Government to force vets to publish treatment prices

The government is set to force veterinary practices to publish their treatment prices, allowing pet owners to shop around for the best prices.

This comes after the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) found that the veterinary market was costing households up to £1bn over five years. An estimated 60% of UK households have pets, totalling around 17m. In 2024 alone, pet owners spent £6.3bn on veterinary and related services.

However, currently, 84% of vet practice websites publish no pricing information at all. It also found that vet fees have risen at nearly twice the rate of inflation, which is why the government has now decided to take action.

Industry insiders have claimed the huge price increases are due to big companies buying up smaller companies en masse. The government claims the changes will:

make the system clearer, fairer and more transparent for owners – while supporting veterinary professionals alike.

The reforms are the first in the sector in 60 years.

Vets – significant price differences

Currently, most vets do not publish their prices, and there can be significant price differences between practices. For example, the CMA found that the cost of a simple procedure, such as neutering a dog, can range from £120 to £700.

Another common procedure for dogs – surgery for cruciate ligament disease – can cost up to £5,000 or more.

This means owners are often caught off guard and forced to pay extortionate prices for treatment. But of course, by the time they find out the prices, their pet has already received treatment. This means it’s too late to opt out. 

Many pet owners are facing hard choices. Some are having to put pets down or take out huge loans to cover the cost of life-saving treatment.

Some of the specific measures mentioned by the CMA in October included capping the cost of prescriptions at £16, requiring prices in writing for any treatment over £500, and the price breakdown for pet care plans. It also proposed a price comparison website, similar to those for home or car insurance.

More control for owners

The changes will give owners more control. However, it is also expected that, in addition to giving customers a choice, vets will be forced to lower their prices over time to compete with other practices.

Additionally, every vet practice will need an official operating license, as GP practices and care homes do.

Currently, non-vets own 60% of UK vet practices. Under the new proposals, veterinary practices will have to disclose who owns them so pet owners know whether it is local or part of a big chain.

The British Veterinary Association, which represents 19,000 members, said that it broadly supports the proposals. However, they were:

very unlikely to dramatically alter the cost of veterinary care.

Vets have been robbing pet owners for years. Because let’s face it – why wouldn’t we pay to keep the animals we love alive? They can charge what they like and get away with it – so it’s about time the government holds them to account.

Featured image via HG