14/10/2026
Apologies, this isn’t my usual upbeat post, but I think it’s important to say.
THE CMA RECOMMENDATIONS ARE NOT GOING TO MAKE VETERINARY CARE CHEAPER.
Here’s why:
🐾 Publishing prices. Most practices already do this. What we don’t necessarily do is list every variation of our commonly prescribed parasite treatments, updating prices whenever wholesalers increase theirs. More admin, more cost.
🐾 Estimates over £500 and itemised bills. Again, most practices already provide these. Nothing revolutionary.
🐾 Capping written prescriptions at £21 and advertising cheaper online medication. Perhaps the one measure that could save clients money, although most of you already know you can shop around.
But this directs more money away from local veterinary practices towards online pharmacies. And guess who owns some of those?
If practices lose significant medication income, our overheads don’t disappear. That money has to come from somewhere, potentially pushing consultation and treatment fees UP instead.
🐾 Clearer practice ownership information. Transparency matters, but how does this reduce fees? More administration and marketing costs to communicate information often already available.
I don’t think the CMA was wrong to investigate. Scrutiny is important, and our profession can improve.
But I don’t believe these recommendations will deliver what the public hoped for: lower veterinary costs.
The uncomfortable reality is that veterinary care costs a great deal to provide, and therefore cannot be cheap to purchase. Skilled staff, equipment, medicines, facilities and emergency provision all cost money.
We know these costs can be difficult for pet owners, which is why we’ve introduced measures to help wherever possible (see our cost-of-living post).
My concern is that these changes add costs without tackling WHY veterinary care is expensive.
In the meantime, we’ll keep doing what we do best: providing the best care we can for you and your pets.
Nat x
