My very elderly parents (77 & 83) had an extremely poorly GSD yesterday, Sunday. They phoned me at 10.45am, saying they had been up since 4am sat with her vomiting, not eating for 24 hrs, drinking a lot of water, so very, very worrying. Mum made the decision to call the vet out, by the end of the call to me.

*forward 24hrs* I have just got off the phone to them, I am frankly beside myself! They phoned their vets. To have a house call, on a Sunday, it is £1000.00!!!

That is without any lab work, without any prescribing..£1000 just to walk through the door. I am disgusted, beyond that! It is not the fact that my parents are elderly or it is an older dog, not that at all. How can you say as a vets, you are there for the animal, yet charge frankly extraordinary fees, for simply being present. What if a person couldn't afford that? You accept it is w/end etc...but £1000! But this is Shameful!

As I understand it there are NO regulations how much is charged, vet practises can charge what they like.

As a nation of animal lovers we are being held to ransom. For many it would be a balance between the health of their beloved pet or food on the table. We accept we have to pay for their help, but £1000? Quite unacceptable!

We urge the RCVS to speak with their members to continue as per their strapline 'continued ethical and professional good standing' which seems to be lacking in some quarters.