Competition in the vet industry

In September, a Competition and Markets Authority review into the UK veterinary industry was announced. The review covers ‘household pets’ – cats, dogs and rabbits – but not large animals such as horses. The review aims to explore how well the market is working for pet owners who are paying for veterinary services, because of concerns around whether owners are getting a good deal, and whether the information they are provided about veterinary treatment is transparent enough.

The veterinary market is worth over £2 billion in the UK – a huge amount. The Competition and Markets Authority say that figures suggest that the cost of veterinary services has risen faster than the rate of inflation – putting household finances that are already strained by the cost of living crisis under more pressure.

As a pet owner, I find that getting treatment for a sick or injured animal can be stressful on many levels and as it is often urgent, there is little time to consider whether an expensive treatment could be cheaper elsewhere. Owners just want their pet to get better as soon as possible and don't want to have to worry about whether or not they are getting the best price.