Watchdog proposes vets publish clear prices
Veterinary businesses should be required to publish clear price lists so pet owners can see costs upfront and compare options, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has said.
The watchdog’s investigation into the UK’s £6.3 billion veterinary market found that many owners are not given written estimates for treatments that can cost hundreds or even thousands of pounds.
Between 2016 and 2023, average vet prices rose by 63%, almost twice the rate of inflation, the CMA said.
It is proposing 21 measures including clearer price information, limits on prescription fees, and requirements for vets to declare whether they are part of a national group.
The CMA found that pet owners pay on average 16.6% more at large veterinary groups than at independent practices. It also says medicines dispensed by vets can cost twice as much as buying them online.
Under the proposals, practices would have to publish full price lists, clearly disclose if they are part of a large group, provide written prices for treatments over £500 and issue itemised bills.
The regulator also wants vets to tell clients about possible savings from buying medicines online and, where repeat medicines are likely, automatically provide a prescription unless the owner opts out.
The cost of written prescriptions would be capped at £16.
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons would be required to enhance its “Find a Vet” website to include pricing data that can also be used by third-party comparison sites and apps.
The CMA said this would make it easier for owners to compare local practices when they get a pet or move area.
The watchdog found that the current regulatory system only covers individual professionals and not veterinary businesses, even though most practices are now part of large corporate groups.
The six biggest are CVS, IVC, Linnaeus, Medivet, Pets at Home and VetPartners.
Martin Coleman, chair of the CMA’s inquiry group, said: “Pet owners are often left in the dark, not knowing whether their practice is independent or part of a chain or what a fair price looks like. They are sometimes committing to expensive treatment without understanding the price in advance. And they do not always feel confident asking for a prescription or buying medicine online, even when it could save them hundreds of pounds.
Even where pet owners could access some of this information, it is difficult for them to compare prices and services, despite the fact that, in most of the country, there are several local practices they could choose between.
We are proposing major reforms aimed at bringing about a transformation in the experience of pet owners and empowering them to make the best choices for their circumstances. We believe that our proposals would enable pet owners to choose the right vet, the right treatment, and the right way to purchase medicine, without confusion or unnecessary cost.”
The CMA says the changes are aimed at veterinary businesses rather than individual vets or nurses, and that the reforms would support clinical independence by reducing commercial pressure.
For pet owners in Deeside and across Flintshire, the changes would make it easier to check local prices, see who owns each practice, and decide whether to buy repeat medicines online using a capped-cost prescription.
The CMA says there are several practices to choose from in most areas, and the measures are intended to make comparisons simpler and fairer.
Sue Davies, Which? Head of Consumer Protection Policy, said: “Millions of UK households feel that their pets are part of the family, but Which? research has shown that many pet owners have been exposed to bad practices like unclear pricing, potentially excessive or unnecessary charges and no independent route for resolving their complaints.
“The CMA’s remedy proposals for the veterinary sector underscore the need for greater transparency when a pet owner chooses a vet practice and a treatment. These are welcome proposals and they should be implemented as soon as possible to restore consumer confidence in vet services.
“It’s clear that the regulation of this market has become outdated, to the detriment of both pet owners and vet practices. The government must act quickly to modernise this sector so that veterinary businesses and the practices they own are regulated and there is an effective independent complaints and redress system.”
The CMA’s findings are provisional. Interested parties have until Wednesday 12 November to respond before a final decision is published in March 2026.
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