Thank you for contacting me about the cost of taking pets to the vet.

I appreciate that the price of veterinary care for a much loved pet can be a worry. I am sorry to have to tell you, however, that the Government does not have the authority to tell vets how much they should charge for their services, because veterinary practices are private businesses. As you will appreciate, the owners of pets are the ones responsible for looking after their health and welfare.

I can tell you that the profession is regulated by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, whose code of conduct states that vets should give clients information about how much they expect to charge, in writing and in advance.

I would encourage anyone looking for veterinary services to make sure that they receive this information, so as not to have to face any unpleasant surprises. It may also be worthwhile to consider an animal health insurance policy.

Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.