How Much Should a Vet
Prescription Cost?
Most vets charge £20-35 for a prescription. The CMA says the maximum should be £21 (£12.50 for each additional medicine). Here is everything you need to know about what you should be paying.
What Vets Currently Charge
for Prescriptions
Vet prescription fees in the UK vary widely, but most fall within the £20 to £35 range. Some practices — particularly in London and the South East, or those owned by large corporate groups — charge even more, with fees of £40-50 not uncommon.
The CMA's investigation found that these fees are deliberately inflated to discourage pet owners from buying medications elsewhere. Vets earn significant profit margins on dispensing medications (markups of 200-400% are typical), so they have a strong financial incentive to keep you buying from them rather than a cheaper online retailer.
According to the CMA, the actual administrative cost of writing a prescription is well below £10. The excess charged above this is pure profit — and a barrier to competition. This is why the CMA has intervened with a mandatory £21 cap (£12.50 for each additional medicine).
typical vet fee now
some London / corporate
CMA maximum from March 2027
actual admin cost per CMA
Why Getting a Prescription
Is Almost Always Worth It
Even with a prescription fee, buying online saves you money. Here is how the numbers work.
Example: Dog on Apoquel (allergy medication)
Buying from your vet
Buying online with prescription
Example: Cat on Felimazole (thyroid medication)
Buying from your vet
Buying online with prescription
The £21 Prescription
Fee Cap Explained
As part of its 21 mandatory reforms for the UK veterinary sector, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has capped prescription fees at a maximum of £21 for the first medicine (£12.50 for each additional medicine on the same prescription).
This cap takes effect from March 2027 for larger practices (15+ sites) and September 2027 for smaller ones, following the CMA Order in September 2026. The CMA's final report was published on 24 March 2026. It applies to every vet practice in the UK, corporate and independent.
The CMA also mandated that vets must proactively offer a prescription for every dispensed medication. This means your vet should be telling you about the prescription option — you should not have to ask. If they fail to do so, they are in breach of the new rules.
Additionally, practices cannot penalise you for choosing to buy medications elsewhere. No higher consultation fees, no refusal of appointments, no removal from the practice list. If you experience any of these, report the practice to the RCVS or use VetCost Protect.
Maximum £21 per prescription
The absolute maximum any vet in the UK can charge for writing a prescription from 2027 (£12.50 for each additional medicine). Many vets may choose to charge less to remain competitive.
Effective 2027
From March 2027 for larger practices (15+ sites) and September 2027 for smaller ones, following the CMA Order in September 2026. The RCVS will monitor compliance and can sanction practices that breach the cap.
Proactive offer required
Vets must proactively offer a prescription for every dispensed medication. You should not have to ask — they should offer it as standard.
No penalties allowed
Practices cannot penalise you for buying medications elsewhere. No surcharges, no refusal of service, no disadvantage of any kind.
Tips to Save Even More
on Vet Medications
Ask for a repeat prescription
A single prescription can cover 6 months of medication. If your pet takes the same medication long-term, ask for a prescription that covers multiple dispensings. You pay the prescription fee once but can order multiple times.
Buy in bulk online
Many online retailers offer further discounts for larger quantities. If your prescription allows, buying a 3-month or 6-month supply at once can save an additional 5-15% on top of the already lower online prices.
Compare multiple online retailers
Prices vary between online retailers. Use VetCost's medication comparison to check prices from multiple VMD-registered online retailers before ordering. The cheapest option is not always the same online retailer for every medication.
Ask about generic alternatives
Just like human medications, many pet drugs have generic equivalents that contain the same active ingredient at a fraction of the price. Ask your vet whether a generic version is available. Online retailers often stock a wider range of generics than vet practices.
Frequently Asked Questions
The maximum is £21 for the first medicine (£12.50 for each additional) as mandated by the CMA. This cap takes effect from March 2027 for larger practices (15+ sites) and September 2027 for smaller ones, following the CMA Order in September 2026. Most vets currently charge £20-35. The CMA found the actual administrative cost is well below £10, meaning the excess is profit designed to discourage you from buying medications elsewhere.
The CMA found that vets deliberately set high prescription fees to discourage pet owners from buying medications elsewhere. Vets make significant profit margins on dispensing (markups of 200-400%), so a high prescription fee keeps you buying from them rather than cheaper online retailers.
Almost always, yes. Even with a £21 prescription fee, online retailers typically sell medications at 30-70% less than vet practice prices. For repeat medications, the annual savings can be £200-500 or more.
No. Under the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013, your vet must issue a prescription on request. The only exception is if it would harm the animal's health, which must be documented in writing. See our full guide on prescription rights.
Standard vet prescriptions are valid for 6 months unless the vet specifies a shorter period. Some controlled drugs have shorter validity. Repeat prescriptions can cover multiple dispensings, saving you multiple prescription fees.
Yes. All VMD-registered online retailers accept written vet prescriptions. Upload a photo, scan, or post the original. The online retailer verifies it with your vet before dispensing. Delivery is usually 1-3 working days.
The CMA has capped vet prescription fees at £21 maximum for the first medicine (£12.50 for each additional medicine). The cap takes effect from March 2027 for larger practices (15+ sites) and September 2027 for smaller ones, following the CMA Order in September 2026. This applies to all UK vet practices. The RCVS will monitor compliance. Vets must also proactively offer prescriptions and cannot penalise you for buying elsewhere.
Stop overpaying for pet medications
Compare medication prices from trusted UK online retailers. Save 30-70% on prescriptions for your pet.