Keeping pets is becoming a luxury: veterinary costs are increasing drastically!

Keeping pets is becoming a luxury: veterinary costs are increasing drastically!

Pet ownership in Germany is facing massive change, which is particularly noticeable due to increased veterinary costs and economic hurdles. Loud NDR The reform of the veterinary fee schedule (GOT) was introduced at the end of 2022, which led to a significant increase in costs of up to 25%. This development poses financial challenges for many pet owners, especially those with lower incomes.

A clear example is the cost of a preventative examination for a hangover: it amounts to 88.80 euros, while an additional heart examination costs 230 euros. Such amounts are an immense burden for many pet owners and have led to an increase in interest in pet health and surgical insurance. Nevertheless, people with citizen's benefit in particular often remain without this financial security.

Increasing requests for support

In addition to the increased costs, the association “Haustierhilfe Lübeck e.V.” an increase in requests for financial support. This association helps needy pet owners with food donations and financial help to alleviate the burden of higher veterinary costs. At the same time, the Schleswig-Holstein Animal Welfare Association reports a worrying number of abandoned animals, especially cats and rabbits.

Many of these animals have health problems resulting from a lack of preventative care and vaccinations. The veterinarian Dr. Antje Nottebrock has observed that emergencies are often ignored as many pet owners try to save costs. The new emergency service fee of 59.90 euros puts many people off, which can have potentially serious consequences for the animals' health.

Long-term considerations for animal husbandry

The veterinarians Dr. Nottebrock and Dr. Diana Mull believe the fee reform is necessary to improve working conditions in veterinary care and enable necessary investments. Ellen Kloth from the Animal Welfare Association highlights that potential pet owners should consider the long-term costs of owning pets, which has led to a gradual decline in new pet purchases. This trend could be seen as a positive development.

In this context, it is important to mention that there is no general requirement for veterinarians to have a cash register. Nevertheless, veterinarians who use electronic cash registers must comply with the requirements of the Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF) in order to prevent manipulation. The exact regulations are described in detail in a BMF letter and primarily concern the recording and protection of business transactions.

The delays in the availability of certified technical safety devices led to extensions of deadlines, which were also communicated to the veterinary profession in the media. However, from October 1, 2020, the new requirements must be adhered to. When using an open cash register, there are also legal regulations that must be strictly adhered to.

Developments in pet ownership show that financial and health challenges are closely linked. It remains to be seen how the situation will evolve and what measures will be taken to help both pet owners and their furry companions.