Just how honest is your vet?

Www. The adventures of Gryff.   I have just had my mate on the phone, because she was due in for her hip and elbow X-rays this morning. Anyway duly hungry she and her mum went into the vets and asked for her bill, to bring cash when she was collected. . £100 to theKC £230 odd for the elbows £100 anaesthetic  and the rest for the hips...... Total bill £525. Needless to say, having been given an estimate a few weeks ago of £260 my mate was very firmly turned around and walked out, home to a lovely great big breakfast. Anyway her two legs being rather ticked off with her local surgery asked how much mine were and how much for now. Mine weren't too bad at the lot for £220, and based on my friends weight and the increase of £10 to the kennel club fee, between £260 and £285 for hers. That is nearly half price, or looking at the other vets charges pay for elbows, hips done free! A BOGOFF infact. And mine were done about eight months ago so not that long!  When the Kennel Club is doing its best to get us to check the health and welfare of animals from before birth, are the vets upping their prices to make what  appears to be a huge profit when they should in theory be putting animal health first. Just because somebody is thinking about a litter and trying to do things the right way, do they assume that money is no object?  All this will do is stop  or slow down health checks, and open the door wide to PUPPY FARMS OR PUPPY MILLS who don't give a damn about the care and health of their breeding stock. All I can suggest folks is that aswell as ringing around for a price, make sure u get it in writing with a date to which it is valid.  Anybody with a conscience would only breed from health checked animals, and as our Kennel Club is advised by the Vetinary Council on health matters,  we could soon see ourselves in a very expensive position, with no where else to go.  Normally I would sign this COOL RUNNINGS but today I definately running HOT UNDER THE COLLAR!       GRYFF