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 being 'left in the dark' over bills. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said public satisfaction with the cost of services was 'low' after examining the £6.7bn market, where large chains dominate.
Under the legally binding measures, vets must inform pet owners that medicines may be cheaper online and that they can request a prescription to save money. Written prescription fees will be capped at £21 for the first medicine and £12.50 for any additional drugs, potentially saving pet owners hundreds of pounds. The cap is less severe than the £16 limit initially proposed.
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.' The CMA also requires large veterinary groups to make clear which practices are part of a chain and proposes a cost comparison website to increase competition.
Pet owners spent over £6.7bn on veterinary services in 2024, averaging £390 per household. Some procedures, such as cruciate ligament surgery for dogs, can cost £5,000 or more. The watchdog found that average prices rose by 63% between 2016 and 2023, far outpacing general inflation, with internal documents showing that some large groups based pricing strategies on non-quality factors.
Practices must provide written estimates for treatments costing £500 or more and itemised bills. The CMA labelled the existing 60-year-old regulatory regime as 'outdated', noting that it applies to individual vets but not businesses. The British Veterinary Association welcomed increased transparency but cautioned that rising costs reflect broader business pressures.
