The Competition and Markets Authority has finally taken on the UK vet industry. Here is what is changing, what stays the same, and what to demand from your vet now.
After a two-year investigation, the CMA published its final report on the UK veterinary services market in early 2026. The headline findings will not surprise anyone who has paid a vet bill recently.
## What the CMA found
The market is dominated by a small number of corporate groups that have rolled up thousands of formerly-independent practices. Prices for routine services have risen well above inflation, and pet owners have very little information to compare what they are paying.
The biggest complaint was that prescription fees, follow-up charges and out-of-hours rates were almost never disclosed up front.
## What changes for you
From this year, every UK vet practice must publish standardised price lists for the most common services. That includes consultations, vaccinations, neutering, dentistry, and the prescription writing fee.
Practices must also disclose when they are part of a corporate group. So a Vets4Pets practice has to say it is owned by Pets at Home, and a Medivet practice has to disclose the Medivet Group ownership.
If you switch practices, you can now ask for your pet's full clinical history at no charge.
## What stays the same
The vet you see and the quality of care are not affected by these reforms. Most UK vets are members of the RCVS and follow the same clinical standards.
The reforms are about transparency and competition, not clinical practice.
## What to ask your vet today
Three quick questions:
Can I see your published price list before booking?
What is your prescription writing fee, both first and additional?
If you refer me out for emergency care, which hospital and what are their typical fees?
A vet that struggles to answer any of these is one you can shop around.