Equine Practice Pricing and Veterinary Fees
Behind the Fees
This section is here to give you context about how we approach pricing — and the thinking behind it.
Veterinary decisions often happen quickly — and the financial side is rarely separate. Whether your horse is seen at home or at Glasgow Equine Hospital, care decisions and costs often go hand-in-hand. This page is here to help horse owners understand common fees, and to explain the thinking behind how we price equine veterinary services.
This isn’t about giving fixed quotes. Every case is different. But we hope this helps you feel more prepared to ask questions, understand options, and make confident decisions — even under pressure.
We provide written estimates where appropriate (such as elective procedures), and we regularly offer verbal estimates or updates during ongoing care. Please don’t hesitate to ask.
- As a university-based service, we have more scope to shape our pricing based on the needs of our clients and patients, rather than following a national pricing structure or business model.
- We provide contextualised care — meaning that we don’t apply a one-size-fits-all approach. Every horse, rider, and situation is different, and we work with you to make practical decisions that suit your circumstances, the horse’s needs, and what matters most to you.
- While we don’t benefit from the same bulk buying arrangements as large veterinary groups or online retailers, we regularly compare supplier prices to make sure we’re providing access to appropriate medicines and services.
- Our medicines are stocked and dispensed primarily as a clinical service to owners, not as a source of income. We maintain a wide range of products — including some that are only used occasionally or in emergencies — and we accept the higher costs involved in holding stock that may expire or go unused, because it ensures the right treatment is available at the right time.
- We also provide prescriptions on request, where appropriate, for clients who wish to obtain medication through third-party or online pharmacies.
- Our goal with pricing is to cover the cost of providing high-quality, responsive care — not to maximise profit from any particular service line.
- Being a teaching hospital, our students are actively involved in patient care under the supervision of experienced clinicians. Their presence often enhances the quality of care, by bringing additional time, attention, and discussion to each case — at no extra cost to the client.
- Finally, we encourage owners and those involved in their horse’s care to consider emergency planning in advance. Knowing what you might do — and what it might cost — can make decisions easier and more confident when they matter most.
Common Equine Veterinary Fees - May 2025
All prices include VAT unless otherwise stated.
📌 Call-Out and Visit Fees
Zonal Visit Fee: £20 per visit (reduced fee for up to 3 clients;
Free 4 Visit : when 4 or more horses are seen during the same visit)
Standard Visit Fee (non-zone day): £52
Mileage Fee (out of area): Charged per mile – please enquire
📌 Examination Fees
Standard Equine Consultation/Examination: £48
Colic Assessment: £98.22
(May be emergency or non-emergency; includes rectal examination; excludes sedation or treatment if required)
📌 Out-of-Hours Emergency Surcharges
Emergency Surcharge (before 11pm and after 7:30am): £113
Emergency Surcharge (after 11pm and before 7:30am): £137.51
📌 Gastroscopy
Gastroscopy (practice clinic, horse brought to hospital): £193.56
(set times – c. twice monthly at hospital; includes sedation but not treatment)
Gastroscopy (at your stable): £275.62
(excludes sedation and treatment)
📌 Routine Diagnostics
Lameness Assessment (incl. trot-ups): £95.30
(includes intial examination trot-ups, lunging & flexions if indicated: further investigations e.g. nerve blocks additional)
Tendon Scan (Ultrasound Imaging): £125.08
(excluding examination and sedation, if required)
📌 Equine Vaccination Prices
Flu Vaccination: £51
Flu + Tetanus Vaccination: £53
Tetanus Only Vaccination: £34.62
📌 Equine Dental Services
Passport Application Form Completion: £36.78
Microchipping: £48.83
Routine Dental Exam & Rasp (incl. sedation): £88.50
📌 Prescriptions
Equine Prescription Fee: £22.24 (per medication)
📌 Pre-Purchase Examinations (Equine Vettings)
2-Stage Vetting: £303
5-Stage Vetting: £363
FAQs
Yes — where appropriate, we are happy to provide a prescription so that you can source medication elsewhere, such as an online pharmacy.
We also carry a wide range of medications in practice, including those rarely used, to ensure the right treatment is available when urgently needed. However, we don’t publish fixed medication prices — the cost we pay to wholesalers can change monthly, sometimes significantly. Because we operate a live pricing system, you always receive the most up-to-date cost — whether it’s gone up or down.
We believe this is the fairest and most transparent way to manage medicine charges, and it ensures that horse owners are only ever paying what the medicine costs at the time we dispense it.
Medication costs vary month to month based on what our wholesaler charges. Rather than list fixed prices that may quickly become outdated, we operate a live pricing system — so that horse owners always pay the most current and accurate price, whether it’s gone up or down. This avoids overcharging and reflects real-time cost changes. If you have any questions about medicine pricing, we’re happy to explain the current cost at the time of dispensing.
Yes — we offer written estimates for planned procedures and are happy to provide verbal updates at any point during ongoing care or hospitalisation. Please ask your vet or our reception team.
If you need emergency care outside our standard hours, a surcharge applies depending on the time of day (see above). We will still provide a full explanation of costs as care progresses.
Yes — our zonal visit fee of £20 can be shared by up to four horses or clients on the same yard. If four or more horses are seen, the visit fee is waived entirely.
Unless stated, diagnostic fees (like colic assessments or scans) do not include sedation or treatment. Your vet will always explain what’s needed and provide an estimate if appropriate.
Yes — our zonal visit fee of £20 can be shared by up to four horses or clients on the same yard. If four or more horses are seen, the visit fee is waived entirely.
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