Here at Priory Vets Christchurch, we were deeply saddened by the recent BBC article highlighting a tragic trend: some pet owners are being forced to consider euthanasia for their beloved companions due to rising vet bills.
While stories like these are heart-wrenching, we want to reassure our community that this is not something we have seen within our practice. We believe this reflects the trust-based relationships we’ve built with our clients and the collaborative approach we take to care. Our team remains committed to working with you to find treatment plans that are both compassionate and affordable—always guided by what’s best for your pet’s wellbeing.
Why Are Vet Costs Rising?
Veterinary care has come a long way. Thanks to advances in diagnostics, treatment options, and medical equipment, pets today can live longer, healthier lives than ever before. But with progress comes cost—both for veterinary practices and for pet owners.
At Priory Vets, we work hard to keep our services affordable while maintaining a high standard of care. Some of the key drivers behind increasing costs include:
- Medical equipment and supplies (many of which are imported and affected by inflation)
- Fair pay and ongoing training for experienced, compassionate veterinary professionals
- In-house diagnostics and lab testing for faster, more accurate treatment
- Out-of-hours (OOH) care provided by our own team — unlike many practices that outsource their emergency services, we continue to provide our own OOH cover. While this is not an insignificant operational cost to the practice, it means we can offer emergency care to our clients at a more reasonable rate than outsourced OOH providers. It also ensures your pet is seen by a familiar team who knows their history e.g. previous test results—helping maintain both continuity and affordability, day or night.
We are proud that we don’t take any shortcuts when it comes to care, but we do look for ways to keep it as accessible and manageable as possible for our clients.
What We Want You to Know
At Priory Vets, we will always take the time to talk through all the options with you, and we’ll work with you to find a solution that’s in your pet’s best interest.
Whether that means adjusting a treatment plan, offering step-by-step care, or exploring payment options, we’re here to help you make informed, compassionate decisions—not rushed or pressured ones.
How We Can Help
We know that financial concerns can sometimes make people hesitate to seek care—but early action often makes all the difference. Here’s how we support our clients and their pets:
1. Open, Honest Conversations
If you’re worried about cost, please don’t stay silent. We’re here to talk openly and supportively about all the available options—medical, practical, and financial.
2. Flexible Treatment Plans
There is no single “best” treatment option for every patient. We will focus on your pets wellbeing and take a collaborative approach to find the most appropriate treatment option – both medically and financially. As an independent practice, we don’t set sales targets or dictate treatment protocols to our vets. That means the advice you receive is always tailored to your situation and focused 100% on what’s best for your pet’s welfare
3. Join Our Priory Pet Club
The new and improved Priory Pet Club offers incredible value for money. With consultations included, you don’t need to hesitate about coming in early if something doesn’t seem right. It also covers essential preventive care, once again, completely tailored to your pet’s needs. For more information, please visit our website.
Often, catching things early means simpler, less costly treatment—and more peace of mind for you.
4. Consider Pet Insurance
Unexpected illness or injury can happen to any pet. For those bigger issues, insurance can be a vital safety net.
Pet Proactive is our preferred pet insurance provider—they work exclusively with independent practices like ours which means they understand how we operate and pass on the benefits of our lower prices through more competitive premiums. See our website for more information.
5. We’re Independent—And That Matters
Being an independent practice means we’re accountable only to our clients, not to shareholders. That gives us the freedom to make patient-first decisions, keep pricing fair, and stay deeply rooted in our local community.
Compassion Over Cost
Euthanasia is a deeply personal and heartbreaking decision. When it’s made to prevent patient suffering, we offer support and understanding. But when it’s driven by cost alone—that’s a tragedy we all want to prevent.
If you’re ever in doubt, struggling, or need guidance, please talk to us. You’re never alone, and we will always do our best to help you make the right decision for your pet—with compassion, honesty, and heart.