Pet Prescriptions

POM-V medicines are Veterinary Medicinal Products (VMP) that may only be supplied to the client, once they have been prescribed by a Veterinary Surgeon, following a clinical assessment of an animal which is under the Veterinary Surgeon’s care.

Animals requiring repeat prescriptions for POM-V medications will need to be reassessed by a vet at least every 6 months**.

This regulation was introduced to avoid animals from suffering from developing conditions, which may be overlooked because the animal is on medication. The prescription check-up provides an opportunity for your pet to be weighed (to ensure they are still on the correct dose), have a full examination (to identify any concurrent issues or disease progression) and ensure that their condition is still being well-managed.

This is a legal requirement, and therefore we cannot make any allowances outside of this rule.

**Please note: one of our vets must have examined your pet to satisfy our legal obligations. We regret, therefore, that simple nail clip/anal gland appointments do not meet legal requirements for a pet prescription check-up.

As veterinary professionals we have many drugs available for us to prescribe in the interests of animal welfare. Some of these are licensed only for use in animals, some in people, and some called ‘generics’ that are not licensed as such, and are therefore often cheaper, but are made to a standard laid down by the government for use on humans. ‘Licensing’ is granted when the pharmaceutical company has produced evidence via trials to show that a drug is both safe and effective in a particular species, for a particular condition. It is now an offence for Veterinary Surgeons to prescribe medicines for pets that are not specifically licensed for use in animals, if there is a licensed alternative. Where there is a choice, it has always been our policy to practice evidence-based medicine, using medications that produce the most successful results with the least side-effects.

All of our drugs are subject to a small mark-up, which can vary depending on the medication. It allows us to hold a wide range of products in stock, to make treatment readily available when your pet needs it, and covers the cost of buying, handling, storing and dispensing the pharmacy products in addition to helping cover the substantial financial overheads associated with running a veterinary hospital that offers 24 hour care.

Online pharmacies may have some advantages, including the buying power we have come to associate with the large corporate chains, but they will not care for your pets in the middle of the night!

We are happy to provide written pet prescriptions if you wish to obtain your pets medicines elsewhere (although this is not appropriate when immediate treatment is necessary.) These can be collected at one of our branches, or posted to you if more convenient. The cost of a written prescription is £16 per medicine which covers our administration time. We therefore ask that you clearly state which medication you would like on the prescription (including the total quantity being requested) and that you check your prescription at the time of collection as alterations may incur further fees. 

**Please note we are only legally allowed to supply prescriptions for a maximum of 28 days supply for controlled drugs (for more information, please see Controlled Drugs listed in Schedules 2-4 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001.)