How to Ask Your Vet for a Written Prescription (and Why You Should)
Asking your vet for a written prescription rather than buying medication directly from the practice is one of the most straightforward ways to reduce your pet's ongoing medication costs. Since March 2026, vets are legally required to offer this option proactively — understanding how it works helps you take full advantage of this right.
Key takeaways
- Since March 2026, UK vets are legally required to verbally offer a written prescription at every consultation where medication is prescribed, with fees capped at £21.
- Filling prescriptions at reputable online pharmacies can save £150–£400+ per year for pets on common long-term medications such as Apoquel or thyroid treatments.
- Always use VMD-registered online pharmacies — check the VMD's public register before placing an order to ensure the pharmacy is legitimate.
What Is a Written Prescription and Why Does It Matter?
A written prescription is a document issued by your vet that authorises you to obtain a specific prescription-only medicine from a pharmacy or licensed retailer other than the vet practice. In human medicine, this is entirely standard — your GP prescribes on the NHS or privately, and you fill it at any pharmacy. In veterinary medicine, the equivalent right has historically been less well understood by pet owners.
Vet practices have traditionally made a significant portion of their revenue from dispensing medications directly. The markup on dispensed medicines can be substantial — sometimes 100–300% above the cost at which the same product is available from a licensed online pharmacy. For pets on one-off treatments this may not matter much, but for animals on daily long-term medication, the cumulative difference can run into hundreds of pounds per year.
The CMA's March 2026 reforms changed the landscape significantly. Vets are now required to verbally offer a written prescription at every consultation where prescription medication is prescribed, and prescription fees are capped at £21 for the first medicine and £12.50 for each additional medicine.
How to Ask for a Written Prescription
Asking for a written prescription is entirely straightforward and requires no confrontational conversation. At the end of your consultation, when your vet recommends a prescription medicine, simply say: 'Could I have a written prescription for that please? I'd like to compare prices online.'
Your vet is legally required to comply with this request under the CMA's 2026 orders. They may inform you that there is a prescription fee — which is now capped — and they may suggest their own price may be competitive. You are free to accept the direct sale if it is competitively priced, or to take the written prescription and shop elsewhere.
If your vet discourages or refuses your written prescription request without valid clinical justification, you can raise the matter with the RCVS, which is responsible for monitoring compliance with the new rules. In practice, most vets will handle this request professionally and without friction.
How Much Can You Save with a Written Prescription?
The saving depends on the specific medication, your pet's dose, and the price difference between your practice and online pharmacies. For some medications, the difference is modest — perhaps £5–£10 per month. For others, it is transformative.
Common examples of where significant savings are possible include: Apoquel (oclacitinib) for dogs with allergic skin disease — widely available from online pharmacies at 30–50% less than typical practice prices; thyroid medication (carbimazole or methimazole) for hyperthyroid cats — often £15–£25 per month cheaper online; and prescription flea treatments (Bravecto, NexGard, Simparica) — typically £5–£15 cheaper per dose online.
Even after paying the prescription fee (maximum £21), the net saving is positive for most pets on regular medication after the first month or two. For a cat on daily methimazole, the annual saving from using an online pharmacy might be £150–£300. For a dog on Apoquel, it could be £200–£400 per year.
What to Do with Your Written Prescription
Once you have your written prescription, compare prices across several VMD-registered online pharmacies. Reputable options in the UK include VetUK, Animed Direct, PetDrugs Online, and Pharmacy4Pets, among others. Check that the pharmacy is VMD-registered before placing an order — the VMD maintains a public register of authorised retailers.
Most online pharmacies require you to either post your original prescription or upload a scan or photograph. Delivery typically takes 2–5 working days. Some pharmacies now accept electronic prescriptions where the vet sends the prescription directly by email or through an integrated system.
Store your prescription carefully. A written prescription is typically valid for six months, during which you can order repeat supplies up to the authorised quantity without needing a new prescription. Plan your orders to avoid running out of medication before a new prescription is required.
For pets on multiple medications, check whether all can be covered by a single prescription or whether each product requires a separate prescription document. Under the CMA's 2026 rules, the fee for additional medicines on the same prescription is capped at £12.50 each — so consolidating prescriptions where clinically appropriate is worth discussing with your vet.
How CompareMyVet Can Help
CompareMyVet's dedicated written prescriptions guide provides clear, up-to-date information on your rights and how to use them effectively. We believe that every UK pet owner should understand the value of a written prescription — and feel confident enough to ask for one.
Our live beta currently covers Brighton & Hove with 29 practices listed and clear pricing information. We are expanding to more UK areas throughout 2026.
Visit app.comparemyvet.uk to compare local vet prices and access our full written prescriptions guide at /written-prescriptions/.
As the CMA's March 2026 reforms bring greater transparency to UK vet pricing, CompareMyVet is here to help you make the most of those changes. Whether you are registering a new pet, managing ongoing healthcare costs, or simply checking whether you are being charged a fair price, our platform puts the information you need in one place — clearly, honestly, and at no cost to you.
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Common questions
Under the CMA's 2026 orders, vets are required to offer written prescriptions at consultations where medication is prescribed. Refusal without clinical justification is not acceptable. If you encounter a refusal, you can raise it with the RCVS, which is monitoring compliance with the new rules. In practice, most vets will comply without issue.
The main practical consideration is lead time — you need to plan ahead to avoid running out of medication while waiting for delivery from an online pharmacy. For urgent or one-off medications, buying directly from the practice may be more convenient. For ongoing medication, the financial and practical case for a written prescription is typically very strong.
Under the CMA's March 2026 reforms, prescription fees are capped at £21 for the first medicine and £12.50 for each additional medicine prescribed at the same consultation. These caps apply from the implementation date. If you are charged more than this, you can raise it with the CMA or RCVS.
CompareMyVet is live in Brighton & Hove — search 29 practices by price, ownership and services. Launching across the UK in 2026.