DATA-BACKED GUIDE · UPDATED JULY 2026
The CMA vet investigation explained: what it means for pet owners
For two years the Competition and Markets Authority dug into why pet care costs so much. Its 2026 investigation confirmed what many owners already suspected: the market is not working well for them. This guide sets out what the CMA found and the concrete changes arriving in September 2026.
The quick version
- The CMA found competition had weakened as six groups came to own more than 60% of practices, up from 10% in 2013.
- The investigation concluded that owners often lack the information to shop around or challenge their bills.
- From September 2026 every practice must publish price lists and display prescription fees, which are capped at £21.
- The watchdog estimated pet owners overpay by around £1bn over five years.
Published and surveyed prices
Why the price varies so much
The investigation looked across the whole market, but your own experience depends on local conditions. In a town with one dominant chain, prices and choice can look very different from a city with several independents. The CMA also found that consolidation was not always visible, because chains kept familiar local names. That is why the remedies lean so heavily on transparency: once every practice publishes prices from September 2026, the real bills below become far easier to check against your own quote.
How to pay less
- Ask about published price lists from September 2026 and compare a few practices before you commit.
- Use the new £21 cap on prescription fees, then buy medicines online where they are 50-60% cheaper.
- Ask directly who owns the practice, as the CMA now expects this to be disclosed.
- Request an itemised estimate for any treatment and query anything that looks unclear.
Common questions
What did the CMA actually conclude?
That competition in the vet market is weak, pricing is opaque and consolidation has left many owners paying more than they realise, to the tune of around £1bn over five years.
When do the new rules start?
The headline measures, including mandatory price lists and the £21 prescription fee cap, take effect from September 2026.
Does the CMA set the actual prices vets charge?
No. Apart from capping prescription fees at £21, the remedies are about transparency and competition, not fixing the price of treatment itself.