Process
A responsible framework for comparing UK vet prices
Last updated 3 May 2026
Quick answer
Comparing UK vet prices reliably requires comparing like-for-like — same service definition, same VAT treatment, same disbursements, same caveats. Vet Cost Index publishes a transparent methodology covering source documents, normalisation rules, ownership disclosure, clinical caveats, and update cadence, so consumers, the press, and professional bodies can use the index with confidence.
Comparison sites have a poor reputation in healthcare for good reason — they often optimise for the comparison rather than the patient. A responsible vet pricing index needs to be clear about what it is comparing, what it deliberately is not comparing, and what limits clinical judgement places on price-driven choice.
This page sets out the framework Vet Cost Index uses. We publish it explicitly so professional bodies (BVA, BSAVA, BVNA, SPVS), the regulator, journalists, and consumers can hold us to it.
Principle 1: Compare what the regulator defines
We compare the 16 routine services defined by the CMA Vet Services price-transparency requirement, no more and no less. The CMA chose these services because they are routine, high-volume, and well-defined — a vaccination is the same procedure across practices in a way that, for example, a complex orthopaedic surgery is not. Comparison outside the scope of the regulator's defined services would be unreliable.
Principle 2: Source from the practice's own disclosure
Every published price comes from the practice's own CMA-mandated disclosure on its own website. We do not estimate, infer, model, or accept industry-supplied figures. Where a practice does not publish a figure for a service in scope, we record null rather than guessing.
We retain the source URL for every captured price. Disputes about a published figure can be resolved by reference to the practice's own disclosure.
Principle 3: Normalise VAT and disbursements explicitly
We surface VAT inclusion as a first-class field — “includes VAT”, “excludes VAT”, or “not stated”. We do not silently normalise to one or the other; that would obscure a piece of information the CMA's remedy specifically requires the practice to disclose.
Where a service has typical disbursements (cremation has the urn, microchipping has the registration fee, neutering has the take-home medication), we capture them as separate fields where the practice has disclosed them.
Principle 4: Surface ownership and accreditation
Corporate ownership and RCVS Practice Standards Scheme accreditation are not pricing data, but they are decision-relevant context. We surface the ownership group and accreditation tier on every practice profile so price comparisons can be read alongside ownership and clinical-capability signals, not in isolation.
Principle 5: Clinical judgement is not in scope
Vet Cost Index does not, and will not, recommend a specific practice for a specific patient. The lowest published price is not necessarily the right choice — clinical capability, continuity of care, geography, your pet's specific needs, and the relationship with your vet matter at least as much. We publish prices to enable an informed conversation with your vet, not to replace one.
Principle 6: No commercial relationships with practices
We do not accept paid placements, referral fees, sponsored listings, or any other form of commercial relationship with practices, corporate groups, OOH providers, or pet insurance companies. Coverage is determined by which practices have a published disclosure to capture, not by who pays.
Principle 7: Open methodology, open citation
Our full data documentation lives at /about/data. Press, academic, and policy use is free with attribution. We publish our citation format so quotations can be tied back to a specific quarterly snapshot rather than to ambient “according to a comparison site” language.
Frequently asked questions
Does Vet Cost Index recommend specific vet practices?
No. The index publishes published prices and ownership / accreditation context so consumers can have an informed conversation with their vet. We do not recommend specific practices for specific patients; clinical capability, continuity of care, and your pet's specific needs are at least as relevant as price.
Does Vet Cost Index accept payment from vet practices?
No. We do not accept paid placements, referral fees, sponsored listings, or any commercial relationship with practices, corporate ownership groups, OOH providers, or pet insurance companies. Coverage is determined by which practices have a published disclosure, not by who pays.
How does Vet Cost Index handle clinical complexity?
We compare only the 16 routine services in scope of the CMA's price-transparency requirement — services that are well-defined and comparable across practices. We do not attempt to publish prices for non-routine clinical work, where complexity, individual patient factors, and clinical judgement properly drive the price.
Where can I see Vet Cost Index's full methodology?
The full data documentation is at /about/data, including the source-of-truth statement, normalisation rules, update cadence, citation format, and licensing contact. The CMA Vet Services investigation timeline at /about/cma-vet-investigation provides the regulatory context.
Vet Cost Index
A transparent UK vet-pricing index built around the CMA Vet Services price-transparency remedies. The comparison index opens as practices publish their disclosures.