The UK's competition watchdog has ordered veterinary practices to cap prescription fees at £21 and publish price lists, following a two-and-a-half-year investigation that found pet owners were 'left in the dark' over bills. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said public satisfaction with the cost of services was 'low' in the £6.7bn market, where large chains dominate and competition is weak.
Under the new legally binding measures, vets must inform pet owners that medicines may be cheaper online and that they can obtain a prescription to save money. Written prescription fees will be capped at £21 for the first medicine and £12.50 for additional drugs, potentially saving owners hundreds of pounds. The cap is less severe than the £16 limit previously proposed by the CMA.
Practices must also provide a written estimate for any treatment expected to cost £500 or more, excluding emergencies, and issue itemised bills. Large veterinary groups must make it clear that individual practices are part of a chain. The CMA plans to create a comparison website to increase competition and drive down costs.
The watchdog found that average vet service prices rose by 63% between 2016 and 2023, far outpacing general inflation. It cited internal documents from large groups linking price increases to an expectation that pet owners would not switch providers. More than 60% of practices are owned by six large groups, including CVS, Pets at Home, Medivet, IVC, VetPartners, and Linnaeus.
Martin Coleman, chair of the independent inquiry group, said: '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.' The British Veterinary Association welcomed the focus on transparency but noted that rising costs reflect higher business expenses.
