Vets Talking Pets – Details, episodes & analysis

You’ve decided to get a pet but which one? Maggie and Vanessa discuss the pros and cons of keeping both traditional and non-traditional species. What are the relative costs in terms of time and money? Do you need specialist knowledge? How easy is it to give some pets a good quality of life in your home? Do they need to be kept in pairs? Whether you’re thinking of a bunny or bearded dragon, there is plenty of food for thought provided.

Thinking of getting a pet? Do you know that people do more research when they buy a fridge than acquiring a new animal? It tends to be an emotional decision and may happen spontaneously such as a stray cat appearing in your garden. Animals add so much to our lives but getting a pet is a big step and there are many things to think about. Maggie and Vanessa discuss what to consider before taking the plunge.

 

Get to know Maggie and Vanessa as they introduce themselves and discuss their passion for animal welfare. Learn why they became vets and how they know each other. Is Maggie really a mad cat lady? Is Vanessa a science nerd and why did she want to be a horse vet? What were their first pets? All will be revealed!

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You’ve decided which species you want so what’s next? What age, sex or colour of pet do you want and where are you going to get them from? Do you want a playful kitten or an older lap cat? Do you want a pedigree pet? What are the initial costs you need to consider?

Maggie and Vanessa discuss the pros and cons and give tips about how to get a pet that is happy and healthy and is right for you.

 

So, you’ve decided which pet to get. You want to get them from a reliable source, but what is that – a breeder, a pet shop, a rehoming charity or even online? Should you visit them first? Is it sensible to get a pet via social media or from abroad?   Vanessa and Maggie consider the options available and discuss the pitfalls to help you make an informed decision when choosing where to get your new pet from.  

Never afraid to tackle difficult topics, in this episode, Maggie and Vanessa answer the question, ‘Why are vets so expensive?’. Medical care is expensive for both humans and animals and many people don’t understand the true cost of their own health care. Costs of similar procedures for people and animals are compared as well as looking at overheads and the salaries of vets versus other professionals. You might be surprised at some of the answers!

Vanessa and Maggie explain how you can get the best out of your vet practice and make the right choices for your pet. Making a real difference to the cost of treatment is not just by shopping around; it’s about what treatment options are best in each individual situation. Like any service, owners need to check what they are getting for their money – what is the best value, may not be the cheapest. There are plenty of tips on improving communication and trust between owners and their vets to get the right outcome for their pets.

There has been a lot in the news about the UK's Competition and Market Authority’s (CMA’s) investigation into the companion animal (pet) veterinary industry. Maggie and Vanessa discuss the changes that have occurred over the last few years, including the increase in the number of corporately owned practices and the impact this has had. They look at what changes have been suggested by the CMA, whether they will really make a difference to pet owners and the impact the investigation has had on frontline vet staff. 

The CMA's remedies and recommendations to vet practices can be found here.