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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Business
Kalyeena Makortoff

‘Eye-watering’ vet bills at chain-owned surgeries prompt UK watchdog review

Veterinarian checking a kitten's heart
The review is part of efforts to protect the 17 million households who now own a pet in the UK. Photograph: Elena Ray/Alamy

The competition regulator is taking aim at the UK’s £2bn veterinary industry, amid fears that a surge in chain-owned surgeries may be leaving pet owners with dwindling choice and “eye-watering” bills.

The review by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is part of efforts to protect the 17 million households who now own a pet in the UK – a figure that jumped significantly during the Covid-19 pandemic.

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