I spent £24,000 on vets in two weeks to try and save my beloved dog Kia before she died. Don’t repeat my mistakes

Kia, a sweet-natured Siberian husky, immediately became part of the family when Dave Foster and his siblings welcomed her into their home in 2019.

Unwanted by his previous owners, this friendly and lovable dog brought support and joy during the pandemic.

But the close-knit Foster clan is now in mourning. Kia passed away at the age of just eight on March 18.

“As well as our grief at his death, we are facing vet bills of more than £24,000,” Foster tells the Mail.

The costs incurred in the period before his death, following a relatively simple procedure, come as authorities investigate the £5bn veterinary industry for its fees.

Kia was a sweet-natured Siberian Husky who belonged to the Foster family.

Many pet owners are unaware of how costs can quickly add up, particularly due to the pricing structure of veterinary practices owned by large corporations.

“My parents, siblings and I loved Kia so much – she was truly part of our family,” Foster says. “We were heartbroken when she became seriously ill after a minor operation to remove a grass seed from her paw went wrong.”

There is no suggestion that vets were to blame for her death or any criticism of the care Kia received, but Foster was shocked by the allegations.

“We were desperately hoping that professionals would save her life. However, we felt like our love for Kia had been exploited,” she said.

“Many pet owners are not aware that costs can quickly skyrocket, particularly due to the pricing structure of veterinary clinics owned by large corporations.” Many pet owners have insurance, but it does not cover all costs. As a result, Foster questions whether it is possible that pets are euthanized every year due to financial constraints rather than clinical need.

Kia felt unwell in early March following a minor procedure to remove a suspected grass seed from her paw. This caused an infection that caused his death.

Over 17 days, during which they hoped to save his life, the Fosters received bills totalling £24,164 or about £1,400 a day.

A breakdown of fees on the invoices seen by the Mail shows the family received £69.57 from one of the three veterinary clinics involved for a heating blanket for Kia.

The same item, if purchased directly from the retailer, would cost £19.99, a markup of 248%.

In their quest to save Kia, the family spent £21,273 on a specialist vet called Willows, owned by the Linnaeus Group, a division of the giant US veterinary group Mars.

They also spent £2,548 on Medivet, which is backed by Luxembourg-based private equity group CVC Capital.

The Fosters spent £2,548 on Medivet, which is backed by Luxembourg-based private equity group CVC Capital.

Kia was also treated at another veterinary clinic, costing the family £343.

The three veterinary companies declined to comment.

Foster received an £8,000 insurance payout for Kia’s treatment, but the family was still forced to find £16,000 to pay the fees.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), the body that investigates the veterinary industry, is concerned about allegations of fraud.

More than half of UK practices are now owned by just six major corporations: CVS, Independent Vetcare, Linnaeus, Medivet, Pets at Home and VetPartners.

Foster says: “Veterinary fees are unclear, complicated and contain very technical terminology. This information is difficult for desperate pet owners to understand.

‘With increasing consolidation in the sector, practices have unfortunately become financially driven, resulting in inflated prices and unethical margins.

“We are a hard-working family and we were very lucky to be able to give Kia what we thought at the time was the best chance of survival, because we worked together.” The RSPCA had previously warned that the rising cost of veterinary bills, insurance and other essentials such as food was prompting families to abandon their pets.

Cost is a major concern for the estimated 16 million households in the UK who have a pet.

But while animal lovers struggle with mounting bills for their beloved pets, owners and top executives at veterinary practices have been raking in millions.

Medivet, which is backed by private equity giant CVC Capital, had revenues of £388.6m and profits of £72.9m last year. It has more than 500 branches across the UK.

The windfall comes as clinics capitalize on a surge in pet ownership during the pandemic.

In May, the CMA said it received an “unprecedented” number of responses from the public, with 56,000 owners and workers speaking out about the sector.

“The message from our vets’ work so far has been loud and clear: many pet owners and professionals have concerns that need further investigation,” said Sarah Cardell, CMA chief executive.

“We have heard from people who are struggling to pay vet bills, potentially overpaying for medication and are not always aware of the best treatment options available to them.” The research will be conducted by independent researchers and will be completed within 18 months.

And while it may be too late for Kia, Foster is convinced that change must happen.

“Sophisticated investors have carved up the market with limited oversight,” he says. “Regulation is desperately needed.”

Dr Anna Judson, President of the British Veterinary Association (BVA), said: “Vets provide highly specialised and personalised healthcare for the UK’s animals, but with no NHS for pets and therefore no subsidies to offset the true cost, prices can appear expensive in comparison. While fees reflect the investment needed to keep practices financially viable and open, we recognise that more can be done to improve customer choice and veterinary teams are already taking steps to address the Competition and Markets Authority’s specific concerns around fee transparency and practice ownership. As the CMA conducts its investigation, it’s important to remember that vets really do care about and prioritise the health and welfare of animals – it’s often their motivation for entering what is a highly pressured profession.”

*Dave Foster is not his real name.