With no NHS for pets, we turn to vets to help our four-legged family members when they get into scrapes or fall ill. But many owners can be surprised by how much it costs for consultation and treatment.
Up to £15,000 vet fees
Choose vet fee cover from £1,000 to £15,000 to suit your pet’s needs. Your limit resets each year you renew.
Choose vet fee cover from £1,000 to £15,000 to suit your pet’s needs. Your limit resets each year you renew.
Tailored pet insurance
Your pet is unique. Choose your limits, excess and optional extras to create a policy that fits them like a collar.
Your pet is unique. Choose your limits, excess and optional extras to create a policy that fits them like a collar.
Switch with continuous cover
Switch to Petgevity on a like for like basis, with no gap in cover, and your cover could start immediately**.
Switch to Petgevity on a like for like basis, with no gap in cover, and your cover could start immediately**.
Up to £15,000 vet fees
More info
Choose vet fee cover from £1,000 to £15,000 to suit your pet’s needs. Your limit resets each year you renew.
Tailored pet insurance
More info
Your pet is unique. Choose your limits, excess and optional extras to create a policy that fits them like a collar.
Switch with continuous cover
More info
Switch to Petgevity on a like for like basis, with no gap in cover, and your cover could start immediately**.
Expert vet Dr Scott Miller explains how vet costs work and what options are available to you if you’re worried about your vet bill. You’ll also find out why getting pet insurance is important to protect you from vet bill costs.
Vet costs will vary depending on a number of things:
Vets are able to offer an excellent standard of care and treat your pet as well as a human, but it comes at a cost.
Remember that you’re also paying for convenience by choosing to use a local vet rather than a bigger chain.
Also, keep in mind that your bill is based on your pet’s individual medical situation. Your vet should talk through all of the options available to help you make an informed decision on treatment.
Although many vets don’t charge a fee to register your pet, this is down to the individual practice. If in doubt, get in touch with your local vet practice or have a look at their website.
A vet may charge a consultation fee to see and potentially diagnose your pet, then any treatment costs will be added on top. Consultation fees can start from £20 upwards.
Some not-for-profit organisations like Animal Trust don’t charge a consultation fee to see a sick or injured animal.
It’s important to take your pet for their annual check ups. Your vet can make sure they’re healthy and spot any possible problems before they get worse.
Similar to consultation fees, the price of a pet health check can start from £20 upwards.
You also have the option of an annual booster appointment (which will be higher than a normal check up). Your pet gets a full health check plus a top-up of their vaccinations to keep them protected against common nasties.
Some practices offer pet health clubs and plans for a fixed monthly fee. These can include:
Unlike the NHS, there is no standardised cost for a pet prescription. Vets can charge from £10 up for each written prescription.
Some medicines and antibiotics don’t always need a written prescription. You can buy over-the-counter medicine from your vet practice, pharmacy, or online.
If your pet has a serious accident or is ill and rapidly getting worse, they may need to urgently see a vet. Emergency vet appointments can cost from £200 upwards.
You may find organisations like Animal Trust may start at a lower price for an emergency visit than standard vet practices. But the cost will still be higher than a regular vet appointment.
It’s not always easy to know when your pet needs urgent help, so here’s a guide on when to visit an emergency vet.
Emergency vets handle pet emergencies and have to work overnight, so they charge a higher cost to compensate for these unsociable hours.
Your vet surgeon may recommend keeping your pet overnight to continue treatment, care, or in emergency cases.
A vet clinic overnight stay with a drip treatment can begin from £300.
Not all vets offer home visits as this can come down to safety or experience issues.
A home visit comes at a premium and can include or be added on top of a standard consultation fee.
For example, one London vet clinic charges £225 plus their consultation cost for house visits.
Mobile vet services are becoming more common but these will also come at a more premium cost.
An x-ray is used to see what potential problems could be going on inside your cat or dog. Your pet needs to be still for the x-ray image and so may be sedated or given an anaesthetic.
Prices for an x-ray can start from £300 with a higher cost if sedation is needed.
Much like in many other areas and industries, the cost of living crisis has also affected vets. Your local practice may have increased its prices due to:
Being a responsible pet parent is thinking ahead about the lifelong costs of ownership – before committing to a cat or dog. This includes being able to afford vet bills, from check ups and vaccinations to treatment for accidents and illnesses.
