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UK veterinary groups

Independent veterinary practices

Independent ownership

Practices owned locally or by a small partnership, outside the six large groups named by the CMA. 1736 matched in our current dataset.

A factual ownership overview. Ownership does not determine clinical quality or price. See notes below.

Ownership context

  • 1736 Independent practices in our dataset Current snapshot — not a UK-wide total
  • 34% Of matched practices classified as independent WisePet dataset snapshot
  • Over 60% UK practices owned by large groups (CMA report, 2026) Up from around 10% in 2013
  • 47% Large-group customers who knew their practice was group-owned CMA customer findings

CMA stats from the March 2026 final report (Part A and summary). WisePet dataset stats from the current snapshot.

What "independent" usually means

A practice owned and run by one or more vets locally, or by a small partnership, without being part of the six large veterinary groups named in the CMA's March 2026 final report (CVS, IVC Evidensia, Linnaeus, Medivet, Pets at Home, VetPartners).

In practice, independent ownership covers a range of arrangements:

  • Single-site practice
    One location, owned and typically run day-to-day by one or more vets. The most common form of independent practice.
  • Small local group
    Two to around five sites under shared ownership — often a partnership of vets who have expanded locally. Still independent of the six named CMA groups.
  • Family-owned or founder-owned
    A practice where the founding vet or family retains ownership, sometimes across one or more sites, often trading under the original practice name.
  • Familiar name, changed ownership
    Some practices still trade under a well-known local name after being acquired by a larger group. The sign does not always reflect current ownership.

What independent does not guarantee

  • Not automatically cheaper than a corporate practice
  • Not automatically more personal or smaller in scale
  • A familiar local name does not confirm current ownership — ask the practice directly

Source: CMA final report and WisePet corporate vs independent guide. Both ownership models can provide good care — ownership is context, not a quality score.

How ownership types compare

A simplified overview based on CMA report framing. Individual practices vary.

Independent practice Small local group Large corporate group
Ownership Local vet(s) or small partnership Small regional group (not CMA-named) CVS, IVC Evidensia, Linnaeus, Medivet, Pets at Home, VetPartners
Number of sites Usually 1 Typically 2–10 Dozens to hundreds
Price-setting Set locally by the practice Locally or across sites Often by group policy
Complaints route Practice-level Practice or group level Group policy with escalation
Named by CMA (2026) No No Yes — six named groups

Source: CMA veterinary market investigation final report, March 2026. This table is a simplified overview — practices within each category vary significantly.

WisePet dataset snapshot

1736 physical practices matched as independent in our current dataset.

This is not a UK-wide total — only practices we have matched in the current snapshot. Counts can lag acquisitions, sales and rebrands. A practice may have changed ownership since the data was collected.

Search independent practices

Practices in our dataset

A sample of independent practices from the current snapshot, varied by region.

Search all independent practices in our dataset

Questions to ask your vet practice

Useful questions for any practice, independent or not. They are not an implication that anything is wrong.

  • Who currently owns this practice?
  • Has ownership changed in the last few years?
  • How is pricing set — locally, or by a group or partnership policy?
  • Can I fill prescriptions at an external pharmacy?
  • What is the complaints process if I have a concern?
  • Are nearby practices owned by the same person or group?

How to use this information

Ownership is one input among several — not a quality score or a reason to switch automatically.

  1. Search by postcode to find independent practices near you and see what's available in your area. Search now.
  2. Check who owns nearby practices using the WisePet ownership lookup — useful if you want to understand whether local options are genuinely independent of each other.
  3. Compare prices, services and opening hours across practices regardless of ownership. Compare clinics or filter by price and location.
  4. Ask the practice directly about anything that matters: how pricing is set, whether prescription fees apply, and how to raise a concern if needed.

Ownership data caveat

Ownership data can change quickly. Groups acquire practices, practices are sold, and owners retire — often faster than ownership records are publicly updated. A practice may still trade under its original name after a change in ownership.

The data on this page is from available sources and may not reflect the most recent changes. If you believe a practice's ownership is incorrectly recorded, please report incorrect information.

Ownership alone does not determine clinical quality, price or suitability for your pet. Use it alongside price, services, opening hours, reviews and your own experience.

See our data methodology and source policy

Sources for this page

CMA final report materials (March 2026); WisePet corporate vs independent guide; WisePet current dataset.

All sources

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