Health and care
Websites & marketing for vets and veterinary practices
There are 3,795 veterinary practices registered in the UK, and the number has fallen 2.6% since 2021. Here is how they win customers online, and what a veterinary practice’s website needs to do.
Pet owners go online for two reasons: to register with a vet they can trust, and, much more urgently, to find out what to do when something is wrong. In an emergency, clear information on out-of-hours care matters more than anything else.
A veterinary website should make that information impossible to miss, while also showing the team, services and approach that help new clients feel comfortable choosing you.
The UK market for veterinary practices
The number changed by -2.6% between 2021 and 2026, behind the +0.8% for UK businesses overall, so the field is not getting more crowded.
73% of them have fewer than 10 employees, 12% are sole proprietors and 81% are limited companies. Most are small operations, so a clear, quick website is a genuine way to stand out from competitors who have not looked after theirs. The ten areas with the most firms hold about 22% of the UK total.
Where veterinary practices are concentrated
| Area | Firms | Per 10,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| London | 315 | 0.3 |
| Somerset | 90 | 1.5 |
| North Yorkshire | 80 | 1.3 |
| Watford | 65 | 6.0 |
| Shropshire | 55 | 1.7 |
| Wiltshire | 55 | 1.0 |
| Cheshire East | 50 | 1.2 |
| Dorset | 50 | 1.3 |
| Cheshire West and Chester | 45 | 1.2 |
| Cornwall | 45 | 0.8 |
Most firms per 10,000 residents
| Area | Per 10,000 residents | Firms |
|---|---|---|
| Watford | 6.0 | 65 |
| Cotswold | 2.2 | 20 |
| Stroud | 2.0 | 25 |
| Powys | 1.9 | 25 |
| Bath and North East Somerset | 1.7 | 35 |
| Dumfries and Galloway | 1.7 | 25 |
Source: ONS UK Business Counts 2026 (enterprises), SIC 75000: Veterinary activities, and mid-2025 population estimates, via Nomis. Open Government Licence v3.0. Counts are rounded by ONS and cover VAT- and/or PAYE-registered businesses only. London is the 33 boroughs combined; areas under 60,000 residents, and areas with very few firms, are left out of the density table.
What a veterinary practice’s website needs to do
- Emergency and out-of-hours arrangements, stated clearly and kept up to date
- Opening hours, location and how to register as a new client
- Team profiles, so owners know who will care for their pet
- A page for each main service (vaccinations, neutering, dental care, surgery and so on)
- Information on fees and any plans you offer, where you are happy to share it
- Reviews, and any practice accreditation you hold, shown only if it is true
Mistakes we see
- Emergency and out-of-hours information that is hard to find
- Opening hours that are out of date
- No obvious way to register a new pet
- Dense, clinical language that does not reassure worried owners
How we would approach it
- Bespoke web design. Emergency information, team profiles and registration need to be clear and fast on a phone.
- SEO. Owners search for a vet near them, both to register and in emergencies.
- Email automation. Reminders for vaccinations and check-ups keep pets up to date (with the owner's consent).
Guides that help
- How to Get More Google Reviews (Without Breaking the Rules)
- Do I Need a Website If I Have Social Media? An Honest Answer
- Email Automation for UK Businesses: 5 Emails to Automate First
Find your area
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Questions from veterinary practices
What should a vet's website include?
Emergency and out-of-hours information, opening hours, how to register, team profiles, services, fee information and reviews.
How do veterinary practices get more clients online?
By being easy to find in local searches, showing a friendly and trustworthy team and making registration simple.
Can a practice send vaccination reminders by email?
Yes, with the owner's consent. Reminders help pets stay up to date and bring clients back, as long as you follow UK data and email rules.
How many veterinary practices are there in the UK?
ONS counts 3,795 veterinary practices registered for VAT and/or PAYE in the UK for 2026. That figure excludes firms below the VAT threshold that are not registered for PAYE, so the real number is higher.
Where are most veterinary practices based?
By number of firms, the biggest concentrations are in London, Somerset and North Yorkshire. Per 10,000 residents, Watford, Cotswold and Stroud come out highest.
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