It might not be the right time to get a pet if their care costs will make supporting your family a struggle.
When it comes to getting help with your vet bill, some of the bigger vet chains may be able to offer credit options.
Your vet may be able to jump a few diagnostic steps or find more affordable ways to manage some conditions. But keep in mind that some conditions may only have one treatment or management option.
Be honest with your vet about your concerns around treatment costs and they’ll do what they can to help.
It can be a stressful and possibly heartbreaking experience if you have to compromise on your pet’s care because you can’t afford treatment.
Having pet insurance can give you peace of mind that your four-legged friend is covered for accidents, illness, and long-term conditions.
So you can concentrate on what’s important – helping your best pet pal get better.
Be prepared for unexpected vet bills with flexible pet insurance from Petgevity.
Defaqto 5 star rating when you choose vet fees over £4,000 with all optional add-ons included.
Basic cover alone has 3 star rating
Three-time winner National Insurance Awards Pet Insurance Award 2022, 2023 & 2024.
Awarded Best Pet Insurance Provider at the Insurance Choice Awards 2022.
Choosing Petgevity to protect your pet gives you more than just vet fee cover. Here's what you get from our policy.
Dental accident
If your pets have a dental accident or injury, you’re covered up to your chosen vet fee limit. Just make sure you’re taking them for annual check-ups and following vet dental advice.
If your pets have a dental accident or injury, you’re covered up to your chosen vet fee limit. Just make sure you’re taking them for annual check-ups and following vet dental advice.
Behavioural treatment
Get expert help with your pets’ emotional and mental well-being, as advised by a vet. Covers up to your chosen vet fee limit (maximum 12 sessions, combined with complementary therapy).
Get expert help with your pets’ emotional and mental well-being, as advised by a vet. Covers up to your chosen vet fee limit (maximum 12 sessions, combined with complementary therapy).
Complementary therapy
This includes alternative treatments like hydrotherapy or acupuncture, as advised by a vet. Cover up to your chosen vet fee limit (maximum 12 sessions combined with behavioural treatment)
This includes alternative treatments like hydrotherapy or acupuncture, as advised by a vet. Cover up to your chosen vet fee limit (maximum 12 sessions combined with behavioural treatment)
Emergency care
If you have an emergency (like an unplanned hospital visit) and can’t look after your pets, you get up to £1,500 towards pet minding costs.
If you have an emergency (like an unplanned hospital visit) and can’t look after your pets, you get up to £1,500 towards pet minding costs.
Third-party liability for dogs
This is when your dog causes injury to someone or their pet, or causes loss or damage to another person’s property. Cover for up to £2,000,000 for legal action made against you or your dog.
This is when your dog causes injury to someone or their pet, or causes loss or damage to another person’s property. Cover for up to £2,000,000 for legal action made against you or your dog.
Choice of optional extras
Choose from a range of optional extras to suit your pets’ needs, such as dental illness and cover if your pets get lost or stolen.
Choose from a range of optional extras to suit your pets’ needs, such as dental illness and cover if your pets get lost or stolen.
Dental accident
More info
If your pets have a dental accident or injury, you’re covered up to your chosen vet fee limit. Just make sure you’re taking them for annual check-ups and following vet dental advice.
Behavioural treatment
More info
Get expert help with your pets’ emotional and mental well-being, as advised by a vet. Covers up to your chosen vet fee limit (maximum 12 sessions, combined with complementary therapy).
Complementary therapy
More info
This includes alternative treatments like hydrotherapy or acupuncture, as advised by a vet. Cover up to your chosen vet fee limit (maximum 12 sessions combined with behavioural treatment)
Emergency care
More info
If you have an emergency (like an unplanned hospital visit) and can’t look after your pets, you get up to £1,500 towards pet minding costs.
Third-party liability for dogs
More info
This is when your dog causes injury to someone or their pet, or causes loss or damage to another person’s property. Cover for up to £2,000,000 for legal action made against you or your dog.
