Kia, a sweet Siberian husky, immediately became part of the family when Dave Foster and his siblings welcomed her into their home in 2019.
Unwanted by her previous owners, this friendly and adorable dog provided them with support and joy during the pandemic.
But the close-knit Foster clan is now in mourning. Kia passed away at the age of eight on March 18.
“As well as our grief at his death, we are facing vet bills of more than £24,000,” Foster tells the Mail.
The costs incurred in the period before his death, following a relatively simple procedure, come as authorities investigate the £5bn veterinary industry for its fees.
Kia was a sweet-natured Siberian husky who belonged to the Foster family.
Many pet owners are unaware of how costs can quickly skyrocket, particularly due to the pricing structure of veterinary practices that are owned by large corporations.
“My parents, my brothers and I loved Kia very much. She was truly part of our family,” says Foster. “She broke our hearts when she fell seriously ill after a small operation to remove a grass seed from her paw went wrong.”
There is no suggestion that vets were to blame for her death nor any criticism of the care Kia received. But Foster was shocked by the charges.
‘We desperately hoped that professionals would save his life. Instead, we feel that our love for Kia was exploited,” she claims.
“Many pet owners are not aware of how costs can quickly skyrocket, particularly due to the pricing structure of veterinary practices owned by large corporations.” Many pet owners have insurance. But this does not cover all costs. As a result, Foster questions whether it is possible to euthanize pets every year, due to financial constraints rather than clinical need.
Kia felt unwell in early March following a minor procedure to remove a suspected grass seed from her paw. This caused an infection that caused his death.
Over the course of 17 days, during which they hoped to save his life, the Fosters received bills totaling £24,164 or around £1,400 a day.
A breakdown of bill rates seen by the Mail shows one of the three veterinary practices involved charged the family £69.57 for a heated blanket for Kia.
The same item, if purchased direct from the retailer, would cost £19.99, a profit margin of 248%.
In their quest to save Kia, the family spent £21,273 on a specialist vet called Willows, owned by the Linnaeus Group, a division of the giant US veterinary group Mars.
They also spent £2,548 on Medivet, which is backed by Luxembourg-based private equity group CVC Capital.
The Fosters spent £2,548 on Medivet, which is backed by Luxembourg-based private equity group CVC Capital.
Kia was also treated at another veterinary surgery, costing the family £343.
The three veterinary companies declined to comment.
Foster received an insurance payout of £8,000 for Kia’s treatment, but the family were still forced to find £16,000 to pay the fees.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), the body that investigates the veterinary industry, is concerned about allegations of fraud.
More than half of the UK’s practices are now owned by just six major corporations: CVS, Independent Vetcare, Linnaeus, Medivet, Pets at Home and VetPartners.
Foster says: ‘Veterinary fees are unclear, complicated and contain very technical terminology. This information is difficult for desperate pet owners to understand.
‘With increasing consolidation in the sector, practices have unfortunately become financially driven, resulting in inflated prices and unethical margins.
“We are a hard-working family and we were very lucky to be able to give Kia what we thought at the time was the best chance of survival, because we worked together.” The RSPCA had previously warned that the rising cost of veterinary bills, insurance and other essentials such as food was prompting families to abandon their pets.
Cost is a major concern for the estimated 16 million households across the UK who own a pet.
But as animal lovers struggle with mounting bills for their beloved pets, veterinary practice owners and top executives have raked in millions.
Medivet, which is backed by private equity titan CVC Capital, made revenues of £388.6m and profits of £72.9m last year. It has over 500 branches across the UK.
The windfall comes as clinics capitalize on a surge in pet ownership during the pandemic.
In May, the CMA said it had received an “unprecedented” number of responses from the public, with 56,000 owners and workers speaking out about the sector.
“The message from our veterinarians’ work so far has been loud and clear: many pet owners and professionals have concerns that need further investigation,” said Sarah Cardell, executive director of the CMA.
“We’ve heard from people who are struggling to pay their vet bills, potentially overpaying for medications, and not always knowing the best treatment options available to them.” The investigation will be carried out by independent researchers and will be concluded within 18 months.
And while it may be too late for Kia, Foster is convinced change must come.
“Sophisticated investors have carved up the market with limited oversight,” he says. “Regulation is desperately needed.”
Dr Anna Judson, president of the British Veterinary Association (BVA), said: “Veterinarians provide highly specialist and personalized healthcare for the UK’s animals, but without the NHS for pets and therefore , without subsidies to offset the true cost, prices may seem expensive in comparison. While fees reflect the investment needed to keep practices financially viable and open, we recognize that more can be done to improve options for clients and teams. Veterinarians are already taking steps to address the Competition and Markets Authority’s specific concerns around fee transparency and practice ownership. As the CMA carries out its investigation, it is important to remember that vets are actually involved. They care about and prioritize the health and welfare of animals; it is often their motivation for entering what is a highly pressured profession.’
*Dave Foster is not his real name.
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