Pet prescriptions could be capped at £21 under proposed vet sector reforms

Mandatory price lists and transparency over the ownership structure of practices could also be brought in. Photograph: XiXinXing/ View image in fullscreen Mandatory price lists and transparency over the ownership structure of practices could also be brought in. Photograph: XiXinXing/ Pet prescriptions could be capped at £21 under proposed vet sector reforms Ministers also considering licence requirement and regulator to try to cut bills and increase choice UK vets may have to have a licence and cap prescriptions for pet medicine at £21 under plans being considered . Ministers are also considering establishing a regulator for the veterinary sector, including inspections, a mandatory licensing system and published compliance reports to improve accountability and choice. Every vet practice could need an official operating licence – similar to GP surgeries and care homes – under proposals in a white paper. Pet owners have faced high bills and little competition between veterinary practices, many of which have been bought up by monopolies. More than 60% of veterinary practices are owned in whole or in part : CV, Pets at Home, Medivet, IVC and VetPartners, which are owned ; and Linnaeus, whose parent company is Mars Petcare, a subsidiary of the US confectionery group Mars. Mandatory price lists and transparency over ownership structure could also be brought in under measures outlined in the white paper, published on Thursday. UK vets face crackdown over fees as pet owners ‘left in the dark’ on bills This year the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) found public satisfaction with the cost of services was “low” and that there was “not strong competition between veterinary businesses”, with large chains dominant. Emma Reynolds, the environment secretary, said: “Pets are part of the family, but for too many households the cost of caring for them has become a real worry. These reforms will help owners avoid unexpected bills, compare prices more easily and get the best value care for their pets. “We’re modernising a system that hasn’t been updated for 60 years, putting pet owners first while giving vets the modern framework they need to support the future of the profession.” Pet owners spent more than £6.7bn on veterinary and other services in 2024, equating to £390 for every pet-owning household. Some spend much more: for example, surgery for cruciate ligament disease, a common procedure for dogs, can cost £5,000, sometimes more. Ministers said the changes were needed because the industry today was radically different to the 1960s when the Veterinary Surgeons Act was introduced.