Choice of optional extras
More info
Choose from a range of optional extras to suit your pets’ needs, such as dental illness and cover if your pets get lost or stolen.
|
ManyPets | Petplan | Agria | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum vet fees | £15k per year | £15k per year | £12k per year | £20k per year |
| Cover for pre-existing conditions? | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| No compulsory excess? | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| No compulsory co-payments for older pets? | ✓ | 20% (from age 9) | 20% (from age 7) | Min. 10% (from any age) |
| Tailor limits per pet on a multi-pet policy | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Dental treatment for accidents? | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Behavioural treatment and complementary therapy? | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
|
|
ManyPets | |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum vet fees | £15k per year | £15k per year |
| Cover for pre-existing conditions? | ✓ | ✓ |
| No compulsory excess? | ✓ | ✗ |
| No compulsory co-payments for older pets? | ✓ | 20% (from age 9) |
| Tailor limits per pet on a multi-pet policy | ✓ | ✓ |
| Dental treatment for accidents? | ✓ | ✓ |
| Behavioural treatment and complementary therapy? | ✓ | ✓ |
|
|
Petplan | |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum vet fees | £15k per year | £12k per year |
| Cover for pre-existing conditions? | ✓ | ✗ |
| No compulsory excess? | ✓ | ✗ |
| No compulsory co-payments for older pets? | ✓ | 20% (from age 7) |
| Tailor limits per pet on a multi-pet policy | ✓ | ✓ |
| Dental treatment for accidents? | ✓ | ✓ |
| Behavioural treatment and complementary therapy? | ✓ | ✓ |
|
|
Agria | |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum vet fees | £15k per year | £20k per year |
| Cover for pre-existing conditions? | ✓ | ✗ |
| No compulsory excess? | ✓ | ✗ |
| No compulsory co-payments for older pets? | ✓ | Min. 10% (from any age) |
| Tailor limits per pet on a multi-pet policy | ✓ | ✓ |
| Dental treatment for accidents? | ✓ | ✓ |
| Behavioural treatment and complementary therapy? | ✓ | ✓ |
| Maximum vet fees | |
|---|---|
| £15k per year | £15k per year |
| Cover for pre-existing conditions? | |
| ✓ | ✓ |
| No compulsory excess? | |
| ✓ | ✗ |
| No compulsory co-payments for older pets? | |
| ✓ | 20% (from age 9) |
| Tailor limits per pet on a multi-pet policy | |
| ✓ | ✓ |
| Dental treatment for accidents? | |
| ✓ | ✓ |
| Behavioural treatment and complementary therapy? | |
| ✓ | ✓ |
| Maximum vet fees | |
|---|---|
| £15k per year | £12k per year |
| Cover for pre-existing conditions? | |
| ✓ | ✗ |
| No compulsory excess? | |
| ✓ | ✗ |
| No compulsory co-payments for older pets? | |
| ✓ | 20% (from age 7) |
| Tailor limits per pet on a multi-pet policy | |
| ✓ | ✓ |
| Dental treatment for accidents? | |
| ✓ | ✓ |
| Behavioural treatment and complementary therapy? | |
| ✓ | ✓ |
| Maximum vet fees | |
|---|---|
| £15k per year | £20k per year |
| Cover for pre-existing conditions? | |
| ✓ | ✗ |
| No compulsory excess? | |
| ✓ | ✗ |
| No compulsory co-payments for older pets? | |
| ✓ | Min. 10% (from any age) |
| Tailor limits per pet on a multi-pet policy | |
| ✓ | ✓ |
| Dental treatment for accidents? | |
| ✓ | ✓ |
| Behavioural treatment and complementary therapy? | |
| ✓ | ✓ |
†For Lifetime policies only – details correct as of 10 September 2024 via competitor websites. Competitor products are subject to their own T&Cs and can have different limits and requirements for cats versus dogs at different ages. For full details, please check the relevant policy wording.
For full details of Petgevity pet insurance, please read our policy wording.
*Cover for pre-existing medical conditions is subject to acceptance. They will not be covered unless you have declared them and they are shown on your Confirmation of Cover.
**Illnesses and symptoms won’t be covered in the first 14 days and accidents won’t be covered in the first 2 days of the policy. This is unless you are switching from another lifetime pet insurance product with no break in cover and the claim you want to make would have been covered by your previous policy. Other exclusions may apply to other sections.