Veterinary reforms: What is changing for pet owners and will you save money?

The UK’s veterinary sector is set to witness its biggest reforms in a generation.

New rules introduced by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) are now enshrined in law

For the first time, pet owners will be entitled to see who owns a veterinary practice, be able to compare prices for common medicines and treatments across practices, and benefit from a cap on written prescription fees.

It comes after the CMA published the Veterinary Services Market Investigation Order 2026 following a widespread investigation into the sector.

What is changing?

Under the new laws, owners are entitled to a clear breakdown of pet care plans, with standardised cost information.

They will also know what they will pay in an out-of-hours emergency in advance, and be presented with all end-of-life options equally, including home burial and cremation options, with prices provided before decisions are made.

The order also makes it easier for practices to switch out-of-hours providers, rather than being locked into a contract, allowing them to offer the best quality and value for pet owners.

Vet practices will be required to publish price lists for common treatments and be transparent about options, supported by an enhanced “Find a Vet” service and a £21 cap on written prescription fees.

When do the changes take effect?

Larger vet businesses must comply with changes on price lists and pet care plans, among other measures, from December 22 this year.

Smaller firms will have longer to bring in the changes, but must have them in place by this time next year.

Further reforms will be phased in over March, June and September next year, including those related to prescription fees, providing information to pet owners about being able to get a prescription to buy medicines elsewhere, which might save them money, in-house complaints processes, written estimates and itemised bills.

‘Money will have to be made up somewhere else’

Douglas Fraser, veterinary surgeon at Kirkton Vet Centre in Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, said greater transparency and competition on medicines could save pet owners money, but cautioned that veterinary practices may have to adjust prices in other areas if they lose income from prescription sales.

He said practices continue to face significant overheads, from staffing and training to equipment and energy costs, which have all increased in recent years.

“Selling medicine, selling goods is a form of income, so we need to then look at things and potentially adjust prices based on loss of income for medicine,” Mr Fraser told STV News

“My concern is that we are writing prescriptions for clients to buy medicine online, and most of these online pharmacies are owned by a bigger corporate group, many of which also own veterinary practices across the country.

“So yes, on the face of it, it helps clients save money on medicine, but I’m sure everyone else will also look at the loss of income from that and have to adjust things.”

What has been the response to the reforms?

The CMA’s investigation found that many pet owners lacked some of the basic information needed to make informed decisions about the services they were buying, and that weak competition in the sector was leading to poorer outcomes for consumers.

But British Veterinary Association president Rob Williams said most vet practices are already complying with the new reforms, particularly around estimates for routine procedures, handling complaints and written prescriptions.

He said: “As vets, the trust our clients place in us to care for their animals is paramount and the orders provide a valuable opportunity to standardise our approach across the sector, which will strengthen this important relationship.”

Which? head of consumer rights policy Sue Davies said: “Too many pet owners who have had a poor experience with their vet feel that the system is stacked against them.

“The conclusion of the CMA’s market investigation is a positive milestone which should stop pet owners getting ripped off by overpriced medicines, hidden fees and unclear pricing at a time which is already likely to be very stressful.ntly and that can be quite demoralising.

“It’s very much a people job as it is an animal job and it’s about helping people and the bottom line here is that’s what we would continue doing whatever the change to things happens, whatever way things change that’s what we would like to keep doing here.”