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Do you ask for estimates before vet treatment for your pets?

ended 02. July 2026

The CMA is, from 23rd September, forcing vets to publish pricing information in advance of non-routine treatment for pets. 

Practices will need to provide a written estimate in advance for any treatment expected to cost £500 or more (including aftercare costs) – plus an itemised bill. 

But it is little-known that you can still ask for estimates even if the law won't officially change for another two months.

  • Do you ask for an estimate before your vet has treatment?
  • How important are these coming changes from the CMA?
  • Do you have any anecdotes of vet treatment costing a lot of money?

Responses today.

1 responses from the Newspage community

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Editor
Samuel Mather-Holgate
Managing Director & IFA at Mather and Murray Financial
Pet owners should not feel awkward asking for an estimate, they should treat it as basic consumer sense. Vet bills can move from manageable to eye-watering very quickly, especially once scans, blood tests, medication and follow-up appointments are added. The CMA changes matter because they put a simple principle into practice: people deserve to know what they are likely to pay before they agree to treatment, not after the bill lands. This is not about haggling over a beloved pet’s care. It is about giving households breathing space to check insurance, compare options and avoid financial shock. Many families will pay almost anything in the moment, and that emotional pressure is exactly why clear written estimates and itemised bills are so important.