As veterinary costs skyrocket in the UK, pet owners are being lured by more affordable care packages in Turkey that could save them thousands of pounds. Now, cosmetic surgery clinics are offering combined deals that include procedures for owners as well as treatments for their ailing or injured pets.
It’s been revealed that ‘vet tourism’ is emerging as a new industry in Turkey, already a popular destination for plastic surgery for foreigners, bringing in £3 billion annually. However, experts in the UK caution that these cheaper procedures may be ‘too good to be true’, and travelling such long distances could be harmful to already unwell pets. It comes as it’s been made known that 25 Brits have died following cosmetic surgery in Turkey since 2019.
A reporter at The Mirror was offered a package at Pet Clinic Turkey in Antalya which included diagnostic tests for a cat’s broken paw such as X-rays, surgery and aftercare, including physiotherapy and medicine, plus a hotel for pet and owner for 10 days, transfers and a city tour.
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This also included a discounted nose job for the owner as part of the deal, costing between £4,500 and £5,000 all in. Treating a broken paw in the UK can cost £1,200 to £2,000, while X-rays are £300 to £400. A rhinoplasty here ranges from £4,000 to £7,000, reports the Mirror.
Pet Clinic Turkey is affiliated with Antalya-based cosmetic tourism firm Saluss Medical Group, who started their vet services in 2022. Chief vet Dr Filiz Goktas said: “The numbers of British people who have brought pets in are quite high and are increasing dramatically as bills in the UK have become so high and pet ownership grew after Covid. The health tourism industry is expanding into the veterinary sector.”
Saluss and Pet Clinic Turkey patient co-ordinator Dilan Akbas is dealing with a British woman who is to fly out for plastic surgery with her Pomeranian dog. The pet needs teeth removal and rhinoplasty to improve its breathing.
Dilan said: “She was planning to travel to Turkey anyway for surgery and her dog needs treatment for its own medical problems which were too expensive in the UK. While she is getting treatment for herself, her dog will also have surgery and they will be staying six days. This week we have another UK patient, bringing a cat that needed all of its teeth removed.
“In the UK, the owner was quoted around £2,000 for each tooth to be extracted. We have offered them a package of just under £1,000 for everything. That is half the price for one tooth when in the UK. She couldn’t afford vet costs in the UK.”
Dilan told how most of the Brits they see are women under 40, who usually bring cats or dogs. Rabbits are also fairly common. She added: “We have had patients from Saluss who had weight-loss surgery with us, then have come back for their tummy tuck while their pet is also being treated.”
The clinic had eight people fly over from the UK last month and half had cosmetic surgery. Flights are not included in the packages. Dilan said: “It is easy to fly pets to Turkey. They just need to be up vaccinated, microchipped and have a pet passport. There is no quarantine, and they can go back to their country of origin in the same way.”
Pet Clinic Turkey treats animals in the state-of-the-art Prime Animal Hospital which is full of new, hi-tech equipment. The Mirror toured and was told it had been done up “like a hospital for humans”. It is clear Dr Goktas and her team really care about the pets. But owners were urged to think twice about taking theirs abroad.
Liverpool vet Dr Daisy May said: “The stress of travel and physical rigours of flying can exacerbate existing conditions or create new ones. I’ve heard troubling accounts of pets returning in worse conditions.”
Dr Anna Judson, of the British Veterinary Association added: “While it may be possible to get veterinary care at a lower cost abroad, it might not be in the best interest of the animal. The treatment may be excellent but the absence of continuity of care and check-ups from the vet team could have a detrimental impact on the animal’s recovery, especially if with complications.”
“Also, if a UK vet needs to step in to provide post-treatment care, with no background knowledge of the case, it could end up costing more.”
The Competition and Markets Authority is probing vet bills in Britain after it was revealed they are rising higher than other goods and services during the cost of living crisis. Which? found pet owners are often “being charged high prices for treatment or medications available online for a fraction of the price”.
The consumer watchdog’s Sue Davies said: “The CMA must take this chance to ensure vet services are offering the services people expect.”
Why vets in the UK cost so much
Ask a pet owner about their experience with sick animals and a visit to the vets and they will most likely respond with a detailed breakdown of very large bills.
There is no NHS for animals so it’s not entirely surprising the costs are higher it is like having all your healthcare privately. The treatment by highly trained professionals is becoming more advanced. And the equipment is becoming more sophisticated all of which push up the costs.
But there are concerns users may still be getting a raw deal. The Competition and Markets Authority recently identified concerns over rising prices. An initial review revealed how owners may be overpaying for treatments and medicines and large chains could be squeezing out independent practices.
Since 2013, about 1,500 of the 5,000 UK vet practices one in six have been acquired by six of the largest corporate groups. Four out of the six don’t change the name or branding when they take over an independent vet. This means pet owners are not always comparing competitors.
The watchdog is concerned that consumers may not be given enough information to make informed decisions over care, and that a rise in consolidation resulting in fewer independent surgeries has weakened competition.
