Monday 28 November 2022 06:14 PM Chloe Goodman joins host of pet owners hitting out at 'greedy' vets trends now

Monday 28 November 2022 06:14 PM Chloe Goodman joins host of pet owners hitting out at 'greedy' vets trends now
Monday 28 November 2022 06:14 PM Chloe Goodman joins host of pet owners hitting out at 'greedy' vets trends now

Monday 28 November 2022 06:14 PM Chloe Goodman joins host of pet owners hitting out at 'greedy' vets trends now

A former Ex On The Beach star today joined a host of pet owners criticising 'greedy' vets after she was charged nearly £5,000 for her dog's ear infection - before being quoted thousands more when it came back again. 

Chloe Goodman, who starred in the series in 2014, took her French bulldog Chanel to the pet care centre in Surrey, where the dog received a series of treatments including ear drops and a scan.

The 29-year-old reluctantly paid the eye-watering bill for the work, but grew furious when the infection returned and she was quoted £4,500 more for an additional procedure. 

Chloe Goodman has joined a host of other vet owners who have complained of being overcharged by vets

Chloe Goodman has joined a host of other vet owners who have complained of being overcharged by vets 

Reality star Ms Goodman's French bulldog, Chanel, (middle) with two of her other dogs

Reality star Ms Goodman's French bulldog, Chanel, (middle) with two of her other dogs 

'The ear drops didn't clear up the infection - it helped temporarily but two weeks later it came back,' she told MailOnline. 

'When they gave me the second quote for another procedure I said no because it was too much. They are greedy for money.  

'Since then I've been managing Chanel's ear infection myself, but this isn't a solution long term.' 

MailOnline has contacted the vets for comment. 

Ms Goodman said she was able to claim £3,000 of her initial £5,000 bill back on insurance, but had to pay the rest herself. 

Numerous other pet owners have complained about having to pay eye-watering sums for treatment. 

However, today scores of vets hit back at the impression that they were guilty of profiteering. 

One told MailOnline that the industry was on the 'brink of meltdown' due to 'short staffing and the cost of living crisis', while others pointed to the high costs they face when carrying out complex medical procedures. 

Vicky Issott's cat Bones fell ill last summer. But when she was referred to Vets Now – an out-of-hours clinic run by IVC Evidensia – she was shocked to face quotes more than six times her usual consultation fee.

Typically she would pay £34, but the private equity-owned vet said it would cost £220 or £173 if she returned the next morning.

She called several other clinics but all used Vets Now – leaving her no other choice.

Vicky Issott's cat Bones fell ill last summer. But when she was referred to Vets Now – an out-of-hours clinic run by IVC Evidensia – she was shocked to face quotes more than six times her usual consultation fee

Vicky Issott's cat Bones fell ill last summer. But when she was referred to Vets Now – an out-of-hours clinic run by IVC Evidensia – she was shocked to face quotes more than six times her usual consultation fee

Bones had a procedure to clear a blocked urethra that cost £1,045.09. But a week later, it became blocked again and he was put down. The retired local government worker said there should be recommended fees for the industry, adding: 'You don't have a choice when your cat is sick on a Saturday night.

'The poor thing was in agony. I get that you pay a premium for out-of-hours, but six times the normal price is ridiculous.'

Dr Laura Playforth, of Vets Now, said 'the estimate given was sensible' as out-of-hour fees are typically higher than in the daytime due to the increased costs of 'providing a dedicated team'. 

Meanwhile, dog lover Christine Wynne claimed her beagle missed out on potentially life-saving treatment after a dispute with a private equity vet.

When Lacey became sick in 2020, Mrs Wynne was convinced it was a gastric obstruction and asked to be sent to a specialist who had treated the dog before. 

But Shreen Vets in Gillingham, Dorset, said Lacey had a gut infection and instead referred her to Southern Counties Veterinary Specialists and out-of-hours emergency clinic, Vets Now. 

Following a 'heated discussion' 11 days later, Mrs Wynne's request to be referred to her chosen practice was granted. There, they found Lacey did have a gastric obstruction but she died 12 hours later. They added if they had seen her sooner, she would have had a better chance of survival.

An IVC spokesman said: 'Where we are made aware a customer is unhappy... we will always review what happened and discuss it with them.'

Critics say the veterinary profession has become a dog-eat-dog world, with small practices being swallowed up by giant international corporations only interested in profit.

Christine Wynne claimed her beagle missed out on potentially life-saving treatment after a dispute with a private equity vet

Christine Wynne claimed her beagle missed out on potentially life-saving treatment after a dispute with a private equity vet

Figures published last year by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) show the majority (51 per cent) of veterinary practices in the UK are now owned by six companies, three of them private equity-owned. Two-thirds (67 per cent) of practices are now combined in 'groups' comprising at least three practices.

One chain, Medivet — which is owned by a Luxembourg-based private equity firm — has more than 400 surgeries in the UK. Its obsession with the bottom line was vividly highlighted in a recent annual report when it referred to its vets' surgeries as 'CGUs', or Cash-Generating Units.

Inevitably, equity firm backers will be encouraging vets to offer expensive and complex procedures, including — most controversially — treatments for cancer to prolong a pet's life, which some argue may not be in the long-term interests of the animal.

Dr Polly Taylor, a senior vet and academic, is a member of EthicsFirst, an international group that campaigns against excessive medical treatment. 'In many cases, the pets' welfare is being ignored,' she says. 'There is a lot of pressure [from vets] to go for expensive treatments. Advances in technology are playing a part. Amid all the hype of so-called clever treatments, the animal's best interests are being forgotten.

'Our recent research has shown that major surgery can have a very traumatic effect on any pet. It's not like operating on a human being — the poor animal will have no idea what is going on.' 

Tamazin Morley, from Hampshire, had to take her six-year-old cockapoo Barkley to a local vet after he began to struggle to lie down after a walkabout last year. 

'He had a trapped nerve in his neck, a simple issue,' Ms Morley told the Daily Mail. 'The vet suggested Calpol and the problem went away. But then it came back when Barkley was playing with a friend's pup.

'When we got home, our vet referred him to the local animal hospital, Lumbry Park. And that's when things got much worse — and expensive.'

Tamazin Morley has spoken out about her experience when she took her dog, Barkley, to the vet

Tamazin Morley has spoken out about her experience

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