DNA Vetcare

What DNA Vetcare does

DNA Vetcare is a UK-based independent veterinary group operating 50+ veterinary practices across nine English regions — London, Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Oxfordshire, Hertfordshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, and Essex — serving over 25,000 pet owners with general consultations, preventative care, diagnostics, and advanced surgical procedures. Founded in 2006 by veterinary surgeons Dane Walker and Alan van Heerden, the company was built as an alternative to corporate veterinary consolidators and is today led by the founders alongside Director Claire Baker (joined 2019). The network includes dedicated 24-hour emergency hospital sites (Streatham Hill, Mead, among others), feline-only clinics (Kitten to Cat), referral ophthalmology (Eye Vetcare), and a BOAS Grading Clinic for flat-faced breeds; the group employs Diplomates in Ophthalmology, Surgery, and Neurology and certificate-holders across multiple specialties.

The core technology stack combines advanced veterinary equipment — CT, MRI, Karl Storz surgical tower systems, Adaptix, digital and dental X-ray, ultrasound, endoscopy, laser therapy, stem cell therapy, and in-house laboratory facilities — with the RX Works practice management system, which provides patient record continuity across the network. DNA Vetcare was an early adopter of laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery in South London and Kent, has performed hundreds of such procedures, and the practice has RCVS accreditation across all sites plus ISFM Cat Friendly status (Silver at Mayow, Gold at Old Registry) at select clinics.

The business model blends transactional veterinary services with several recurring or quasi-recurring streams: VIP Healthcare Plan monthly subscriptions for dogs, cats, rabbits, puppies and kittens (including 10% off treatments and 30% off Hills/Royal Canin food); pet food and product sales; referral fees from 0% finance arranged through FCA-authorised credit brokerage (Omni Capital Retail Finance); and a distinctive practice partnership programme allowing independent owners to sell 25-50% equity stakes while retaining clinical autonomy. The company maintains independent ownership with no private equity or corporate shareholders and is FCA-authorised (register 735700) for credit brokerage activity.

Name

DNA Vetcare

Legal name

DNA Vetcare Ltd

Website

https://dnavetcare.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

DNA Vetcare is an independent UK veterinary group operating 50+ practices across nine English regions, serving 25,000+ pet owners with general veterinary care, 24-hour emergency hospital services, and advanced specialties including keyhole surgery and BOAS treatment.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Veterinary Healthcare Services

NAICS

Veterinary Services (54194)

SIC

Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093)

akta.pro primary industry

Companion Animal Veterinary Clinics & Hospitals (AFAEANAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Veterinary Specialty Referral Hospitals (Multi-specialty) (HLAMACAB), Mobile & Emergency Veterinary Services (AFAEANAH)

Keywords

• Veterinary services
• Pet healthcare
• Veterinary surgery
• Emergency vet care
• Preventative pet plans

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Veterinary Consultations and Procedures: Core revenue from consultation fees, surgical procedures, diagnostic tests, and medical treatments for pets. Pricing varies based on service type with higher charges for emergency consultations, after-hours visits, and specialized procedures.
2. VIP Healthcare Plans: Monthly subscription healthcare plans providing preventative treatments, vaccinations, health checks, flea/worming products, and discounts on services and food. Offered for dogs, cats, and rabbits with tiered coverage.
3. Pet Food and Products: Sale of prescription and lifestyle pet foods including Hills and Royal Canin brands, with 30% discount for VIP members. Also includes flea, tick, and worming products.
4. Finance Services: DNA Vetcare acts as a credit broker offering 0% interest-free finance options (6-36 months) for larger procedures through Omni Capital Retail Finance. Generates referral/commission revenue from financing arrangements.
5. Partnership Program: Veterinary practice partnership model where independent practice owners can sell equity stakes (25-50%) to DNA Vetcare while retaining operational involvement and gaining access to group resources and support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

DNA Vetcare operates an independent network of 50+ veterinary surgeries across the UK, delivering general consultations, preventative healthcare, diagnostics, and advanced surgical procedures (including keyhole, orthopaedic, soft tissue, and emergency surgery). The group also runs 24-hour emergency hospitals, specialist services such as BOAS grading and ophthalmology referrals, and subscription-based VIP Healthcare Plans covering vaccinations, health checks, and discounted products.

