Our vets have worked in practices all over Australia, so we’ve seen how much pricing can fluctuate.
It might surprise you to learn that there’s no regulatory body overseeing what Aussie vets can charge. What you pay to see your vet in one suburb is likely to be different to what your friend pays in another. In the current market, real estate prices tend to dictate vet prices, so fees will vary depending on where you live.
Vet fees follow real estate prices
Having worked in practices all over Australia, our vets have seen just how much vet fees can fluctuate. For a standard consult in Sydney’s East, for example, you might pay a flat fee of $120 to see a vet, while some clinics in Melbourne’s outer west, it’s possibly more like $55.
Standard consult in hour: Varies. Approx $50 to $150 to see a vet. Treatment or tests to diagnose are on top of this.
Vetchat consult: Never strays! $39 (chat consult) or $79 (video consult).
Vet fees follow the level of service given
The saying ‘you get what you pay for’ is true here. Veterinary clinics are businesses. They have to be profitable to be able to provide a great service to you and your pet. They don’t get Government handouts––i.e. your hard-earned taxes aren’t given to vets to subsidise fees or medicines. (We’re all paying for the human ones, which is why our meds seem cheaper.)Not all surgeries are the same either, nor is the follow-up process. Longer times spent with your vet will also cost more than a quick hands-on check-up.In terms of surgery and quotes, some clinics will give an approximate package. This will depend on the size of your pet, with larger pets generally needing more medication and anaesthesia agents. The package might include intravenous fluids (almost always a must) or a pre-anaesthetic blood test, plus a dedicated nurse. Some clinics give quotes that don’t include blood testing or fluids for example, so while they might seem cheaper upfront, these may be costs added on later. It’s important to know what’s included if you’re price-checking fees.
Vet consult ballpark (in hours)
TOTAL: Around $80
Vet consult ballpark (out of hours)
TOTAL: Around $150
Vetchat chat consult
TOTAL: $39 – never strays!
The Ballpark Cost Series
So how did we arrive at these totals? And what other costs come with caring for a pet?
Read the Vetchat Ballpark Cost Series. It goes into detail on the price of buying a pet upfront, the things you’ll need to pay for in the first year, plus ongoing expenses like pet food, vet visits and grooming.
[…] Cat First Year: $1,900 Cat Ongoing: $1,000 Kitty’s Lifetime Ballpark TOTAL: $16,900 Small Dog First Year: $2500 (+~ $240 with clipping) Small Dog ongoing: $1300 (+~ $320 with clipping) Little Pooch’s Lifetime Ballpark TOTAL: $20,700 (~$27,000 with clipping) Large Dog First Year: $2800 (+~ $315 with clipping) Large Dog ongoing: $1600 (+~ $420 with clipping) Big Pooch’s Lifetime Ballpark TOTAL: $20,400 (~$25,300 with clipping) The Ballpark Cost Series So how did we arrive at these totals? And what other costs come with caring for a pet? Read the Vetchat Ballpark Cost Series. It goes into detail on the price of buying a pet upfront, the things you’ll need to pay for in the first year, plus ongoing expenses like pet food, vet visits and grooming. […]
[…] The Ballpark Cost Series So how did we arrive at these totals? And what other costs come with caring for a pet? Read the Vetchat Ballpark Cost Series. It goes into detail on the price of buying a pet upfront, the things you’ll need to pay for in the first year, plus ongoing expenses like pet food, vet visits and grooming. […]
[…] Kitty’s ballpark TOTAL: $30 pa (+~ $150 with clipping) The Ballpark Cost Series So how did we arrive at these totals? And what other costs come with caring for a pet? Read the Vetchat Ballpark Cost Series. It goes into detail on the price of buying a pet upfront, the things you’ll need to pay for in the first year, plus ongoing expenses like pet food, vet visits and grooming. […]
[…] Pooch’s ballpark (not including insurance) TOTAL: $2,500 (+~$320 with clipping small dog) Kitty’s ballpark (not including insurance) TOTAL: $1,900 (+~$150 with clipping) The Ballpark Cost Series So how did we arrive at these totals? And what other costs come with caring for a pet? Read the Vetchat Ballpark Cost Series. It goes into detail on the price of buying a pet upfront, the things you’ll need to pay for in the first year, plus ongoing expenses like pet food, vet visits and grooming. […]