Rising veterinary costs are forcing many pet owners across the UK into difficult decisions, with new research revealing that growing numbers are delaying or skipping treatment for their animals altogether.
A survey carried out last week on behalf of Jollyes Pets found that almost one in three pet parents have postponed or missed vet treatment because of cost, laying bare the financial strain now attached to caring for dogs and cats.
The research, conducted by OnePoll, shows that 30 per cent of UK pet owners have delayed or skipped treatment due to rising prices, while a quarter said they had sacrificed something they wanted in order to cover a vet bill.
For many households, the cost pressures are not abstract but immediate, with decisions about food, heating or essentials weighed against vaccinations, boosters and microchipping.
The findings also highlight strong public support for reform in how veterinary services are priced, with more than six in ten dog and cat owners saying vets should offer consistent national pricing rather than postcode based costs.
An overwhelming 92 per cent of those surveyed said they want greater transparency, calling for vet practices to clearly display prices both in clinics and online.
Jollyes Pets says it has taken a different approach, offering the same prices nationwide for its vet clinic services, removing local price variation altogether.
At Jollyes clinics, a two course vaccination for a new puppy or kitten costs £55, while a booster vaccination for a dog or cat is a flat £35, with microchipping priced at £20.
A combined first vaccination course and microchip is offered at £68, a level the retailer says makes essential care more accessible.
Jollyes chief executive officer designate Adam Dury said the pressure on pet owners has become impossible to ignore.
“It’s clear pet parents across the UK are really struggling to fund vet bills that have exploded over the past five years.
“While our vet clinics offer simple services such as vaccines and microchipping, those services cover nine in ten visits to a vet with significant savings.
“As our survey shows, customers want prices transparency and lower prices with the same price from one end of the country to the other.
“That’s why we’re focused on opening more stores to provide communities access to lower vet clinic prices for the services they need.”
The wider vet market remains dominated by a small number of large corporate groups, with six companies controlling around 60 per cent of the sector, according to industry data.
Jollyes positions itself as a lower cost alternative for routine services such as vaccinations and microchipping, claiming to be more than 40 per cent cheaper than many competitors.
The issue comes as regulation aimed at improving price transparency across the £6.3 billion veterinary sector is expected within the next two months.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics show the cost of taking pets to the vet has risen by almost 50 per cent since 2020.
The strain is already having consequences, with the RSPCA reporting in late 2025 that pet abandonment and neglect cases had reached a five year high due to financial pressures.
For many pet owners, the findings reflect a growing fear that basic animal care is becoming a privilege rather than a right.
The research suggests that without clearer pricing and more affordable options, the quiet choices families are making behind closed doors may continue to rise.
