Contents
The short answer
Anyone treating your animal as a vet must be registered with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, and you can search the register free. Practices can also join the RCVS Practice Standards Scheme, which is voluntary and inspected. Ask about out-of-hours care and costs before you need them.
How do I check a vet is registered?
Use the RCVS Find a Vet search. You can search by name, postcode or town, and by the type of animal. It is free.
Only registered vets may carry out acts of veterinary surgery, such as diagnosing illness, operating, and prescribing prescription-only veterinary medicines. Registered veterinary nurses can do a defined range of treatment under a vet's direction.
What is the Practice Standards Scheme?
It is a separate thing from registration. The RCVS Practice Standards Scheme is a voluntary quality check on the practice itself. Practices are assessed every four years, and accredited ones can show a blue logo.
A practice can be perfectly good without it. But accreditation means someone other than the owner has checked the premises and the way the practice works. You can search for accredited practices on Find a Vet.
- Check the vet on the RCVS register.
- Ask whether the practice is Practice Standards accredited, and at what level.
- Ask who owns the practice. Many are part of large groups.
What should I look for when I visit?
If there are several practices near you, visit a couple. Most are happy to show you around. Look for a clean, organised place and staff who are friendly and willing to answer questions.
Think about your own animal. If you have a rabbit, a bird or another unusual pet, ask whether the practice treats that species. Some vets have a special interest in areas such as skin problems or behaviour.
Who looks after my pet at night and on weekends?
This is the question people forget. The RCVS expects every practice to arrange emergency cover at all hours, but that does not mean your own vet picks up the phone at 3am. Many practices use a separate out-of-hours service, sometimes several miles away.
Before you register, ask where emergency cases go, how far it is, and what the call-out fee is. Emergency visits cost much more than daytime appointments. The middle of the night is a bad time to find that out.
How much will it cost?
Vet fees are not regulated and they vary a lot. You should be given an estimate and the chance to talk through your options, including doing less. If you are offered one course of action with a big price, it is fair to ask what the alternatives are and what happens if you wait.
Ask how the practice takes payment, and whether it can claim directly from your insurer. Find out the cost of a first consultation and of routine treatments such as vaccinations before you commit.
What should I know about pet insurance?
Read the policy before you need it. Lifetime cover keeps paying for a condition year after year. Some policies stop paying for a condition after twelve months.
Conditions that your pet already has are usually not covered. That is why cover taken out when a pet is young is often worth more than cover bought after a diagnosis.
Can I buy my pet's medicine somewhere else?
Often, yes. You can ask your vet for a written prescription and buy the medicine from another registered supplier. This can be cheaper. The practice may charge a fee for writing the prescription, and it should tell you the fee if you ask.
What should I ask before I register?
- Which vets would see my pet, and do you treat my type of animal?
- What are your opening hours?
- What happens out of hours, and what does it cost?
- How much is a first consultation and routine care?
- Can you claim from my insurer directly?
- How do you handle complaints?
Can I get a second opinion?
Yes, and it is normal. Asking for a referral or a second opinion is not an insult to your vet, and a good vet will help you arrange it.
Register before your pet is ill
Sign up with a practice while things are calm. You can ask your questions, see the place, and your pet's records are ready if there is ever an emergency.
What if I am unhappy with my vet?
Start by raising it with the practice in writing. If you are still not happy, you can report concerns about a vet's behaviour or standards to the RCVS. It can investigate and take action against a vet's registration in serious cases.
There is one limit. The RCVS cannot order a refund, compensation or extra treatment. If you want money back, you may need to use the small claims court, and Citizens Advice can explain how.
Frequently asked questions
- Can a veterinary nurse treat my animal?
- Registered veterinary nurses can carry out a defined range of treatment and minor surgery under a vet's direction. Diagnosis, prescribing and larger operations are for the vet.
- Can a vet refuse to see my animal in an emergency?
- Vets are expected to help an animal in an emergency, as far as they reasonably can. In practice that usually means stabilising the animal or sending you to the right emergency service.
- Can I buy my pet's medicine elsewhere?
- Yes. Ask for a written prescription and buy from another registered supplier. The practice may charge a fee for writing it.
- Is the RCVS Practice Standards Scheme compulsory?
- No. It is voluntary. Registration of the vet is the legal requirement, and accreditation is an extra check on the practice.
- How do I find an accredited vet practice?
- Use the RCVS Find a Vet search and look for practices marked as accredited. You can also ask the practice directly.
- What if I cannot afford a vet bill?
- Tell the practice early. Ask about payment plans and cheaper options. Some charities help with fees, and insurance can cover many unexpected bills.
About this guide
Written and maintained by the LocalListed editorial team. It describes UK regulation and consumer protections in general terms and is not legal, financial or professional advice. Rules differ between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and change over time: always check the position with the named regulator before relying on it.
