By Marie Carter-Robb
Pet owners across the UK could soon see sweeping changes to the way veterinary services are delivered – after the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) revealed a damning verdict on the £6.3 billion vet industry and the urgent need for reform.
In a provisional report published today (15 October 2025), the CMA lays bare a veterinary sector that’s failing consumers on multiple fronts – from murky pricing and lack of transparency, to inflated medicine costs and poor regulatory oversight.
And the figures are startling: average vet prices rose by 63% between 2016 and 2023 – far outpacing inflation – while pet owners at large veterinary groups pay 16.6% more on average than those using independent practices. In many cases, owners are unknowingly forking out hundreds of pounds more than they should.
The CMA’s investigation focuses not on individual vets or nurses – but the businesses behind the scenes, many of which are now owned by vast corporate chains. These corporate groups, it says, are profiting handsomely while consumers struggle to make informed choices.
What’s Going Wrong?
The CMA highlights a catalogue of failings that many pet owners will recognise:
- No clear prices available before committing to treatment – even when bills run into the thousands.
- Written prescriptions sometimes costing £30 or more – yet legally required for owners to buy cheaper medication online.
- Medication mark-ups that see owners paying double what they’d spend elsewhere.
- Cremation services with opaque pricing at a time of grief and vulnerability.
- Pet care plans that are difficult to assess in terms of value for money.
- A lack of complaints procedures when things go wrong.
- Confusion over whether a vet practice is truly independent or part of a larger chain.
In a blistering statement, Martin Coleman, Chair of the 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.”
“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’s Proposed Solutions – What Could Change?
The watchdog is now proposing a bold 21-point plan to tackle the industry’s shortcomings and revive real competition. These include:
- Compulsory price transparency: Vet practices would be legally required to publish full price lists and disclose if they’re part of a large corporate group.
- Written prescriptions for repeat medication: Automatically provided (unless the owner opts out), with a price cap of £16.
- Clear pricing: Written estimates for all treatments over £500, plus itemised bills.
- Online comparison tools: A revamp of the RCVS ‘Find a Vet’ website, incorporating pricing data to help owners compare options locally.
- Transparent cremation costs: So owners can make informed choices at emotional times.
- Pet care plan clarity: Vets must clearly show what’s included and what owners are paying for.
- Urgent regulatory reform: The CMA is urging the government to update the Veterinary Surgeons Act, which hasn’t been meaningfully revised since 1966. This would allow the regulator to oversee veterinary businesses, not just individuals.
While acknowledging that some reforms may bring short-term administrative costs, the CMA concludes that the long-term savings and empowerment for pet owners would far outweigh them.
A Word on Abuse
Importantly, the CMA is keen to stress that frontline veterinary professionals are not to blame. Vets and nurses continue to face growing pressure – including abuse from frustrated clients – and should not be scapegoated for systemic business failings. In fact, the CMA believes its reforms will strengthen clinical independence and support trust in the profession.
What Happens Next?
The CMA will publish its final decision by March 2026. If approved, the changes will be enforced through a legally binding order – with some measures potentially taking effect before the end of 2026. Smaller vet businesses will be given additional time to adjust.
In the meantime, the CMA is encouraging veterinary groups to act voluntarily, rather than wait for the law to force change.
At Pets Magazine, we’ll be watching closely – and we’ll continue to speak up for pet owners who deserve fairness, transparency, and the right to make informed choices about their animals’ care.
What do you think? Have you experienced soaring vet costs or confusing care plans? Join the conversation on Pets Magazine’s Facebook page or email us at editor@petsmag.co.uk 💬
This story was reported using information released by the Competition and Markets Authority, 15 October 2025.