One in three pet parents skip or delay treatment

New research suggests that rising veterinary costs are leading a significant proportion of UK pet owners to delay or forgo treatment for their animals.

According to a survey commissioned by Jollyes Pets and conducted by polling company OnePoll between 17 and 21 January 2026, almost one-in-three (30 per cent) UK dog and cat owners said they had delayed or skipped veterinary treatment because of increasing prices.

The study also found that 25 per cent of respondents said they had sacrificed something they wanted in order to pay a vet’s bill. Concerns around pricing structures were evident, with 63 per cent of dog and cat owners saying vets should offer consistent national pricing, and 92 per cent supporting the display of clear, transparent prices in clinics and online.

The research is based on responses from 2,000 UK pet owners. The full tabulated results are available at: https://bi.questionpro.eu/sd/f488ff0f-6a9c-40c1-95a0-8a7bb77fa879.

The findings are released against a backdrop of wider scrutiny of the veterinary sector. According to Office for National Statistics data cited by the company, the cost of veterinary and other pet services has risen by almost 50 per cent since 2020. Government reforms aimed at improving price transparency in the GBP6,3 bn (€7,3 bn) UK vet market are expected in the coming months.

Jollyes Pets says its own vet clinics operate with flat national pricing and no regional variation. Prices quoted by the retailer include GBP55.00 (€64.50) for a two-course vaccination for a new puppy or kitten, GBP35.00 (€41.00) for a booster vaccination for a dog or cat, and GBP20.00 (€23.50) for microchipping. A combined first vaccination course and microchip is priced at GBP68.00 (€79.50).

Commenting on the findings, Jollyes Pets chief executive officer-designate Adam Dury said the survey showed pet parents were ‘really struggling to fund vet bills that have exploded over the past five years’, adding that customers wanted ‘price transparency and lower prices with the same price from one end of the country to the other’.

The company also notes that the UK vet market is dominated by six large veterinary groups, which together control around 60 per cent of the sector. Jollyes positions its clinics as a lower-cost alternative for routine services such as vaccinations and microchipping.

Jollyes currently operates 73 vet clinics nationwide and reports offering more than 20,000 hours of appointments with Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons-registered vets.