Product overview

DNA Vetcare operates as a multi-award winning independent group of 37+ veterinary surgeries across the UK, offering a comprehensive portfolio of veterinary services from routine consultations to advanced surgical procedures. The core offering consists of the DNA Vetcare Veterinary Surgeries Network supplemented by specialized services including 24 Hour Emergency Vetcare (hospital-based 24/7 emergency service), Keyhole Surgery (minimally invasive laparoscopic procedures at hospital sites), BOAS Grading Clinic, VIP Healthcare Plans (subscription-based preventative care), Finance Options (0% financing through Omni), and advanced diagnostic/treatment services (CT scanning, orthopaedic surgery, stem cell therapy, laser therapy). The group also includes acquired specialist brands like Kitten to Cat (feline-only practice). Services range from preventative care and health checks to complex emergency and elective surgeries, with geographic expansion ongoing across London, Kent, Surrey, Sussex, and new regions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 24 Hour Vetcare: 24-hour emergency veterinary care service operating across London, Surrey, and North Kent regions
• Eye Vetcare
• VIP Healthcare Plans
• Little VIP

Products and services

• DNA Vetcare Veterinary Surgeries Network A multi-award winning group of 50+ independent veterinary surgeries providing comprehensive veterinary care including consultations, surgeries, diagnostics, and preventative healthcare for dogs, cats, rabbits, and small animals across nine UK regions.
• 24 Hour Emergency Vetcare

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 65% less post-surgical pain with keyhole surgery compared to traditional open surgery
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered supporting, core and minor.

• WorldPaysupportingTechnology or IntegrationThird-party payment processor for secure online capture and processing of credit/debit card transactions for pet care purchases. Card information is not held by DNA Vetcare directly.
• RX WorkscoreTechnology or IntegrationPractice management system used by DNA Vetcare for patient records management. Records are available across the DNA Vetcare network for patient care continuity and transferring records between surgeries.
• Merlin CommunicationssupportingTechnology or IntegrationAudio recording software used on telephone systems for customer communications. Part of the CCTV and audio policy compliance framework.
• WVS (World Veterinary Service) / Thai Dogs CharityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDNA Vetcare supports the Thai Dogs Charity through the WVS (World Veterinary Service) organization, providing charitable veterinary services internationally.
• Hills Pet NutritionsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership offering 30% discount on Hills pet food for VIP Healthcare Plan members. Starter packs of Hills kitten food included in Little VIP Kitten Plan.
• Royal CaninsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership offering 30% discount on Royal Canin pet food for VIP Healthcare Plan members.
• Moore Scarrott Group (Roger Milton)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIndependent accounting firm providing financial guidance and structure advice for the DNA Partnership Programme. Roger Milton conducts Q&A sessions explaining financial structures, valuations, and partnership economics for prospective partners.
• Independent Solicitors (Andrew Hawkins)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIndependent legal counsel providing partnership agreement structures and legal protections for DNA Vetcare partnership arrangements. Andrew Hawkins conducts Q&A explaining legal framework, partner protections, and fair deal structures.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Active Vetcare: Independent UK veterinary group with multiple branches across Surrey and South East England. Highly comparable to DNA Vetcare in regional South East focus, multi-site independent model, and small animal clinical services.
• Linnaeus Veterinary Group: UK veterinary group of referral hospitals and primary care practices, owned by Mars Petcare. Comparable to DNA Vetcare on multi-specialty referral hospital and primary care network combination, although at significantly larger scale.
• VetPartners: UK veterinary group operating a large network of small animal, equine, and farm practices plus referral hospitals, founded in 2015 and backed by BC Partners. Closely comparable to DNA Vetcare as a UK consolidator pursuing an independent-practice partnership model with a regional clinic footprint.
• Goddard Veterinary Group: Long-established independent London veterinary group with a network of branches plus a 24-hour RCVS-tier-3 hospital (Stone Lion). Strong direct peer to DNA Vetcare in independent, multi-site London veterinary care, 24/7 emergency, and specialty services.
• Pennard Vets: Independent Kent-based veterinary group with multiple branches plus a hospital site. Comparable to DNA Vetcare in independent ethos, multi-site South East UK footprint, and primary care plus referral offering.
• Medivet: UK veterinary group with hundreds of branches and 24-hour centres offering small animal care, surgery, and referral services. Direct peer to DNA Vetcare given overlapping multi-region UK clinic network, emergency services, and partner-practitioner model.
• The Pet Vet: UK veterinary group with multiple branches across the Midlands and other regions, offering small animal care, surgery, and preventative plans. Comparable to DNA Vetcare in multi-site small animal group model and subscription-style healthcare plan offering.
• Vets4Pets: UK veterinary group owned by Pets at Home (Compass), operating a national network of joint-venture veterinary practices. Comparable to DNA Vetcare in multi-site small animal practice model and partnership structure, though with a different ownership arrangement.
• IVC Evidensia: Largest UK/European veterinary group, founded in 2011, operating a network of owned and partner clinics and referral hospitals across the UK. Directly comparable to DNA Vetcare as a multi-site consolidator of independent veterinary practices, although it is now PE-owned (EQT) and considerably larger in scale.

Emerging players

• Eastcott Veterinary Referrals: RCVS-accredited specialist referral hospital in Swindon, owned by IVC Evidensia, offering multi-disciplinary specialty services. Comparable to DNA Vetcare's hospital referral capabilities (surgery, ophthalmology, neurology, internal medicine) but at a single specialist site.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/dnavetcare
• Xx.com/Londonvets1

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about DNA Vetcare