Consultation and preventative care
How much does an out-of-hours consultation cost?
An out-of-hours consultation for other small pets / exotics typically costs £105 at a UK vet. That is the middle price across 5 practices that publish one: independent vets typically charge £278 and the big chains £100. Below: how much it varies, where it costs least, and what the price usually includes.
What this covers: Consultation with a vet surgeon using the practice's OOH provision.
Size of pet:
How much it varies
How many vets charge each amount for an out-of-hours consultation, other small pets / exotics, in £10 steps. The dark bar holds the typical price.
By region
Typical price in each part of the UK, cheapest first.
| Region | Typical | Vets |
|---|---|---|
| East of England | £100 | 3 |
The cheapest vets in the UK for an out-of-hours consultation
Other small pets / exotics. Check what each price includes before you compare.
| Practice | Town | Owner | Price | Included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Letchworth Vets for Pets | Letchworth | Vets4Pets | £96 | |
| Bury St Edmunds Vets for Pets | West Suffolk | Vets4Pets | £100 | |
| Vets4Pets Chester Caldy | Chester | Vets4Pets | £105 | |
| Kruger Veterinary Group | Cwmbran | Independent | £180 | |
| Queen Mother Small Animal Hospital | Hatfield | Independent | £375 |
A low price with nothing in the "included" column may mean the vet has not said, not that nothing is included. Open the practice for the detail.
What the price covers, and why it varies
The standard definition: Out-of-hours consultation, including name of third-party provider if used, and hyperlink to provider's website.
Other prices in the same group: First consultation, Repeat consultation, Nurse consultation, Nail clipping, Anal gland expression, Microchipping, Animal health certificate, Vaccinations – primary course, Vaccinations – booster, Kennel cough vaccination, Pet care plan (monthly). All 36 treatments.
Common questions
How much does out-of-hours consultation cost at the vet in the UK?
Typically £105 for other small pets / exotics. That is the middle price across 5 UK practices that publish one, so half charge less and half charge more. Independent vets typically charge £277.50 and the big chains £100.
Does the price of out-of-hours consultation depend on the size of my pet?
Yes. Most practices price out-of-hours consultation by weight. Typical published prices: all pets £188.19; cats £150; rabbits £271; other small pets / exotics £105; dogs (all sizes) £271. The standard list uses cats and five dog sizes (small, medium, large, extra large and giant), but each practice sets its own kilogram limits, so ask which band your pet falls in.
How can I pay less for out-of-hours consultation?
Compare the vets in your own town first: the gap between the cheapest and dearest is often larger than the gap between towns. Ask for a written estimate before you agree to anything, which practices must give for treatment over £500.
What does the out-of-hours consultation price include?
The standard list defines it as: Consultation with a vet surgeon using the practice's OOH provision. Published prices include VAT and are for a typical case. Complications cost more.
Why do vets publish the price of out-of-hours consultation?
Because the competition regulator told them to. It found in 2026 that owners could not compare vet prices and that prices had risen faster than inflation, so every practice now has to publish the same 36 prices, including out-of-hours consultation, on its website one click from the home page. The big chains must do it by 23 December 2026 and everyone else by 23 March 2027.
Not veterinary advice. This page compares what practices charge. It does not say whether a treatment or a medicine is right for your animal, and nothing here should be used to start, stop or change any treatment. Only your own vet, who can examine your animal, can advise you. If your animal is unwell, ring a vet. In an emergency, use an out-of-hours vet.
How this is ordered. By price, lowest first, unless you sort it yourself by clicking a heading. Nobody pays to appear here, to appear higher, or to be left out, and no practice has any say in the order. How we collect prices.
About these prices: each figure is as published on the practice's own website on the date shown, VAT included where the practice says so, for the size of pet and the inclusions stated. Practices now have to publish a standard price list and keep it current (the rules), but the price you pay depends on your pet, so confirm with the practice before you book. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will re-check the source within two working days.