Prescription medication
In the UK, certain pet medicines can only be prescribed by a qualified veterinary surgeon. We explain the regulations that govern these prescription medications, and your options as a consumer.
On this page:
- Prescription medication
- Prescription fees
- Online retailers
- Fairness and transparency
- Long-term medication
- Antiparasitics
- Prescribing unauthorised medicines under the cascade
Prescription medication
As part of a recommended treatment plan for your pet, your vet may prescribe medication.
You can buy this medicine directly from the practice, or request a written prescription and buy it elsewhere.
When deciding where to buy your pet's prescription medication, consider the balance between convenience and cost. And do keep in mind that in an emergency, purchasing medication from a different source might not be practical.
Prescription fees
Although your vet is entitled to charge a reasonable prescription fee for writing a prescription, buying medication elsewhere could still save you money.
Prescription fees may vary between different vet practices, so always ask how much the fee is.
Online retailers
If you decide to buy your medicines elsewhere, you should make sure to use a reputable retailer, especially if you're buying online.
We recommend you purchase only from this list of accredited online retailers, which is published by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate.
Fairness and transparency
You can ask the practice what the cost is of any medication that may be prescribed or dispensed.
The price of medication dispensed by your practice should be clearly itemised on your bill.
If you do decide to purchase your pet’s medication elsewhere, your vet must not charge you more for other goods or services than they would a client who buys medication from the practice.
Long-term medication
Where possible, your vet should let you know the frequency and cost of further examinations of pets that need long-term or ongoing medication.
Antiparasitics
To reduce the environmental impact of, and your pet's resistance to, antiparasitic medications like flea and tick treatments and wormers, vets must physically examine your pet prior to prescribing to decide the most appropriate treatment. When deciding what to prescribe, your vet should also take the animal’s lifestyle into account.
This can be done as part of your pet’s annual vaccination appointment or routine health check.
Prescribing unauthorised medicines under the cascade
Vets are normally required to prescribe medicines that are authorised in the country where they are practising, for the species and condition they are treating, following the guidelines provided by the manufacturer.
If there is no suitable authorised medicine, and to avoid unacceptable animal suffering, under veterinary medicines legislation vets are allowed to treat an animal with an unauthorised medicine by following a risk-based system called the cascade.
Your vet should tell you if they plan to do this, and explain any potential side effects, before obtaining your written consent to proceed.
If you own an exotic species, such as reptiles or amphibians, be aware that most medicines used are unlikely to be authorised for use in these species, so your vet should seek your consent from the outset.
Because of these rules, it is unlawful for vets to prescribe a human medicine, for example, paracetamol, if there is an authorised equivalent veterinary medicine.