Thanks, I'll try that. I wouldn't mind so much but they don't offer to tell you in advance what the fees are and they don't publish them. It seems they can charge what they like and there's no regulation in that respect at al.

You think a dog is expensive. ? I have 5 chickens that i rescued from a battery farm that was about to cull them. one needed to see a vet badly but i had trouble finding one who would see her. Apparently they have to specialise in chickens. i eventually found one who was very nice and sorted her out. I needed to take another some months later but the vet was on leave so i had to find a another practice. this one charged me £45 !!!!! just for the consultation. Apparently chickens are classed as EXOTIC PETS. For goodness sake!!! they are bog standard farmyard animals. MUST have been covered in basic training surely. then to add insult to injury i was charged £29.81 for 10 antibiotic tablets that I know cost no more than £6. That is one helluva dispensing fee. Yes i can understand they spend years in training and i am paying for their knowledge and experience. I don't mind that, really i don't but classing a HEN as exotic and telling me she needs a specialist chicken expert and then charging a ludicrous dispensing fee is just taking the pee. and why don't they publish their charges so its a bit more transparent before you go in.