Market context
How the UK veterinary market reached this point
Rapid consolidation and unfamiliar ownership structures have reshaped the veterinary sector during the past decade. This page explains the journey from those early concerns to the CMA's final report in March 2026.
Timeline
2013-2020
Large corporate groups accelerate practice acquisitions. CMA intervenes in several mergers with divestment remedies.
7 September 2023
The CMA opens its work on household pet veterinary services and begins gathering evidence on prices, ownership, and competition.
May 2024
The CMA board refers the sector for a full market investigation with compulsory powers.
15 October 2025
The CMA publishes its provisional decision and opens consultation on the proposed remedies.
24 March 2026
The final report is published, confirming remedies on price transparency, prescriptions, ownership, cremation options, and complaints.
Why the CMA stepped in
The CMA found that competition was not working well for pet owners because prices were hard to compare, ownership was often unclear, written prescription fees could be high, and many clients did not receive written cost information before non-routine treatment. The final remedies are designed to improve those decisions before, during, and after treatment.