New statutory customer fees will be introduced for veterinary services organized by municipalities throughout Finland from the beginning of 2026.

Clinic fee for pets

The municipal veterinarians of Jämijärvi, Kankaanpää, Karvia, Merikarvia, Pomarkku and Siikainen charge the city a clinic fee of €10 for each visit when a domestic animal is treated at the veterinarian's office.

From the beginning of 2026, small animal customers will therefore receive two separate invoices for their pet's visit. In addition to the veterinarian's invoice, the municipality's invoice covers the basic costs of arranging veterinary care. The municipality's fees include 25,5% VAT and are generally collected as a bank card payment in connection with the vet visit.

The measures that, according to the new law, have been defined as basic tasks for pets organized by the municipality are: general examination and health assessment, identification marking of cats and dogs, vaccination, parasite control, clinical examination of sick animals, taking standard samples, basic first aid treatment, treatment of digestive tract, urinary tract disorders, metabolic disorders, inflammatory and pain conditions and shock, basic oral health care measures, suturing of wounds, other treatment involving minor surgical procedures, first aid for bone fractures, drug treatment and, if necessary, sending the animal for further treatment, euthanasia of the animal and obstetric assistance, which only includes cesarean section for cats as a surgical procedure. Of the surgical procedures related to reproduction, the municipality's tasks also include sterilization of cats and castration of dogs and cats.

Market-based payment

If the veterinarian's service needs are more extensive than the above, in addition to the clinic fee, the city will also be charged a separate market-based fee (€54/hour) for procedures that exceed the statutory basic level. Such services include, for example, ultrasound examinations or castration of a pet other than a dog or cat.

Similarly, a market-based fee is charged to all customers who have their animals treated at a veterinary clinic and whose residence is not in the aforementioned municipalities of North Satakunta. However, urgent situations for residents from outside the municipality are handled without the municipality's market-based fee.

The hourly rate for the market-based fee is €54 and is charged according to the time used in 15-minute increments (€13,50 / 15 minutes).

Production animals

The above fees do not apply to veterinary visits to livestock facilities, as the care of livestock is part of the essential basic services provided by the municipality. The exception to this is ultrasound examinations of horses, for which the municipality charges a fee.

The fee is based on:

Veterinary Care Act (285/2023) Sections 15 and 17
Kankaanpää City Environmental and Health Board December 3, 2025 Section 30

 

Additional information:
Laura Juhantalo, Director of Health Supervision, City of Kankaanpää, [email protected]