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Vet industry's slammed over rip-off pricing

- BY GRAHAM HISCOTT

PET owners are paying over the odds for treatment, warns a report into vets.

Amid soaring bills, the Competition and Markets Authority has proposed a shakeup of the £6.3billion industry, including forcing it to publish price lists and to cap prescription costs.

It came after the regulator highlighted customers not being made aware of the price of common services, or not given estimates for treatments that can cost thousands.

The CMA found huge price variations. Jabs can be anything from £50 to £200, depending on the vaccination, and pet prescriptions can be £16 to £36, emergency out-of-hours consultations range from £200 to £300, and neutering costs from £120 to £700 for dogs and £50 to £300 for cats.