Expert tips on pet care, vet pricing, and making the most of our comparison tools.
Cruciate ligament surgery for a dog typically costs £2,500–£5,500 in the UK depending on the technique and your dog's size. This vet-reviewed guide explains TPLO, TTA and lateral suture, what each procedure involves, recovery timelines and how to budget realistically.
Real 2026 Medivet prices from 354 UK branches: consultations from £39, vaccinations, microchipping and Healthcare Plan costs compared to Pets at Home/Vets4Pets and independents.
Real published prices from 453 Vets4Pets and Pets at Home vet branches in our index — typical fees, regional differences and how they compare to independents, CVS, Medivet and IVC Evidensia in 2026.
Published 2026 prices from 491 CVS Group practices: consultations median £65, dog boosters £84, microchipping £22 and neutering costs, plus what the Healthy Pet Club actually saves you.
IVC Evidensia owns 982 UK practices and 428 now publish a consultation price. Here's what those prices show — median £66 consultations, £352 dog castrations and the widest gap to independents of any group.
What VetPartners practices charge in 2026: median £58.50 consultations, £66 dog boosters, £271 dog castrations. Real published prices from 433 UK practices, compared with CVS, Medivet and independents.
How much does it cost to neuter a dog in the UK? Castration averages £249.50 and spaying £340 at the median, but prices run from £90 to £550. Real published prices, by size, region and vet group.
Cat castration has a median UK price of £103 and spaying £147, from 1,600+ published practice prices. Full breakdown by vet group, region and what's included — plus how to get it cheaper.
Real 2026 cat vaccination prices from 1,603 UK practices. Annual boosters have a median price of £72, kitten courses run £75–£110, and the gap between the cheapest and dearest vet group is over £20 a year.
We analysed published vaccination prices from over 1,200 UK vet practices. A full puppy vaccination course averages £75–£95, but prices range from £45 to £160. Here's exactly what you'll pay, what's included, and how to avoid overpaying.
We analysed published prices from 1,627 UK vet practices. The median consultation costs £59, dog neutering can vary by hundreds of pounds, and your county matters more than you'd think. Here's what the latest data shows.
The CMA has concluded its landmark market investigation into UK veterinary services. Here's a comprehensive guide to every reform — from prescription fee caps and mandatory price lists to a new complaints system.
The CMA has concluded its market investigation with major reforms — including a £21 cap on vet prescription fees, mandatory price lists, and a new comparison website.
From 2026, UK vets must publish prices, disclose ownership and explain prescription fees. Here's what the CMA's new rules mean for pet owners.
We compared live pricing across 2,944 independent and 2,942 corporate UK practices. The consultation gap has all but closed, but vaccinations and kennel cough boosters tell a very different story.
Twelve ways to cut your UK vet bill without compromising care — from the £21 prescription cap to charity neutering vouchers and the real maths behind care plans. Built from our live price database.
Healthy Pet Club, Complete Care, Best for Pet — every UK chain has a monthly plan. We model the maths against real published prices to show exactly when they save money and when they don't.
UK vet prices rose 63% between 2016 and 2023. We unpack the six structural drivers — consolidation, drugs, staffing, advanced medicine, real estate and weak price signals — and what the 2026 CMA reforms change.
Out-of-hours consultation alone can be £200–£350 before any treatment. Here's what UK emergency vet care actually costs, what counts as a true emergency, and how to prepare.
Dog castration averages £258, bitch spays £350, cat castration £108, cat spays £151 across UK practices — but prices range from under £60 (with a charity voucher) to over £600. Here's the full breakdown.
Periodontal disease affects roughly 80% of dogs by age three. Using live UK practice pricing we break down what scale-and-polish, extractions and advanced dental procedures actually cost in 2026 — and how to slash lifetime bills.
Beyond consultation price — RCVS accreditation, out-of-hours cover, ownership disclosure under the new CMA rules, and the 10 questions every owner should ask before registering.
Apoquel, Cytopoint, Atopica, immunotherapy — what each actually treats, what it costs in 2026, and how the new £21 prescription fee cap can cut your annual bill by £200+.
Up to 80% of dogs over 8 develop osteoarthritis. We compare Librela, Metacam, gabapentin, joint supplements and hydrotherapy on cost and evidence — and show how the £21 prescription cap helps.
Cat consultation £61 average, cat spay £151, cat castration £108 — verified from 1,600+ UK practice price lists. Plus what kidney disease, hyperthyroidism and urinary blockage really cost.
The 'honking' cough that spreads anywhere dogs gather. Symptoms, when it warrants a consult, treatment costs, vaccine pricing (£30–£50) and how to prevent it.
Bravecto, Simparica, NexGard, Credelio, Advocate, Frontline — what they kill, what they don't, and how the £21 prescription cap means you can buy online for 30–50% less.
Which vaccines your pet really needs, real 2026 UK pricing (dog booster £71, cat booster £73 average), and the WSAVA-aligned schedule most UK practices follow.
Should you insure or save? We model lifetime cost across four UK pet profiles using real claim data and the four UK policy types — lifetime, max benefit, time limited and accident only.
56% of UK dogs are overweight (PDSA PAW). We quantify the lifetime vet cost, the conditions you'll be treating, and the practical, free interventions that actually work.
Beyond the purchase price, expect £2,000–£3,500 in your first year — and easily £4,500+ for a French Bulldog or large breed. Here's an itemised, realistic budget using live UK vet pricing.
Switching vets or just got a new pet? A 9-minute walkthrough of the first appointment, what it should cost (UK average £61), and the questions that protect you under the new CMA pricing rules.