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Repeat Prescriptions from UK Vets: Your Rights Explained

If your pet is on long-term medication, a repeat prescription can save you significant money each month. Since the CMA's March 2026 reforms, UK vets are legally required to offer written prescriptions at every consultation where medicine is prescribed — and fees are now capped. Here's what you need to know.

What Is a Repeat Prescription?

A repeat prescription is a written authorisation from your vet that allows you to purchase the same medication — in the same dose — multiple times without needing a new consultation each time. It is most commonly used for pets with chronic conditions such as arthritis, epilepsy, diabetes, or thyroid disease, where the medication regimen is stable and well-established.

Repeat prescriptions differ from a one-off written prescription in that they are issued for an ongoing supply, typically covering several months of treatment. Your vet may specify a maximum number of repeats or a time limit — usually up to 12 months — before a review consultation is required to ensure the prescription remains appropriate for your pet.

Under the Veterinary Medicines Regulations, only a registered veterinary surgeon who has a current clinical relationship with your animal can issue a prescription. This means you will need at least an annual check-up to maintain eligibility for repeat prescriptions, which is sensible practice for any animal on long-term medication.

Your Legal Rights Under the CMA Reforms

The Competition and Markets Authority's landmark March 2026 reforms fundamentally changed the rules around veterinary prescriptions in the UK. Vets are now legally required to orally offer a written prescription at every consultation where medicine is prescribed — they cannot simply hand over a product without mentioning the option.

Prescription fees are now capped by the CMA. As of the reforms, vets may charge a maximum of £21 for the first medicine on a prescription, and £12.50 for each additional medicine on the same prescription. These caps will be enforceable once the full CMA Orders come into force by 23 September 2026. Previously, some practices charged upwards of £25–£35 per prescription, making the saving potentially significant over the course of a year.

Importantly, you have the right to take your written prescription to any registered pharmacy — including online pharmacies — to have it dispensed. You are not obligated to purchase medication from your vet. This single change can save pet owners with chronically ill animals hundreds of pounds annually, particularly for medications that are significantly cheaper at online veterinary pharmacies.

How Much Can You Save with a Repeat Prescription?

The savings from using a written repeat prescription vary depending on the medication, but the difference can be substantial. Many common veterinary medications — including anti-inflammatories, thyroid drugs, and epilepsy treatments — are available from online pharmacies at 30–60% less than the price charged by veterinary practices.

For example, a monthly supply of meloxicam (a common anti-inflammatory for dogs with arthritis) might cost £25–£40 at a vet practice but only £12–£18 at an online pharmacy with a valid prescription. Over 12 months, that represents a saving of £84–£264 — far more than the one-off prescription fee of £21.

For pets on multiple medications, the savings compound further. A cat receiving medication for both hyperthyroidism and hypertension might save £40–£80 per month by using a written prescription at an online pharmacy, delivering an annual saving of £480–£960. Even after accounting for annual review consultations, the arithmetic is strongly in favour of obtaining a prescription.

How to Request a Repeat Prescription

Requesting a repeat prescription is straightforward. At your next consultation, simply ask your vet for a written prescription rather than purchasing the medication directly from the practice. Vets are now legally obliged to offer this, so you should not feel awkward asking — it is your right.

You will typically need to provide your pet's details, confirm the medication and dosage, and pay the capped prescription fee. Some practices now allow you to request repeat prescriptions via an online portal or by telephone, meaning you do not need to visit in person each time — though an annual in-person review will still be required.

Once you have the written prescription, you can take it to any registered online or high-street pharmacy. Reputable UK online veterinary pharmacies include VetUK, Animed Direct, and MedicAnimal. Always verify that the pharmacy is registered with the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) before purchasing.

Find Vets That Support Transparent Prescribing Near You

Not all vets make the prescription process equally straightforward. Some practices have embraced transparent prescribing and will proactively inform you of your options, while others may require you to be more assertive about exercising your rights under the new CMA rules.

CompareMyVet helps UK pet owners find practices that publish their prices — including prescription fees — upfront. Our platform currently covers Brighton & Hove, with 29 practices listed, and is expanding across the UK. You can use the tool at app.comparemyvet.uk to see which local vets are most transparent about their costs.

If your current practice is not being clear about prescription fees or is not proactively offering written prescriptions as required by the new rules, it may be worth considering switching to a practice that is. Your pet's health care should never be opaque — you deserve to understand what you're paying and why.