CMA vet reforms explained: what changes for pet owners?

The CMA’s veterinary market investigation looked at transparency and competition in UK veterinary services. This guide explains the headline findings and remedy direction in neutral terms, and what pet owners can check when comparing options.

This guide is informational only. It does not provide medical or legal advice, and it does not replace speaking with your vet about treatment decisions.

Why the CMA investigated

The CMA received around 45,000 contacts from pet owners and assessed whether people could compare options clearly in practice.

Its summary materials describe concerns including:

• limited advance visibility of non-routine treatment pricing,
• ownership/branding clarity issues for some customers,
• prescription and medicine-price comparison barriers,
• and uneven complaints clarity.

What the CMA found on prices and transparency

The CMA reported that:

• average veterinary prices rose 63% between January 2016 and December 2023,
• average first-year treatment expenses rose 53%,
• CPI inflation rose 32% in the same period.

The CMA also reported that:

• less than half (43%) of surveyed pet owners received price information in advance of their most recent non-routine treatment,
• at the start of the CMA’s work, only 16% of checked practice websites had any prices,
• in 2025, over 40% of first-opinion practices still did not display any prices on their websites.

What the CMA found on ownership and awareness

The CMA reported that large veterinary groups now own over 60% of UK veterinary practices, compared with around 10% in 2013.

The six large groups named by the CMA are:

• CVS
• IVC Evidensia
• Linnaeus
• Medivet
• Pets at Home
• VetPartners

The CMA also reported that less than half (47%) of confirmed large-group customers knew their practice was part of a large veterinary group.

What the CMA found on prescriptions and medicines

The CMA reported that commonly prescribed medicines were typically 50% to 60% cheaper at online pharmacies than at vet practices, and that many pet owners could save around £200 to £300 per year by buying suitable prescribed medicines online.

The same materials note that many owners had not attempted to compare medicine prices.

For medicine choices, owners should speak with their vet before changing how or where they buy medicine.

What changes when

The CMA final report was published on 24 March 2026. The CMA Order must be completed by 23 September 2026. Other remedies are then phased in over roughly 3 to 12 months after the Order date, depending on remedy and business size.