U.K. vets 'under corporate pressure to increase revenue'

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U.K. vets have told the BBC's Panorama program that they feel under increasing pressure to make money for the big companies that employ them, and worry about the costly financial impact on pet owners. Prices charged by U.K. vets rose by 63% between 2016 and 2023, and the government's competition regulator has questioned whether the pet care market is giving customers value for money. One anonymous vet, who works for the U.K.'s largest vet care provider, IVC Evidensia, said the company has introduced a new monitoring system that could encourage vets to offer pet owners costly tests and treatment options. A spokesperson for IVC told Panorama: "The group's vets and vet nurses never prioritize revenue or transaction value over and above the welfare of the animal in their care."