. We can provide fantastic care today, but it costs money. Not everyone can afford it, and that sometimes hurts”.

“People expect veterinary medicine to be as accessible as human medicine, where health insurance covers a lot. However, there's no social security system for animals. We pay 21% VAT on our services and our income comes entirely from the pet owner. If someone is struggling financially, I'm happy to discuss what's feasible”.