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 today's CMA investigation.
Timeline
2013-2020
Large corporate groups accelerate practice acquisitions. CMA intervenes in several mergers with divestment remedies.
2021
Market study highlights poor price transparency, complex ownership, and limited switching for pet owners.
March 2024
Full market investigation launched with compulsory information-gathering powers.
Late 2025 (planned)
CMA schedule sets out publication of the provisional decision and proposed remedies for consultation.
Why the CMA stepped in
The regulator found that many clients could not see transparent prices before treatment and often only discovered practice ownership after they had booked. Combined with medicine mark-ups and limited awareness about prescription rights, the CMA concluded that competition was not working in the interests of pet owners.