Paws for Luxury
A Paws & Reflect Feature on Veterinary Transparency and Pet Care Education
The recent preliminary findings from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) have finally confirmed what many of us who have worked within the veterinary sector have known for years.
For decades, veterinary care in the UK was built on trust, compassion, and genuine connection — the “James Herriot” era where a vet might check your dog’s limp and refuse payment with a smile, saying, “It’s fine, just keeping an eye on things.”
Back then, it was about people, not profits; animals, not analytics. But that changed when the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons relaxed the rules that prevented non-veterinary ownership of practices.
🏢 When Business Took Over the Barn
Once corporate investment was permitted, everything shifted.
Having worked across veterinary practice, to corporate veterinary roles, inc veterinary nutrition, veterinary pharmaceuticals, veterinary wholesalers, vet laboratories, and the veterinary insurance industry, I saw the change from every angle. The focus moved from caring for animals to controlling the market.
At first, the large corporate groups targeted veterinary practices themselves — buying them at speed and scale. Independent, family-run practices that had served communities for generations were suddenly being offered extraordinary sums. Competing to acquire quickly, these groups paid well over market value, creating a bidding war for ownership.
But the strategy didn’t stop there. Over the next few years, they expanded into the entire veterinary supply chain — buying up veterinary laboratories, crematoriums, second-opinion referral centres, and online veterinary pharmacies. They wanted complete vertical control — from diagnosis to cremation, from prescription to payment — ensuring every stage of pet care flowed through their corporate network.
Behind the scenes, they pressured wholesalers and suppliers, demanding better margins and exclusive deals. I sat in those meetings. I saw how the squeeze on suppliers meant independents could no longer compete. It wasn’t about care anymore — it was about consolidation.
The problem is that this empire-building came at a huge financial cost. Corporate groups borrowed billions to fund their expansion. Today, many of them are not generating true profits — they’re merely servicing the interest on their debt.
And that’s where pet owners have been drawn into the fallout.
To cover the cost of these acquisitions and maintain investor returns, corporate practices have had to raise prices, reduce consultation times, and push higher-value procedures and tests — even when simpler, more affordable options might have sufficed.
The CMA’s findings reflect exactly that: prices have risen sharply, pet owners have limited choice, and transparency on costs remains poor. It’s a system that works for balance sheets — not for pets.
💔 Seller’s Remorse and the Cost to Compassion
I know many veterinary surgeons and practice owners who sold their practices to these groups. At the time, the offers seemed life-changing — a well-deserved reward after decades of hard work.
But for many, that decision has left deep seller’s remorse.
Some remained at their clinics after the sale, only to watch as decisions about patient care were replaced by directives from regional managers and financial controllers. The warmth, flexibility, and community trust that once defined their profession were replaced with quotas, targets, and monthly revenue reviews.
Veterinary staff — who joined the profession out of love for animals — found themselves trapped in systems that valued profit over compassion. It’s no wonder that suicide rates in the profession are now four times higher than the national average.
And the tragedy? Even with all that pressure, many corporate groups are still not making real profits. Their debt is so vast that most income is consumed by interest repayments. So they squeeze harder — suppliers, wholesalers, staff, and, finally, the pet owners themselves.
🩺 Time for Change — Reclaiming Veterinary Values
That’s one of the reasons I created Paws for Luxury, with an educational arm under Paws & Reflect.
Our mission isn’t to attack the profession — it’s to restore trust in it. To help pet owners make informed, confident choices, and to ensure that compassionate care never becomes a luxury item.
Our growing “Vet Essentials” range and resources are designed to support that mission:
- Tailored first aid kits for pets.
- Whelping and recovery kits.
- Soft protective collars and recovery suits to support gentle healing.
- Educational content that teaches owners how to recognise early signs, apply first aid, and know when to seek urgent veterinary help.
We also advocate for independent practices and online veterinary consultations — both vital in restoring affordability and choice for pet owners.
🐕 What Pet Owners Can Do
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or priced out of the current system, you’re not alone. Here are a few ways to take back control:
- Ask questions — always request full transparency on costs and alternative treatment options.
- Seek second opinions — particularly from independent or mobile vets.
- Educate yourself — learn about pet first aid, common toxins, and early warning signs of serious illness.
- Use preventative care — consistent flea, worming, and dental care can prevent many costly conditions.
- Stay grounded — not every limp needs an MRI, and not every itch is an allergy. Sometimes, simple solutions are the right ones.
Empowered owners make better decisions — and that’s the best way to protect both pets and pocketbooks.
🩹 Coming Soon: The Truth About Pet Insurance
Having also worked within the veterinary insurance industry, I’ve seen how that sector has followed a similar path — with costs rising and true “lifetime cover” becoming harder to sustain. In an upcoming article for Paws for Luxury Vet Essentials, I’ll share how to identify ethical, realistic policies that genuinely protect pets without hidden pitfalls.
🐾 The Herriot Spirit Lives On
We can’t return to the days when vets were paid in eggs, sausages, or a handshake — but we can revive the heart of the profession.
By supporting independent practices, questioning unnecessary costs, and educating ourselves as owners, we can bring balance back to animal care.
At Paws for Luxury, our belief is simple:
“Every company — and every clinic — needs a heart as well as a head for business.”
That’s the future we want to help rebuild — one where pets come first, compassion comes naturally, and veterinary medicine once again feels like a calling, not a corporation.
