UK Vets Say Corporate Targets Are Driving Up Pet Bills

A growing number of vets in the UK say they’re under pressure to prioritize profits over pets. According to a recent BBC File on 4 Investigates report by Jim Booth, Datshiane Navanayagam, and Tom Wall, several vets working for IVC Evidensia, one of the UK’s largest veterinary corporations, say they are closely monitored on the income they generate and are encouraged to meet specific financial targets—often through upselling services or pushing procedures.

The investigation found that some vets are urged to hit “clinical challenge milestones” and are compared to colleagues through internal performance graphs. While IVC insists that animal health is its top priority and denies pressuring staff to prioritize revenue, internal communications seen by the BBC suggest otherwise. One vet, speaking anonymously, said he felt “chastised” for not bringing in enough money and described a culture where “your worth is only how much income you bring.”

IVC owns more than 900 practices, an emergency service (Vets Now), 24 referral centres, and other pet-care businesses. Since 2013, the percentage of UK vet practices owned by corporations has jumped from 10% to 60%. Over that same period, pet care costs have soared more than 60%, nearly double the rate of inflation, according to the Competition and Markets Authority.

Critics argue that the increasing corporatization of veterinary care mirrors trends in other industries, where profit-driven motives often clash with community trust and ethical care. Some vets have also claimed that call centres are pushing unnecessary emergency appointments, further burdening pet owners and staff.

If we want animal welfare—not corporate profits—to lead pet care, we need to Support independent, ethically run vet clinics and remain critical of profit-first models. Choosing where we spend our money matters. Let’s demand transparency, fairness, and above all, compassion for animals.

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