Vets report violent threats from pet owners over cost of hi-tech care

VETS might have just saved a beloved pet dog or cat, but instead of gratitude, they are increasingly being intimidated or threatened by the owners.

Veterinary surgeons are often put under pressure to waive or reduce fees, with pet owners getting angry and aggressive over the cost of care, a study has found. The British Veterinary Association has discovered that most vets have faced some form of intimidation.

It found that 85 per cent of vets said they or a member of staff had felt threatened by a client’s language or be- haviour, including swearing, shouting, threats to damage property or to defame the practice on social media – and in some cases even death threats.

Aggression is also likely to occur if clients are asked to bring in their pets for follow-up checks or when presented with the bill. Pet owners have been known to accuse practices of profiteering.

While around half of vets have been personally targeted, receptionists often bear the brunt of the threatening behaviour. Robin Hargreaves, a vet for 30 years in north-west England, said: “I’m afraid it’s almost a daily occurrence. It’s usually over money.

“People will tell you that if we really loved animals we would treat theirs for free. What they forget is that they aren’t the only ones asking that. It can turn physical. I’m a big bloke, but I’ve had many threats of violence, mainly from angry young men.”

Mr Hargreaves, 55, added: “We’ve had people threatening to smash all our windows, and that can be very frightening to the young people who work for me. It’s often at night, with the out-of-hours service.

“My staff have been left very upset by the abuse, but they don’t feel they can just abandon the patient, which is the animal, not the owner. I’m afraid it’s pushing people out of the profession.” The survey of more than 1,600 practising members of the BVA found women and younger vets were significantly more likely to have felt threatened.

The frequency of the problem has dismayed senior figures in the profession. Almost a third reported threats at least monthly and one in eight said occurrences happened weekly.

Sam Morgan, president of the BVA, said: “We understand there can be a lot of distress when pets are ill, and deciding the best course of action for a loved pet or sick animal can be very difficult. However, this is no excuse to be aggressive or intimidating.” The cost of treatment was one of the most common reasons for outbursts.

Vets say rising costs reflect the growing sophistication and choice of treatments available. Where vets would once treat a dog with a tooth problem with a simple extraction they are now also likely to recommend an X-ray first, which drives up the cost.

Treating an abscess on a cat can cost £245, while care for a lame dog will typically set its owners back £400. A torn knee ligament in a dog could cost as much as £1,200.