New rules designed to make vet prices clearer and help pet owners compare costs have been made legally binding across the UK.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has introduced a package of changes after finding problems with competition in the veterinary market.
The changes include clearer price lists, written estimates for treatment costing £500 or more, itemised bills and a cap on some prescription fees.
However, most of the changes do not start immediately. Larger veterinary businesses will begin introducing some of the new requirements from December 2026, with other measures following during 2027.
What is changing for pet owners?
- Vet practices will need to publish clearer standard prices for common treatments.
- Prices will need to be easy to find online and displayed in practices.
- Vets will have to give written estimates where treatment is likely to cost £500 or more.
- Pet owners will receive itemised bills.
- Written prescription fees will be capped at £21 for the first medicine and £12.50 for each additional medicine prescribed during the same consultation.
- Practices will need to make it clearer that customers can ask for a written prescription and may be able to buy medicines elsewhere more cheaply.
- Prices for commonly sold flea, tick and worming treatments will also need to be published.
When do the new vet rules start?
The rules are being introduced in stages rather than all at once.
Larger veterinary businesses have until December 2026 to introduce some of the first changes, including clearer pricing information.
Smaller businesses generally have until March 2027 for those measures.
Written estimates and itemised bills come later, with larger businesses expected to comply from June 2027 and smaller businesses from September 2027.
What can pet owners do now?
You do not need to wait for all of the new rules to start before asking about costs.
Before booking treatment, ask your vet what the consultation is likely to cost and whether there could be extra charges.
For more expensive treatment, ask for an estimate so you have a clearer idea of the total bill before agreeing to go ahead.
You can also ask your vet for a written prescription and check whether the medicine would cost less from another supplier. Under the new rules, practices will have to make this option clearer to customers.
If pet costs are putting pressure on your budget, our guide to money-saving tips for dog owners has more ways to cut everyday costs.
The new rules do not cap the price of vet treatment itself. They are mainly designed to make prices clearer and make it easier for pet owners to compare costs before agreeing to treatment.
The changes follow a Competition and Markets Authority investigation into veterinary services for household pets.
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