Buying Pet Medicines Online in the UK: Prescriptions and Costs
Independent UK pet care information. This guide is informational only and is not a diagnosis or replacement for your vet.
At a glance: Ask your vet whether a written prescription is appropriate, verify the online retailer, and compare the full cost including prescription fees and delivery. Allow time for checks and delivery so treatment is not interrupted.
Start with the prescription
Ask your vet what is being prescribed, the amount, any permitted repeats, when a further check is needed, and the charge for issuing a written prescription. Do not change the product, strength, dose or treatment schedule yourself to match a cheaper listing.
The RCVS guidance on consumer choice covers prescriptions and obtaining medicines from another supplier. A prescription is not a substitute for the clinical assessment needed to prescribe safely.
Check the retailer before paying
Use the VMD Register of Online Retailers and match the website address, not just a similar business name. Under current VMD guidance, online sellers of POM-V, POM-VPS and NFA-VPS medicines must register. General-sale AVM-GSL medicines are an exception. The older AIRS scheme is voluntary; a logo alone is not a substitute for checking the current register.
Check how the supplier validates prescriptions, its contact details, delivery arrangements and what happens if there is a delay. If a seller offers a prescription-only product without the required prescription checks, do not proceed on the assumption that the saving makes it safe.
Compare the total you will pay
Use the same prescribed product, strength and quantity for both quotes. Ask the pharmacy or vet about any uncertainty rather than treating similar packaging as equivalent.
| Cost to record | Buying from the practice | Using another supplier |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine for the prescribed quantity | Practice’s quoted total | Supplier’s quoted total |
| Written prescription | Check whether applicable | Vet’s prescription charge |
| Delivery and handling | Collection or delivery cost | Postage, temperature-controlled delivery or other applicable charge |
| Recheck or monitoring | Ask what is needed and when | Include the same required veterinary follow-up |
A smaller medicine price may produce little saving once the other charges are included. Equally, a written prescription may be useful for a continuing course. Work out the total for the prescription you can actually use, not an assumed year of repeats.
Plan delivery and repeat orders
Ask how much stock you have left and how long prescription approval and delivery will take. Contact the prescriber if a medicine may run out. Check storage instructions on arrival and raise discrepancies with the supplier before using the product. For delivery to Northern Ireland, ask the supplier to confirm that it can lawfully supply the specific product to your address; the rules differ from Great Britain.
Is there already a £21 prescription cap?
As of 8 October 2026, the CMA’s new prescription-charge limits have phased future start dates. Do not assume the headline cap already applies to every practice. See our prescription fee cap guide and the official implementation timetable.
Sources and further reading
- VMD: selling veterinary medicines online
- VMD: retail supply and territorial requirements
- CMA: remedies and implementation dates
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