Pet owners deserve to know the price before they book.
I've owned dogs for over ten years. I've had some eye-watering vet bills. I've also had vets who genuinely went above and beyond for my dogs, and I am grateful for every one of them. This is not a site built by someone who hates vets. Most of them got into it because they love animals and want to help. This is about the market they work in, not the people.
The problem is not vets. It is what has happened to the industry around them. Over the past decade, large groups have acquired many independent practices. Six large groups now own more than 60% of UK vet practices, in whole or in part. Average prices rose 63% from 2016 to 2023, compared with 32% general inflation over the same period. There has also been no easy way for pet owners to compare what different practices charge before they walk through the door.
A familiar practice name may remain after an acquisition, making group ownership hard to see. The CMA found that some large groups charged higher average prices than independent practices, although individual prices and services vary. Ownership is one useful fact to check when comparing care.
The CMA's final report, published in March 2026, found widespread competition and transparency problems. Its September 2026 Order requires standard price lists from larger businesses by December 2026 and smaller ones by March 2027. VetPriceCheck is being built to make published prices easier to compare before you book.
What we are building
A price comparison tool for UK vet services. The plan is to let you enter your pet type, treatment and postcode, then compare available practice prices before you book.
We are not a booking platform. We are not paid by practices. We do not accept listings fees or sponsorship from veterinary groups. Our job is to give you accurate, independent price information so you can make an informed choice.
Get in touch
We are a small team building VetPriceCheck. For press enquiries, partnership interest, or general feedback, email us at [email protected].