UK Vets Face Crackdown Over Fees as Pet Owners 'Left in the Dark' on Bills
The UK's competition watchdog has mandated that veterinary practices cap prescription fees at £21 and introduce price lists, following a comprehensive investigation that revealed consumers have faced steep price increases and a lack of transparency in billing. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) announced these measures after a two-and-a-half-year probe into the £6.7 billion veterinary market, concluding that competition among veterinary businesses is weak, with large chains dominating the industry.
New Regulations to Enhance Transparency and Reduce Costs
Under the new rules, vets must inform pet owners that medications might be cheaper online and provide written prescriptions, which could lead to significant savings. Written prescription fees will be capped at £21 for the first medicine and £12.50 for any additional drugs. The CMA estimates these changes could save pet owners hundreds of pounds annually, although the cap is less stringent than the previously proposed £16 limit.
Martin Coleman, chair of the independent inquiry group, stated: "Too often, people are left in the dark about who owns their practice, treatment options and prices – even when facing bills running into thousands of pounds. Our measures mean it will be made clear to pet owners which practices are part of large groups, which are charging higher prices, and for the first time, vet businesses will be held to account by an independent regulator."
Sharp Rise in Veterinary Service Prices
The watchdog found that average prices for veterinary services increased by 63% between 2016 and 2023, far outpacing general inflation. It noted no strong evidence linking these price hikes to investments in service quality. Internal documents from large veterinary groups indicated that price increases were based on expectations that pet owners would not reduce or switch services, rather than quality improvements.
Pet owners spent over £6.7 billion on veterinary and related services in 2024, averaging £390 per pet-owning household. Some procedures, such as surgery for cruciate ligament disease in dogs, can cost up to £5,000 or more.
Additional Measures and Industry Response
Other legally binding measures include:
- Requiring practices to publish standard price lists.
- Establishing a cost comparison website to boost competition.
- Mandating that large groups disclose their ownership of individual practices.
- Providing written estimates for treatments expected to cost £500 or more, including aftercare, with itemised bills.
More than 60% of veterinary practices are owned by six large groups: CVS, Pets at Home, Medivet, IVC, VetPartners, and Linnaeus. CVS expressed satisfaction that the CMA considered industry feedback, noting compliance with many remedies and early publication of price lists. Vets for Pets, part of Pets at Home, welcomed the move to modernise sector legislation.
Broader Implications and Future Outlook
The CMA criticised the 60-year-old regulatory regime as outdated, highlighting that it applies to individual vets but not businesses, leaving key areas unregulated. Rob Williams, president of the British Veterinary Association, acknowledged the need for transparency but attributed price rises to broader business cost increases affecting vet practices.
Pet owners using chain practices can expect changes, including standard price lists, before Christmas, aiming to foster a more competitive and transparent market.
