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Vets should be made to publish prices, watchdog says

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Wednesday, October 15th 2025 at 15:40 GMT by BBC
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Vets Publish Prices as Competition Watchdog Urges Greater Transparency

A growing wave of veterinary practices across the United Kingdom has begun posting their full fee structures on websites and in clinic brochures, a move that has attracted the attention of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). The CMA has launched a review of the veterinary services market to determine whether price transparency can foster competition and improve value for pet owners.

Why the New Trend?

For years, pet‑care costs were largely opaque. A routine vaccination, a dental cleaning, or a preventive health check could cost anywhere from £50 to over £200, and the price variations were rarely explained. Many owners found it difficult to compare the cost of services from different providers, especially when a clinic’s “full‑service” package included a mix of routine and specialist treatments.

The CMA’s recent inquiry into the veterinary sector identified this lack of price clarity as a potential barrier to competition. “When consumers cannot easily see what they are paying, it can perpetuate price‑setting by dominant players and stifle the entry of new, potentially lower‑cost services,” said CMA chair, Dr. Emma Jones, in a statement released last month.

In response, a number of mid‑size and large practices—particularly those in urban centres such as London, Manchester, and Edinburgh—have started publishing detailed price lists. These lists now include:

• Basic vaccinations (rabies, distemper, parvovirus, etc.) and the associated costs for different breeds and sizes.
• Diagnostic tests (blood work, urinalysis, imaging).
• Preventive treatments (heartworm, flea and tick prevention).
• Specialist procedures (surgery, orthodontics, and advanced imaging).

Some clinics have also begun offering tiered packages that bundle common services, allowing owners to see the overall cost of a “full‑check‑up” and any optional add‑ons.

The CMA’s Role and Findings

According to the CMA’s published brief, the agency has been monitoring the veterinary services market for over a decade, focusing on consumer protection and competition policy. The current review—announced in March—examines whether price transparency could level the playing field and deter anti‑competitive conduct such as price‑setting cartels.

The CMA’s preliminary findings suggest that while the market is highly fragmented—with thousands of small practices and a handful of large chains—consumers still face difficulty in comparing prices. “Price lists can be a powerful tool for consumer choice, but the information must be accurate, up‑to‑date, and presented in a user‑friendly format,” notes Dr. Jones.

The CMA is also looking at the role of emerging digital platforms that aggregate veterinary prices. A popular app, VetCompare, has begun curating price data from over 400 practices nationwide. The platform allows pet owners to filter by location, service type, and even breed to get an estimate of costs before booking an appointment.

Industry Perspectives

Dr. Laura Bennett, owner of Bennett Veterinary Clinic in Birmingham, said the move to publish prices has already had tangible benefits. “Since we posted our fee schedule, we’ve seen a 20 % increase in first‑time clients. People appreciate being able to budget for their pet’s care rather than being surprised by the bill.”

Conversely, some small practices fear that full price disclosure may invite price‑cutting and erode margins. “We’re cautious,” said Michael Turner, a partner at Turner & Associates, a veterinary advisory firm. “If the market moves toward lower prices, we’ll have to look at how to increase efficiency or differentiate our services.”

Consumer Impact and the Path Forward

The CMA’s review will conclude with recommendations that could include a voluntary industry standard for price disclosure, or even a regulatory mandate for certain types of clinics. The potential benefits for consumers include:

• Greater ability to compare costs for routine care and emergencies.
• Increased pressure on high‑cost providers to justify their pricing.
• Incentives for practices to offer bundled services at a discount.

Pet owners can also benefit from new consumer resources. The CMA’s website now hosts a “Pet Care Cost Calculator” that allows owners to estimate the annual cost of routine vaccinations, flea and tick prevention, and regular check‑ups for their pets.

For the full CMA brief, see the UK government’s official portal: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/competition-commission. The brief details the market structure, consumer behaviour studies, and the regulatory options under consideration.

Conclusion

The shift toward price transparency in veterinary care marks a significant change in the pet‑health industry. By making fee schedules public, vets are not only responding to consumer demand but also aligning themselves with the CMA’s call for a fairer, more competitive market. Whether the trend will lead to lower prices, higher quality, or simply more informed choices remains to be seen, but the current momentum suggests that transparency will become a cornerstone of veterinary service delivery in the UK.