Panorama

More than half of UK households have a pet. We value their fun, love and companionship. But vet bills have rocketed in recent years, increasing by almost 50% since 2020. Richard Bilton investigates why it’s become so much more expensive to go to the vet. He speaks to industry insiders and hears from dog owners and cat lovers who found themselves in a dilemma when the health of their pet was dependent on paying bills that could run to thousands of pounds. A recent report has recommended changes to a market that has become increasingly dominated by large corporate chains and asks if the proposed changes go far enough.