Common questions
Quick answers for pet owners
Use these responses to navigate conversations with your vet and to keep friends or colleagues informed about what the CMA has now decided and when the changes should arrive.
- When will pet owners start seeing the CMA changes?
- The final report was published on 24 March 2026. The CMA says the main legal order should be in place by 23 September 2026, with larger businesses generally expected to comply from December 2026 and smaller businesses following into 2027.
- Can vets still charge for prescriptions?
- Yes, but the CMA's final remedy sets a cap: GBP21 for the first medicine prescribed in a consultation and GBP12.50 for each additional medicine from that same consultation, inclusive of VAT and indexed for inflation.
- What should I ask my vet today?
- Ask who owns the practice, request a written estimate if treatment could become expensive, and ask about written prescriptions if your pet needs medication over time. Those are all areas where the CMA has required clearer information.
- Will every vet have to publish prices and complaints information?
- The remedies mainly apply to veterinary businesses serving household pets through first-opinion practices. They include price lists, ownership transparency, complaint handling standards, and mediation access, with some timing differences based on business size.