From March 2027, vet prescription fees in the UK will be capped at £21 for the first medicine and £12.50 for each additional item. Large corporate vet chains must comply first, with smaller practices following by September 2027. This is one of the most significant reforms from the Competition and Markets Authority’s March 2026 vet market report. For pet owners buying long-term medication, it means potential savings of £100 to £200 per year by getting a prescription and purchasing from an online pharmacy.
This guide explains how the prescription cap works, your rights as a pet owner, and a step-by-step process for saving money on pet medicine.
Why does the prescription cap matter?
Right now, around 70% of UK pet owners buy long-term medication directly from their vet. This is despite the fact that the same medication is often significantly cheaper from an online pet pharmacy.
The reason most people buy from their vet is convenience. Getting a separate prescription means an extra step, and until now, some vets have charged high prescription fees that wiped out any savings. According to the CMA’s March 2026 report, some practices charge £30 or more for a single prescription, which discourages pet owners from shopping around.
The new cap changes the calculation. With a maximum fee of £21 for the first medicine (and £12.50 for each extra), the savings from buying online will be clear and worthwhile for most pet owners on regular medication.
How much can you save on pet medication?
The savings depend on what your pet takes. Here is a comparison of typical costs for common long-term medications when bought from a vet versus an online pharmacy.
| Medication | Typical Vet Price (per month) | Typical Online Price (per month) | Monthly Saving | Annual Saving |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flea and tick treatment (dog) | £12 — £18 | £6 — £10 | £6 — £8 | £72 — £96 |
| Joint supplement (glucosamine) | £25 — £40 | £12 — £20 | £13 — £20 | £156 — £240 |
| Thyroid medication | £20 — £35 | £10 — £18 | £10 — £17 | £120 — £204 |
| Anti-inflammatory (e.g. Metacam) | £25 — £45 | £12 — £22 | £13 — £23 | £156 — £276 |
| Allergy medication (e.g. Apoquel) | £40 — £70 | £25 — £40 | £15 — £30 | £180 — £360 |
| Heart medication | £15 — £30 | £8 — £15 | £7 — £15 | £84 — £180 |
These savings are after paying the prescription fee. Even with a £21 prescription fee factored in across the year (prescriptions are typically valid for 6 months), the net saving on long-term medication is substantial.
According to the CMA, pet owners who switch from buying medication at their vet to using an online pharmacy could save an average of £100 to £200 per year, depending on what their pet needs.
Your rights: prescriptions and pet medication
Many pet owners do not realise they have clear legal rights when it comes to vet prescriptions. Here is what the law says.
You have the right to a written prescription
Under the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013, your vet must provide a written prescription if you ask for one. They cannot refuse, provided the animal is under their care (meaning they have examined your pet recently enough to prescribe responsibly). The RCVS Code of Professional Conduct reinforces this requirement.
Your vet must tell you about your right
Under the CMA’s new rules, vets will be required to proactively inform pet owners of their right to a written prescription. This means your vet must tell you that you can take the prescription elsewhere, not just wait for you to ask.
Prescriptions must be provided promptly
The CMA’s reforms require vets to provide a hard copy prescription by the end of the consultation, or a digital prescription within 48 hours. This prevents the old problem of prescriptions being delayed so long that the pet owner gives up and just buys from the vet.
The prescription fee will be capped
From March 2027 (large chains) and September 2027 (all practices), the fee for a written prescription cannot exceed:
| Item | Maximum Fee |
|---|---|
| First medicine on the prescription | £21 |
| Each additional medicine | £12.50 |
If your pet is prescribed two medicines, the maximum total prescription fee would be £33.50 (£21 + £12.50). This is a significant reduction from the £30 to £50+ fees some practices currently charge for a single prescription.
How the prescription cap works: timeline
Here is the full timeline for the prescription cap and related reforms.
| Date | What Happens | Who It Affects |
|---|---|---|
| 24 March 2026 | CMA publishes final report confirming prescription fee cap | All UK vet practices |
| December 2026 | Large chains must publish prices and disclose ownership | Corporate groups with 10+ practices |
| March 2027 | Prescription fee cap takes effect for large chains; all vets must publish prices | Large chains (fee cap); all practices (price publication) |
| September 2027 | Prescription fee cap takes effect for all remaining practices | Independent and small practices |
For a complete timeline of all CMA reforms, see our full guide to the CMA vet review.
How to get a vet prescription and use it online: step by step
If your pet is on long-term medication, here is how to start saving money with a prescription today. You do not need to wait for the cap to come into effect.
Step 1: Check your pet’s medication
Look at what your pet currently takes. Long-term or repeat medications offer the biggest savings. One-off treatments for acute conditions are usually not worth the prescription fee.
