Are French vet costs regulated by the government?
There are several ways you may be able to reduce annual fees
Charities may be able to offer assistance to those unable to pay for their pet's treatment
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Reader Question: Do vets charge the same everywhere in France or is it worth looking around for a better price?
Unlike doctors working in France’s state-funded healthcare system, veterinary prices are not regulated, and vets are not required to charge a standardised price for appointments.
Veterinary practices can, therefore, fix their own prices, and these may vary from one part of France to another, or even one practice to the next in the same town.
Prices may also vary depending on the size and breed of your animal.
On average, expect to pay between €30 to €40 for a standard consultation and, for example, €50 to €80 for vaccination, €15 to €25 for a urine analysis and €50-€150 for blood tests.
There will be even more variation when it comes to more costly procedures such as surgery, dependent on the complexity of the procedure itself, as well as pricing policies of practices.
Generally, appointments on Sunday are more expensive as it is seen as outside normal hours and mostly for emergencies and home callouts will also be more expensive, rising up to up to €150 for a home call on Sunday.
Having pet insurance can partially or fully cover the costs of appointments, depending on the procedure and the policy.
Help with costs
Vets are unlikely to provide free services unless the animal is in extreme pain, in which case treatment may take priority with payment being sorted out later.
You may be able to ask the veterinary clinic to provide an estimate for the treatment, which you can show associations and other organisations who may offer to partially cover the costs.
This includes local pet charities (search for specific ones in your area) and the SPA, France’s animal welfare charity.
The SPA itself in a number of areas offers reduced-cost veterinary appointments for people on low incomes including students, those without a fixed home, and RSA (Revenu de solidarité active) benefit recipients.
Read more: The new tougher rules for claiming RSA low-income aid in France
Another charity that may be able to help is the ‘Vétérinaires Pour Tous’ group that can cut costs by up to 66% in some cases, by having the clinic pay one-third and the charity one-third of the bill. This leaves you with the remaining third left to pay.
Speak to your usual vet to see if they work with the scheme or search online to see if nearby vets are signed up.
Other vet clinics may work with local charities or have long-term payment plans in place.
Speak with your vet to see if they offer any options.
Appointments at state veterinary schools are also around 30% cheaper than standard costs, however there are only four of these:
- VetAgro Sup in Lyon
- ENVA in Maisons-Alfort
- ENVT in Toulouse
- Oniris in Nantes
Read more: What is the process for obtaining a French pet passport for animal from UK?
