Prepare for your appointment
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Ask for a written estimate
Only 43% of owners are given prices before treatment, and many told the CMA their final bill was higher than expected. A written estimate helps you compare options and plan. Under the CMA’s new rules, practices must give you one when treatment is likely to cost £500 or more (from 23 June 2027 at large groups and 23 September 2027 at smaller practices), but you can ask for any treatment now.
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Check medicine prices
Our medicine price checker compares online prices for common prescription medicines every week, and works out whether buying online would save you money after the prescription fee.
Cremation price guidance
Saying goodbye is hard enough without worrying about cost. Two in three owners choose cremation, and most arrange it through their vet without seeing the prices. Knowing the options in advance can make the day a little easier.
Communal cremation
Your pet is cremated with other animals. Ashes are not returned, though some crematoria scatter them in a garden of remembrance. Usually two to five times cheaper than individual cremation.
Individual cremation
Your pet is cremated alone and the ashes are returned to you, usually in a simple container. Urns, caskets and keepsakes cost extra, typically £50–£200.
Typical individual cremation prices
| Pet | Via a vet group | Direct* | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cat | £187 | £160 | £27 |
| Small dog | £214 | £183 | £32 |
| Medium dog | £234 | £209 | £26 |
| Large dog | £272 | £240 | £32 |
| Extra-large dog | £313 | £275 | £38 |
*Direct from an independent crematorium. Typical prices for the 12 months to September 2024 from the CMA’s final cremation analysis. Independent vets in the CMA’s sample charged a median of about £153 for a dog and £128 for a cat. Prices vary by area and provider; ask for current prices.
Typical communal cremation prices
| Pet | Average price |
|---|---|
| Cat | £89 |
| Small dog | £105 |
| Large dog | £137 |
Average of 26 UK vets and crematoria surveyed by ManyPets, January 2025. Only 7 of the 30 independent crematorium websites the CMA checked offered communal cremation, so ask.
What the CMA’s new rules mean for you
- Practices must tell you about three options: cremation through the practice, arranging a crematorium yourself, or burying your pet at home. They must give you the prices in writing before you decide (from 23 December 2026 at large groups and 23 March 2027 at smaller practices).
- Every practice must offer communal cremation and list communal and individual cremation prices. Extras such as urns or paw prints must be priced separately.
- Some crematoria are owned by vet groups (Inspiring Vet Care and VetPartners own crematoria). From 23 March 2027, group-owned crematoria must say so clearly.
- You don’t have to use your vet’s crematorium. You can contact one directly, and many will collect your pet from the practice or your home.
Questions to ask, ideally before you need to
- Which crematorium do you use, and who owns it?
- What are your prices for communal and individual cremation for my pet’s size?
- Are collection, return of ashes or a container included, or extra?
- How will the ashes come back to me, and how long does it take?
- How long can you look after my pet while I decide?
If something goes wrong
Most problems are sorted out by talking to the practice. If not, the CMA’s new rules give you a clear route from 23 March 2027. There is no vet ombudsman, so these steps matter.
- Talk to the practice. Ask to speak to the vet or practice manager. Keep your estimate, itemised bill and notes of who said what.
- Complain in writing. Every practice must publish a written complaints process. If your complaint isn’t settled within 10 working days, the practice must acknowledge it in writing within 5 more and send a full written reply within 8 weeks.
- Ask for mediation. If it’s still not resolved, you can ask for mediation through a provider approved by the RCVS. The practice must take part in good faith. The outcome isn’t binding unless you both accept it.
- Check where else to go. The RCVS, which regulates vets, is publishing a guide to help you decide where to take a complaint (due January 2027). It deals with serious professional concerns, not refunds. For help with money disputes, Citizens Advice can explain your options.
Common questions
What should I take to a vet appointment?
Your pet's vaccination records, the names and doses of any medicines and flea or worm treatments, what your pet eats, notes or a video of the symptoms, and your insurance details. Cats should travel in a secure carrier and dogs on a lead.
Can I ask my vet for a written estimate?
Yes. You can ask for a written estimate for any treatment. Under the Competition and Markets Authority's new rules, practices must give one when treatment is likely to cost £500 or more, including VAT: from 23 June 2027 at large groups and 23 September 2027 at smaller practices.
How much does pet cremation cost in the UK?
The CMA found typical individual cremation prices through large vet groups of about £187 for a cat and £214–£313 for a dog depending on size (2024). Independent crematoria charged about £160 for a cat and £183–£275 for a dog. Communal cremation, where ashes aren't returned, is usually two to five times cheaper.
What can I do if I'm unhappy with my vet?
Talk to the practice first, then complain in writing. From 23 March 2027 every practice must have a written complaints process: a complaint not settled within 10 working days must be acknowledged within 5 more, with a full written reply within 8 weeks. If it still isn't resolved you can ask for mediation, which the practice must take part in. There is no vet ombudsman.
Can I arrange my pet's cremation myself?
Yes. You don't have to use the crematorium your vet uses. You can contact a pet crematorium directly; many will collect from the practice or your home. Ask whether it is owned by a vet group, as the CMA now requires crematoria to make this clear.
Where this information comes from
Findings come from the CMA’s final report on veterinary services (March 2026). Dates for the new rules on estimates, bills, cremation and complaints come from the CMA’s Order of 22 September 2026, as set out in its guidance for veterinary businesses. Individual cremation prices come from the CMA’s cremation pricing analysis (final report, Appendix K, March 2026). Communal cremation prices and urn costs come from a ManyPets survey (January 2025).