UK vet spending set to hit £8.2 billion by 2035 as household costs continue to rise

Key takeaways

• UK spending on veterinary services has surged over recent decades, far outpacing population growth, with costs rising sharply both in cash terms and after inflation.

• Government reforms aim to improve transparency and choice in the vet sector, but industry bodies warn they are unlikely to significantly bring bills down.

• With emergency vet visits increasingly common and expensive, low levels of pet insurance leave many owners exposed to sudden, high costs.

New analysis by MoneySuperMarket of the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) consumer trends report shows that UK spending on veterinary services has risen sharply in recent years, driven in part by higher treatment costs.*

In cash terms, veterinary spending increased from £812 million in 1997 to £6.55 billion in 2025 – an increase of more than £5.7 billion or 707%. If trends continue, this is estimated to reach £8.2 billion by 2035.

Even after adjusting for inflation, spending has more than quadrupled since the late 1990s, rising by 308% to £3.3 billion in 2025, and is forecast to climb further to around £4.4 billion by 2035 (440%).

Crucially, this growth is not simply a reflection of a larger population. 

While the UK population has increased by roughly 18–20% over the same period, spending per 100,000 people has jumped from 1.39 to 9.61 - an increase of over 590%.

This shows people are using veterinary services far more often, not just because there are more people. And out of all demographics, parents and retired pet owners have been hit the hardest by rising vet bills.

Could vet bills be lowered soon?

The UK government is proposing major reforms to increase transparency and choice in veterinary services, including requiring practices to disclose prices, ownership, and treatment options.

However, despite the British Veterinary Association’s support of the government’s plans, it has cautioned that reforms are unlikely to dramatically reduce the cost of veterinary care, which has been driven up by rising operating costs, higher wages, and advances in treatment. 

Kara Gammell
Personal Finance & Insurance Expert

When an emergency occurs, pet insurance can help

Vet bills are rising faster than inflation, and that is putting real pressure on pet‑owning households. 

Costs that were once manageable for many owners can now run into hundreds of pounds for a single emergency visit, which can come as a shock.

While proposed reforms should help improve transparency and choice, they will not change the wider factors driving costs up, such as staff wages, day‑to‑day running costs and access to more advanced treatments.

That is why planning ahead matters. Pet insurance can help spread the cost and ease the financial shock when something unexpected happens.

Emergency vet visits add to the financial pressure

Survey data from MoneySuperMarket found that one in three pet owners (33%) made an emergency visit to the vet in the last year¹.

Emergency appointments are typically more expensive than routine visits, with the average visit now £268.92 – 6% higher than last year.²

Only 16% of pet owners have pet insurance 

Despite rising veterinary costs, MoneySuperMarket data shows that only 1 in 6 UK pet owners have insurance to cover unexpected vet bills,³ despite monthly prices averaging a more palatable £13.13 for dogs and £9.78 for cats.⁴

In the current economy, pet insurance isn’t just a nice-to-have.  It can be a real lifeline, giving owners peace of mind so they can focus on their pet’s health rather than worrying about the bill.

^{Methodology 
*Data analysed from ONS consumer trends report covering October to December 2025.}

<sup>Sources
1. Research conducted by YouGov in August 2025. 2,193 people were surveyed of which 1,115 were pet owners.
2, GovUK
3. Based on 2025 MoneySuperMarket consumer data
3. MoneySuperMarket: Based on MoneySuperMarket pet insurance quotes from March 2026 covering one pet without pre-existing conditions</sup>