The £10 Pill vs The 50p Generic: A Vet's Confession

By Tom Fairhall

Your dog is sick. You're scared. You'll pay anything.

The vet knows this.

That's why the 50p generic sells for £10.

The Corporate Takeover

Over 60% of UK veterinary practices are now owned by just six corporate groups.

The playbook is familiar:

Buy independent practices
Keep the original name (so you don't notice)
Standardize pricing (upward)
Push high-margin products
Repeat

The vet you've trusted for 15 years might still be there. But the prices? Those come from head office.

What I Heard

I don't have a dog anymore. But I have friends who do.

They told me:

"The consultation used to be £30. Now it's £70."
"They wanted £200 for tests before they'd even look at him."
"I asked about a cheaper option. They said there wasn't one."

There's always a cheaper option. They just don't mention it.

The Truth About Generics

Here's what most pet owners don't know:

Generic drugs are identical to branded ones. Same active ingredient. Same dosage. Different packaging.
Vets can prescribe generics for less. They just don't always offer.
You have the right to take your prescription elsewhere. Online pet pharmacies often sell the same meds for 80% less.

But nobody tells you this. Because information asymmetry is profitable.

VetSense AI

I built VetSense AI to fix this.

It's a symptom-checker and cost-transparency tool for pet owners. You describe what's wrong. It suggests possible conditions. And — critically — it shows you what treatments typically cost, including generic alternatives.

It doesn't replace your vet. It makes you a more informed customer.

Because an informed customer doesn't pay £10 for a 50p pill.

The Vision

VetSense is ready. What I need is someone who cares about pets, understands the industry, and can market this to the millions of pet owners who are being quietly overcharged.

If that's you, let's talk.

"Love for your pet shouldn't be a profit center."