On 24 March 2026, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) concluded its most extensive review of the UK veterinary sector in a generation. After two and a half years of investigation — and an unprecedented 56,000 responses from the public and industry — the independent inquiry group found that pet owners are being "left in the dark" about who owns their practice, what treatment options exist, and how much things cost.
The result is a sweeping package of legally binding reforms that will start coming into force later this year. Here is a comprehensive breakdown of every major change and what it means for you.
The Scale of the Problem
The UK veterinary sector is worth over £6.7 billion, serving an estimated 17.2 million pet-owning households — around 60% of the UK population. Yet the CMA found that vet prices rose 63% between 2016 and 2023, nearly double the rate of general inflation.
More than 60% of veterinary practices are now owned in whole or in part by just six large corporate groups: CVS, IVC, Linnaeus, Medivet, Pets at Home (Vets for Pets), and VetPartners. The investigation found that competition between these groups was weak, and internal documents from some revealed pricing strategies linked to the assumption that pet owners would not switch practices — rather than investments in quality of care.
1. Mandatory Price Lists
Currently, fewer than 40% of practices publish prices on their websites, and those that do often cover very few services and make them hard to find. Under the new rules, all vet practices must publish a comprehensive, standardised price list covering:
- Consultations
- Common procedures (neutering, dental work, etc.)
- Diagnostics (blood tests, X-rays, scans)
- Written prescriptions
- Cremation options and any add-ons
Pet owners using a practice that is part of a larger corporate group can expect to see these price lists before Christmas 2026. Once published, you'll be able to compare vet prices easily using tools like ours.
2. Prescription Fee Caps
Over 70% of pet owners currently purchase long-term medication directly from their vet, even though many could save £200 or more per year by buying online with a written prescription. Many practices charge £30 or more per prescription, discouraging owners from shopping around.
Under the new regulations:
- Written prescription fees will be capped at £21 for the first medicine
- £12.50 for each additional medicine on the same prescription
- Vets must proactively tell pet owners they can request a written prescription and that buying medication elsewhere could save them money
- The cap will be adjusted annually for inflation
Larger practices must comply by March 2027; smaller practices have until September 2027.
3. A New Price Comparison Website
The CMA has mandated that price and ownership information be made available through the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons' (RCVS) 'Find a Vet' service, which will share data with third-party comparison sites. Currently, there is no easy or centralised way to compare local practices — these reforms will change that entirely.
This is exactly what The Vet Price Comparison Site has been built to do, and as practices begin publishing their standardised price lists, our service will become even more powerful and comprehensive.
4. Corporate Ownership Transparency
The CMA found that less than half of people using a practice owned by a large veterinary group actually knew their practice was part of a chain. Under the new rules:
- Vet businesses must clearly display whether they are part of a group or an independent practice
- Common ownership must be shown on signage, at the premises, and online
- This applies to all six large veterinary groups and their subsidiary brands
5. Written Estimates for Costly Treatment
Previously, less than half of pet owners received pricing information in advance of non-routine treatment, and only 29% received it in writing. The new rules require:
- A written estimate in advance for any treatment expected to cost £500 or more (including aftercare costs)
- An itemised bill after treatment
- The only exception is genuine emergency treatment
6. Pet Care Plan Transparency
Monthly subscription plans covering routine treatments have become increasingly popular, but the CMA found they can be poor value for owners who don't use all the services included. Going forward, pet care plans must clearly set out:
- The price of each individual component
- The total cost of the plan
- How any advertised savings are calculated
7. Cremation Pricing
The CMA found that pet owners may be paying around £100 more for individual cremations than they would in a competitive market. New rules require practices to:
- Provide clear, upfront prices for all cremation options including any add-ons
- Always offer the lower-cost option of communal cremation
8. Protecting Clinical Independence
The CMA raised concerns that vets' duty to provide independent and impartial advice could be compromised by commercial pressure from their employers. Under the new rules, practices must have written policies ensuring veterinary professionals are empowered to offer independent, clinical advice free from undue commercial influence.
9. Out-of-Hours Services
Out-of-hours emergency providers currently use long notice periods and high exit fees in their contracts with practices, making it difficult for practices to switch to better or cheaper providers. The reforms will ban unreasonably long notice periods, so practices can more easily end contracts and find a better service for their clients.
10. A New Complaints and Redress System
The current complaints system was found to be ineffective, with no mandatory process for practices and no formal redress when things go wrong. Under the new framework:
- Practices must follow a transparent, accessible in-house complaints process
- Where disputes cannot be resolved, practices must engage in mediation
Regulation and Legislative Reform
The CMA has emphasised that competition alone is not enough to protect consumers. The current legal regime governing veterinary services is 60 years old and applies to individual vets but not to businesses or practices — leaving key parts of the system unregulated.
The CMA backs the government's proposed reforms to the Veterinary Services Act, which would for the first time make veterinary businesses (not just individual vets) accountable to an independent regulator. The RCVS will take a central role in monitoring compliance, running the comparison service, and supporting the reforms.
The costs of these regulatory activities will be funded by a levy on veterinary businesses, estimated at £150–£250 per practice for initial setup and £450–£550 annually per practice for ongoing costs.
Implementation Timeline
The CMA has six months from the report date to put legally binding Orders in place — meaning Orders will be finalised by 23 September 2026. Once in place:
- Nearly all remedies will come into force within 3 to 12 months
- Larger corporate groups will need to comply first
- Smaller independent practices get an additional 3 months
- Prescription fee caps: March 2027 (September 2027 for smaller practices)
- Price lists from corporate groups: before Christmas 2026
What Should You Do Now?
These reforms represent the biggest shake-up of the UK veterinary sector in 60 years. Here's how to make the most of them:
- Ask for a written prescription — you could save £200+ a year buying medication online
- Compare vet prices as practices begin publishing their standardised price lists
- Check ownership — find out whether your local practice is independent or part of a corporate chain
- Request written estimates for any non-emergency treatment expected to cost £500 or more
- Review your pet care plan — make sure you're actually using all the services included
- Know your rights — if something goes wrong, your practice must now have a formal complaints process