VET groups could be forced to cap fees or sell off parts of their businesses after a watchdog warned pet owners risk being ripped off.
The Competition and Markets Authority said it is launching a formal probe after an initial review raised "multiple concerns".
It found that about 80% of the vet practices it checked did not display prices on their websites, even for the most basic services.
Some take a quarter of their income selling medicines and many were not making clear to pet owners they can shop around, meaning they miss out on savings. About 25% of owners did not know they could go elsewhere for prescriptions.
The CMA is also worried about a lack of competition in some areas and incentives for large corporate groups to act in ways which cut choice for consumers.
This story is from the March 13, 2024 edition of Daily Express.
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This story is from the March 13, 2024 edition of Daily Express.
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