Vet Prices UK 2026
What Every Treatment Costs
The most comprehensive UK vet pricing guide. See what consultations, vaccinations, neutering, dental work and more cost in your area.
UK Vet Prices
at a Glance
Consultation
Vaccinations
Dog Neutering
Cat Neutering
Complete Price Guide
by Procedure
Every common UK vet procedure with typical 2026 pricing. Costs vary by location, practice type, and your pet's size and breed.
Routine Consultations
6 procedures
| Procedure | Typical cost |
|---|---|
|
Standard consultation (15 min)
First appointment or new concern
|
£40 – £70 |
|
Follow-up consultation
Review of ongoing treatment
|
£25 – £45 |
|
Out-of-hours emergency
Evenings, weekends, bank holidays
|
£150 – £300+ |
|
Specialist referral consultation
Orthopaedic, cardiology, oncology etc.
|
£200 – £500 |
|
Nurse consultation
Wound checks, weight clinics, nail trims
|
£15 – £30 |
|
Home visit
Vet travels to your home
|
£80 – £180 |
Vaccinations
6 procedures
| Procedure | Typical cost |
|---|---|
|
Primary puppy vaccinations (course)
DHP + Lepto, two injections
|
£50 – £80 |
|
Primary kitten vaccinations (course)
FPV, FCV, FHV, two injections
|
£50 – £75 |
|
Annual booster (dog)
Includes health check
|
£40 – £65 |
|
Annual booster (cat)
Includes health check
|
£40 – £60 |
|
Kennel cough (Bordetella)
Nasal spray, annual
|
£30 – £55 |
|
Rabies (for travel)
Required for pet passport / AHC
|
£50 – £100 |
Neutering & Spaying
7 procedures
| Procedure | Typical cost |
|---|---|
|
Dog castration (male, small breed)
Under 10kg
|
£150 – £250 |
|
Dog castration (male, large breed)
Over 25kg
|
£200 – £300 |
|
Dog spaying (female, small breed)
Under 10kg
|
£200 – £300 |
|
Dog spaying (female, large breed)
Over 25kg — more complex surgery
|
£300 – £400 |
|
Cat castration (male)
Quick procedure, same-day discharge
|
£50 – £100 |
|
Cat spaying (female)
Abdominal surgery, longer recovery
|
£100 – £200 |
|
Rabbit neutering
Male or female
|
£80 – £200 |
Dental
5 procedures
| Procedure | Typical cost |
|---|---|
|
Dental scale and polish (under GA)
Includes anaesthetic and monitoring
|
£300 – £600 |
|
Simple tooth extraction (per tooth)
Additional to dental fee
|
£50 – £100 |
|
Complex/surgical extraction
Impacted or multi-rooted teeth
|
£100 – £300 |
|
Full-mouth dental with extractions
Severe dental disease
|
£500 – £1,000+ |
|
Dental x-rays
Often recommended before extractions
|
£80 – £200 |
Diagnostics
8 procedures
| Procedure | Typical cost |
|---|---|
|
X-ray (single view)
Includes sedation if needed
|
£200 – £350 |
|
X-ray (multiple views)
Complex injuries or illness
|
£300 – £500 |
|
Blood tests (routine panel)
Liver, kidney, blood count
|
£80 – £200 |
|
Blood tests (comprehensive)
Full biochemistry + thyroid etc.
|
£200 – £400 |
|
Ultrasound scan
Abdominal or cardiac
|
£250 – £500 |
|
MRI scan
Referral hospital, under GA
|
£1,500 – £3,000 |
|
CT scan
Referral hospital, under GA
|
£1,000 – £2,500 |
|
Urine analysis
In-house or lab analysis
|
£30 – £80 |
Surgery & Procedures
6 procedures
| Procedure | Typical cost |
|---|---|
|
Lump removal (small, simple)
Includes GA, histology extra
|
£300 – £600 |
|
Lump removal (complex/large)
Larger mass, reconstructive closure
|
£600 – £1,500 |
|
Cruciate ligament repair
TTA or TPLO at referral hospital
|
£1,500 – £4,000 |
|
Fracture repair
Depends on complexity and location
|
£1,000 – £5,000+ |
|
Foreign body removal (surgery)
Emergency, includes hospitalisation
|
£1,000 – £3,000 |
|
Caesarean section
Emergency is more expensive
|
£800 – £2,500 |
Routine & Preventive
6 procedures
| Procedure | Typical cost |
|---|---|
|
Microchipping
Legal requirement for dogs
|
£10 – £30 |
|
Flea treatment (per dose)
Cheaper online with prescription
|
£8 – £20 |
|
Worming treatment (per dose)
Cheaper online with prescription
|
£5 – £15 |
|
Nail trim
Nurse appointment or walk-in
|
£10 – £20 |
|
Ear cleaning
Nurse appointment
|
£15 – £30 |
|
Anal gland expression
Nurse or vet appointment
|
£15 – £35 |
End of Life
4 procedures
| Procedure | Typical cost |
|---|---|
|
Euthanasia (in practice)
Consultation and injection
|
£80 – £200 |
|
Euthanasia (home visit)
Vet comes to your home
|
£200 – £400 |
|
Communal cremation
Ashes not returned
|
£50 – £120 |
|
Individual cremation (ashes returned)
Depends on pet size
|
£100 – £300 |
Corporate vs Independent
Vet Pricing
The CMA found that corporate-owned practices charge 17% more on average. Here is how prices compare.
