Last month our labrador, Holly, suddenly started limping. Our vet said we needed X-rays, and £250 later we discovered she'd torn her cruciate ligament. The only fix? A £3,500 operation.
But then I read that vet fees in Europe are a quarter of what we pay in the UK. That raised several questions. Should I have taken the dog on holiday to Spain for a cut-price op? Maybe book myself in for some budget dental work while she got her knee fixed in Turkey?
Perhaps this is unrealistic – for a start, Holly is 12 years old and can't travel easily. But the real question of course is – why on earth are vet fees so much more expensive in the UK? If the same treatment can be done for less in Europe, does that mean British pet owners are being ripped off?
UK vet bills have soared. According to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), spending on vet services rose by 10 per cent annually between 2013 and 2020 – then accelerated to 20 per cent a year from 2020 to 2023.
That's partly why the CMA launched an investigation into Britain's veterinary sector last year. The consultation is open until this Tuesday.
‘Our job is to identify whether veterinary businesses, large and small, are providing pet owners with a good choice of fairly priced services,' says Martin Coleman, inquiry chairman of the investigation.
‘There is no NHS for animals. So, if we want the best care for our pets, this is going to be provided in the main by businesses [and] they have to charge prices that cover their costs and allow for a reasonable return.'
He adds: ‘The concern comes if those businesses are not facing sufficient pressure to ensure that the choices and prices offered to consumers are fair.'
Luisa Barile, chief executive of pet insurer ManyPets, says: ‘In many European markets the veterinary sector is still developing. As a result, costs are lower.'
One big concern is market consolidation. You might appear to have plenty of local vets, but six corporate groups now own around 60 per cent of UK practices – up from just 10 per cent a decade ago. In 1999, the law was changed to allow people who weren't qualified vets to own practices. Since then, the proportion of independently owned vet surgeries has dropped from 98 to 40 per cent. Those six firms have also invested in online pharmacies, pet crematoriums, referral centres and labs, giving them control over almost every stage of your pet's treatment.
And while individual vets are regulated by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), the corporate groups that dominate the industry are not.
Brexit and relatively low salaries have also contributed to a shortage of vets. Considering the years of training required, the average starting salary for a vet is just £30,000, rising to £50,000 with experience. Yet demand has ballooned. The CMA estimates the number of UK households with a pet has increased from 41 per cent in 2019/20 to 60 per cent in 2023/24.
It's a frequent battle to secure a dog groomer, boarding care or dog walker due to the high demand – lengthy waiting lists have become the norm. If we're planning a holiday our first step isn't visiting a travel website; it's checking the dates with our dog boarder. Vets are similarly in demand and that has an obvious impact on what they charge.
The UK is also at the forefront of veterinary medicine, with access to state-of-the-art treatments and referral centres.
‘In recent years, veterinary treatment in the UK has advanced significantly, with many injuries and illnesses now successfully treated when in the past owners would have faced the difficult decision to have their pets euthanised,' says Dr Elizabeth Mullineaux, president of the British Veterinary Association. ‘These treatments come at a cost and whilst they can seem expensive, in reality they're priced at a level necessary to deliver these services.'
And then you have pet insurance. The prevalence of pet insurance in the UK is a double-edged sword.
On the one hand, it allows pet owners to opt for advanced medical treatment we may otherwise not be able to afford. On the other hand, with so many of us relying on insurance companies to pay our bills there is little incentive for veterinary surgeries to cut their fees. Plus, as we all face ever increasing pet insurance premiums we expect a higher standard of treatment in return.
Luisa Barile, chief executive of pet insurer ManyPets, says: ‘The UK is one of the most developed pet insurance markets globally.'
This reflects not just a cultural affinity for pets, but also the advanced state of the UK veterinary industry – with widespread access to specialist referral centres and world-class treatment options.
‘In the UK, the availability of sophisticated, often costly treatments has created a natural demand for insurance to help cover those interventions.
‘In many European markets – such as France, Germany, Spain or Italy – the veterinary sector is still developing. Specialist care is less accessible, and in many cases, pet owners face fewer treatment options.
‘As a result, costs are lower – not because the need isn't there, but because the options simply don't exist.' Another factor is the lack of pricing regulation in the UK compared to some of our European neighbours. For example, in Germany the Federal Veterinary Association sets prices for vet services across the country.
In the UK, once you add in 20pc VAT, rising rents, high energy costs and the price of running buildings with complex systems – including piped oxygen and lab machinery – the bills soon mount up.
So what should we be paying? That £3,500 operation my dog needed would likely cost around £1,000 in parts of Europe. The UK may offer the best facilities and specialist care – but the gulf in pricing isn't just about quality. It's also down to a lack of transparency, weak competition and almost no oversight. And without that, it's hard to know whether we're paying a fair price for treatment – or helping pump up the profits for some suits in a London office.
The CMA is now consulting on possible remedies. These include requiring vets to publish clear, itemised price lists, making
written prescriptions mandatory so pet owners can shop around for medication, capping some charges and creating a central website to compare prices and check who owns your local practice.
But change could take years – if it comes at all. In the meantime, here's what you can do to cut your vet bills today.
If your pet needs an operation or specific treatment, ask about the cost up front. Then pick up the phone and see what other vets in your area are charging for the same thing. Prices can vary significantly, even locally.
When medication is discussed don't be afraid to ask for a written prescription. You are allowed to do that and can then buy the medication online where you are likely to get a better price.
Take out pet insurance. It can protect you from the worst of vet bills and yet most pet owners still don't have it. Shop around on comparison websites such as Compare the Market, Go Compare and MoneySupermarket to find the best policy for your needs and don't base your choice simply on price.
‘The most affordable policies often provide lower levels of cover,' says Rhys Jones, pet insurance expert at Go Compare.
‘For instance, accident-only insurance will protect you against sudden accidents your pet might suffer but won't help if they catch an illness or disease. Meanwhile, lifetime policies protect against illnesses, accidents and other issues for the full duration your policy is in place.'
Pet insurance policies also vary in terms of the amount you can claim. As vet costs can quickly add up – particularly for out-of-hours emergency care – you need to think carefully about how much cover you need in case of large, unexpected bills.
‘Consider the excesses on your policy as well – as you will have to pay these in the event you need to make a claim,' adds Mr Jones.
Until reforms come in – if they do – the best defence is information. Don't be afraid to talk money with your vet. Ask questions about the cost of the treatment, discuss alternatives, and shop around. If international travel with your pet doesn't faze you, take a look at the cost abroad but you'll need to factor in around £150 for an Animal Health Certificate (passport), £100 for vaccinations and hundreds of pounds on your travel as well.
As for us, Holly is on the mend but our bank account is still limping. Next time, I'll be asking more questions, scrutinising the small print on her insurance, and maybe even pricing up a flight to Istanbul.
