Vet Cost Index guides

The CMA-led explainer series. What the CMA Vet Services investigation found, what the price-transparency remedies require, and what changes for UK pet owners as the remedies are phased in from 2026.

Costs

How much does an out-of-hours vet cost in the UK?
Out-of-hours vet consultation surcharges, the in-house vs referred-OOH distinction, and what the CMA's price-transparency remedies require practices to disclose.
How UK vet prices have changed over the last decade
The CMA's market investigation found that UK vet consultation fees rose roughly 60% over the previous decade, well above general inflation. What drove that rise and what the price-transparency remedies are meant to address.

Explainers

Process

A responsible framework for comparing UK vet prices
Comparing vet prices reliably requires comparing like-for-like. The principles Vet Cost Index uses to publish published vet prices in a way that respects clinical judgement, regulatory disclosure, and consumer interest.

Money

Vet prescription medication and dispensing fees: what the CMA found
The CMA's investigation identified prescription medication as a substantial profit centre for many UK vet practices. What dispensing fees are, what's now disclosed, and your right to a written prescription.