| Procedure | Corporate | Independent |
|---|---|---|
| Standard consultation | £55 – £70 | £40 – £55 |
| Annual vaccination (dog) | £50 – £65 | £40 – £50 |
| Dog spaying (female) | £280 – £400 | £200 – £320 |
| Cat castration (male) | £70 – £100 | £50 – £80 |
| Dental scale & polish | £400 – £600 | £300 – £450 |
| X-ray (single view) | £250 – £400 | £200 – £300 |
| Blood test (routine) | £120 – £200 | £80 – £150 |
| Prescription fee | £20 – £35 | £12 – £20 |
Source: VetCost analysis based on CMA market investigation data and submitted practice pricing. Prices represent typical ranges as of March 2026.
Regional Price
Variations
Vet prices vary significantly across the UK. London and the South East are the most expensive, while the North and Wales tend to be cheaper.
Most Expensive Regions
- London & Central London +25–40%
- South East England +15–25%
- South West England +10–15%
- East of England +5–15%
Least Expensive Regions
- North East England –10–15%
- Wales –10–15%
- North West England –5–10%
- Scotland –5–10%
Why do prices vary so much? Property costs, staff wages, and local competition all play a role. London vets face significantly higher overheads — rent alone can be five to ten times higher than in northern England. However, even within the same city, prices can vary by 50% or more between practices.
This is exactly why comparing prices matters. Two practices on the same high street may charge vastly different amounts for the same procedure. Use VetCost to search vet prices near you and find the best value.
How to Save on
Vet Bills in 2026
Compare prices first
Use VetCost's price comparison to see what practices near you charge. For non-urgent treatments, comparing three or four practices could save you 30–50%.
Buy medications online
Ask your vet for a written prescription and buy medications from an online retailer. With the proposed £21 prescription cap, you could save 40–70% on flea, worm, and chronic treatments.
Consider a health plan
Many practices offer monthly health plans covering vaccinations, flea and worm treatment, and annual checkups. These typically cost £12–£20/month and can save 20–30% compared to paying individually.
Get pet insurance
A single emergency can cost £2,000–£5,000+. Pet insurance from £10–£30/month provides peace of mind. Insure while your pet is young and healthy for the best rates and fewest exclusions.
Choose independent
Independent practices are on average 17% cheaper than corporate-owned chains. Use VetCost to check whether your vet is independent or owned by a corporate group.
Check charity eligibility
If you are on a low income, the PDSA, Blue Cross, and RSPCA offer free or subsidised veterinary care. Many local charities also provide assistance — check our help guide.
How CMA Reforms Will
Affect Vet Prices
The CMA's 21 mandatory reforms are designed to increase price transparency and competition across the UK veterinary sector. The biggest changes taking effect from 2026 include:
-
Mandatory price publication — all practices must publish standardised prices for common procedures, enabling direct comparison for the first time.
-
£21 prescription fee cap — making it viable for pet owners to buy medications from cheaper online retailers.
-
Written estimates over £500 — eliminating surprise bills for major treatments.
-
Ownership disclosure — so pet owners can see if a practice is corporate-owned and factor that into their choice.
Together, these reforms should drive increased competition and put downward pressure on prices over time. Read our full CMA reform tracker for every detail, timeline, and deadline.
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Frequently Asked Questions
A standard vet consultation costs between £40 and £70 in 2026. Follow-up appointments are typically £25-£45. Out-of-hours or emergency consultations cost significantly more, usually £150-£300 or above. Specialist referral consultations can cost £200-£500. Prices vary by region, with London being the most expensive.
Male dog castration costs £150-£300 and female dog spaying costs £200-£400 in 2026. The price depends on the dog's size and weight — larger dogs require more anaesthetic and longer surgery time. Charities like Dogs Trust and the PDSA offer subsidised neutering for those on low incomes.
Yes. The CMA's market investigation found that corporate-owned practices charge on average 17% more than independent practices. Six major corporate groups now own over 60% of UK vet practices. You can check whether your vet is corporate-owned using VetCost's ownership lookup tool.
A primary vaccination course for puppies or kittens costs £50-£80 for two injections. Annual boosters cost £40-£65 and usually include a health check. Rabies vaccinations for pet travel cost £50-£100. Some practices bundle vaccinations into monthly health plans at £12-£20 per month.
Compare prices before you visit using VetCost, request prescriptions and buy medications online (saving up to 70%), consider a monthly health plan for routine care, choose an independent practice over a corporate chain, get pet insurance while your pet is young, and check charity eligibility if you are on a low income.
Vet prices have risen 63% since 2016, well above inflation. Contributing factors include corporate consolidation, private equity investment seeking returns, advanced medical equipment costs, staff shortages driving up wages, rising property costs, and a historic lack of price transparency reducing competitive pressure.
A dental scale and polish under general anaesthetic costs £300-£600. If extractions are needed, expect an additional £50-£100 per simple extraction or £100-£300 for complex surgical extractions. A full-mouth dental with multiple extractions can cost £500-£1,000 or more. Dental x-rays add £80-£200.
Compare vet prices near you
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