Medications where online savings are typically highest include:
- Monthly flea and tick treatments
- Joint supplements and anti-inflammatories (see arthritis costs)
- Thyroid medication (see hypothyroidism costs)
- Heart medication (see heart murmur costs)
- Allergy treatments (e.g. Apoquel, Cytopoint) (see skin allergy costs)
- Epilepsy medication
Step 2: Ask your vet for a written prescription
At your next consultation or medication review, tell your vet you would like a written prescription. You can say: “I’d like a prescription so I can compare prices.” Your vet is legally required to provide one.
Ask the following:
- What is the prescription fee?
- How long is the prescription valid for? (Usually 6 months for repeat medications)
- Will you provide a hard copy today, or send a digital version?
Step 3: Compare prices at online pharmacies
Check prices at two or three registered online pet pharmacies. Make sure they are registered with the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD). You can verify this at gov.uk/check-online-veterinary-medicine-retailer.
Some well-known registered online pet pharmacies include:
- VetUK (vetuk.co.uk)
- Pet Drugs Online (petdrugsonline.co.uk)
- Animed Direct (animeddirect.co.uk)
- Vet Pharmacy (vet-pharmacy.com)
Step 4: Place your order
Upload or post your prescription to the online pharmacy. Most accept scanned copies or photos of written prescriptions. The pharmacy will dispense the medication and deliver it to your door, usually within a few working days.
Step 5: Keep track of your prescription
Note when your prescription expires. Before it runs out, book a medication review with your vet and request a new prescription. Some vets will issue a repeat prescription without a full consultation if they have reviewed your pet recently.
What the CMA found about vet medication pricing
The CMA’s March 2026 report included several findings about how vet practices price medication.
Significant markups on in-house dispensing. The CMA found that vets typically mark up medication by 40% to 100% or more compared with online pharmacy prices. This is a major source of practice revenue, which creates a financial incentive for vets to discourage pet owners from using prescriptions.
Prescription fees were used as a deterrent. Some practices set prescription fees high enough to cancel out the savings of buying online. The CMA described this as a barrier to competition and one of the reasons for introducing the cap.
Most pet owners were unaware of their rights. The CMA found that many pet owners did not know they could ask for a prescription and buy medication elsewhere. Some who did ask reported feeling pressured or discouraged by their vet. The new rules requiring vets to proactively inform owners of their right to a prescription are designed to address this.
70% of pet owners buy from their vet. Despite medication being cheaper online, the vast majority of pet owners buy directly from their vet. The CMA attributed this to a combination of convenience, lack of awareness, and the discouraging effect of high prescription fees.
For a broader look at whether the CMA’s reforms will bring overall vet costs down, read our analysis: Will vet prices come down?
Do I still need a vet prescription for flea and worming treatments?
It depends on the product. Pet medications fall into different categories.
| Category | Examples | Prescription Needed? |
|---|---|---|
| POM-V (Prescription Only Medicine - Veterinarian) | Apoquel, Metacam, Vetmedin, Thyronorm | Yes — must be prescribed by a vet |
| POM-VPS (Prescription Only Medicine - Veterinarian, Pharmacist, SQP) | Some flea treatments (e.g. Bravecto), some wormers | Can be dispensed by a vet, pharmacist, or SQP (Suitably Qualified Person) |
| NFA-VPS (Non-Food Animal - VPS) | Some flea/tick treatments, some wormers | Can be dispensed after consultation with a vet, pharmacist, or SQP |
| AVM-GSL (Authorised Veterinary Medicine - General Sales List) | Basic flea collars, some mild wormers | No prescription needed — available from pet shops and supermarkets |
For POM-V medications, a vet prescription is always required. For POM-VPS and NFA-VPS products, you can buy from an online pharmacy without a vet prescription, though you may need to complete a brief questionnaire. AVM-GSL products are available over the counter.
The biggest savings come from POM-V medicines, which are the ones your vet dispenses directly and marks up the most.
How Pawlee helps you compare medication costs
Pawlee is building a free, independent comparison tool that will include medication prices alongside consultation and procedure costs. When the CMA’s transparency rules take full effect, Pawlee will let you compare what different vets charge for the same medication, helping you decide whether to buy from your vet or use a prescription.
Pawlee is not affiliated with any vet group, pharmacy, or insurance company. The comparison is honest and independent. Join the waitlist at pawlee.uk to be the first to compare vet prices by postcode.
If your pet has an ongoing condition, see our condition cost guides to understand what diagnosis, treatment, and management typically cost. Browse treatment guides and breed health guides for more.
Pawlee is a free, independent UK vet price comparison service. Compare vet prices by postcode when we launch — join the waitlist.
