Pet owners pay an average of 16.6% more at large veterinary groups compared to independent practices, according to a market investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). The £6.3bn market faces sweeping regulatory changes following findings that a lack of competition and obscured corporate ownership drive up consumer costs.
CMA Investigation Reveals High Prices and Corporate Dominance
More than 60% of veterinary practices in the market are owned in whole or in part by just six major corporate groups, according to the CMA report. These dominant entities include CVS, Pets at Home, Medivet, IVC, and VetPartners—all backed by private equity investors—alongside Linnaeus, whose parent company is Mars Petcare, a subsidiary of the US confectionery group Mars.
The CMA investigation concluded that the market is not fit for purpose. Many pet owners remain entirely unaware that their local clinic belongs to an international private equity firm or multinational conglomerate. Ministers and regulators responded by proposing a white paper earlier this summer that includes capping pet medicine prescriptions at £21 alongside stricter ownership transparency mandates.
Veterinary Association Threatens Judicial Review Over Ownership Rules
The Progressive Veterinary Association (PVA), an organization representing a group of vets, has threatened the government body with a judicial review. The legal challenge stems from a late change in the wording of the CMA’s planned orders.
Initial CMA wording mandated that veterinary practices explicitly disclose their ownership and name the “corporate vet group.” Officials subsequently softened this language to “network or group.” Consequently, corporate operators can now display a brand name or the name of the original independent practice rather than identifying the multinational parent company or private equity investor.
Dr Iain McGill, a director of the PVA, criticized the adjustment in a statement to the Guardian. “This is bad news for pet-owners and their animals,” Dr McGill said. “Ultimately, large corporations would be allowed to hide the fact that they are the ultimate controller of local vet practices and operate behind sometimes misleading brand names.”
Did you know? Independent veterinary practices are found to be cheaper on average than corporate-owned chains, according to CMA market findings.
Debate Over Transparency and Consumer Benefit
The CMA defended the adjusted disclosure requirements by telling complaining vets that naming ultimate parent companies might not provide meaningful benefits to consumers. Regulators noted that unrecognisable corporate names can confuse clients who are far more familiar with high street vet brand names.
Veterinary groups challenging the decision argue otherwise. In its submission to the government regulator, the PVA stated that assuming corporate ownership information provides no meaningful benefit “underestimates the intelligence of the average pet owner.” The submission emphasized that full transparency is necessary for informed consumer choice, warning that obscured ownership leads to reduced market competition and consumer detriment.
A CMA spokesperson defended the agency’s approach, stating: “It is critical that pet owners know whether their local practice is part of a national group or locally owned, and we are confident the changes we are making will achieve this.” The spokesperson added that the agency consulted extensively and that proposals won support from both large and small practices alongside consumer groups.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are veterinary prices higher at corporate practices?
According to CMA findings, a lack of local competition and hidden corporate ownership structures allow large private equity-backed groups to charge 16.6% more on average than independent clinics.
Who owns the major veterinary groups?
Over 60% of practices are owned by six primary groups: CVS, Pets at Home, Medivet, IVC, VetPartners, and Linnaeus (owned by Mars Petcare).
What changes are regulators making to vet ownership rules?
The CMA and government ministers proposed rules capping pet medicine prescriptions at £21 and requiring practices to display recognized brand names on signs and online to clarify their ownership links.
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