Are You Paying Too Much at the Vet? The Truth About Corporate Vet Groups

Austa Albright, Founder of auddl

You might be surprised to discover that the local, independent-sounding vet practice you've trusted for years may actually be owned by a private equity-backed corporate group operating hundreds of practices across the UK. And you would not be alone — until 2026, there was no legal requirement for practices to disclose this.

The CMA's investigation found that 60% of UK vet practices now belong to one of six large corporate groups, up from just 10% a decade ago. Understanding who owns your vet — and what that means for pricing and care — is now something every UK pet owner can and should know.

Who Are the Six Large Veterinary Groups?

The six groups identified by the CMA as having significant market presence in the UK are CVS Group, IVC Evidensia, Linnaeus (owned by Mars), Medivet, Pets at Home (through its Vets4Pets brand), and VetPartners. Between them, they own hundreds of practices across the country, many operating under familiar local names that give no indication of their corporate ownership.

From September 2026, all practices owned by these groups must clearly identify themselves as part of a larger group on their premises, website, and signage. You now have the right to know exactly who owns your vet before you make any decision about your pet's care.

Do Corporate Vets Charge More?

The CMA's investigation found evidence that practices owned by large corporate groups do tend to charge higher prices than independent practices in comparable locations — though the differences vary significantly by group, location, and type of service. Importantly, the investigation did not find that corporate practices provided worse clinical care — the concern was commercial rather than clinical.

What the CMA found was that the lack of transparency about ownership and pricing meant pet owners could not make informed comparisons. A practice charging premium prices for a corporate brand premium was invisible to consumers who didn't know they were dealing with a corporate at all.

What Does This Mean for Quality of Care?

Corporate ownership does not necessarily mean better or worse veterinary care. Large groups can invest in specialist equipment, training, and facilities that smaller independent practices cannot afford. However, they can also face commercial pressure to generate revenue from each consultation — pressure that may influence treatment recommendations in ways that are not always aligned with what's best for the patient or the owner's budget.

Independent practices, by contrast, operate on smaller margins with tighter cost controls but often have stronger personal relationships with clients and may have more flexibility in how they handle costs for long-standing patients.

Neither model is categorically better. What matters is that you now have the information to make an informed choice.

How to Find Out Who Owns Your Current Vet

The quickest way to find out is to check the practice's website after the September 2026 reforms come into force — they will be legally required to state their group ownership prominently. You can also search the RCVS practice register, which now includes ownership information, or use auddl's vet finder which displays ownership data alongside prices and services.

What to Do If You're Not Happy With What You Find

Switching vets is a significant decision, particularly if you have an established relationship or a pet with complex health needs. But with price transparency now available, switching for financial reasons is a much more informed decision than it used to be. Key considerations: whether the new practice has the specialist capability your pet may need, whether they can access your current pet's health records, and what the transition cost might be in terms of registration and initial consultation fees.

auddl can help make a transition smoother — your pet's full health history, health log, and AI-generated health summaries are stored in your auddl account and can be exported as a vet-ready PDF to share with a new practice. Your pet's story doesn't have to restart from zero.

The CMA found that 70% of practices checked had no price information available at all before the 2026 reforms. The transparency revolution is only just beginning — use it.