A ‘veterinary prescription’ is defined by EU law as ‘any prescription for a veterinary medicinal product issued by a professional person qualified to do so in accordance with applicable national law’. The word ‘veterinary’ takes its normal meaning ‘of or for animals’. In the UK there are two classes of medicines available only on veterinary prescription, POM-V and POM-VPS, described in the Introduction. Only in the case of POM-V medicines does the veterinary prescription have to be issued by a veterinary surgeon. The act of prescribing is taken to mean the decision made by the prescriber as to which product should be supplied, taking into account the circumstances of the animals being treated, the available authorized veterinary medicinal products and the need for responsible use of medicines.

When prescribing, it is good practice to record the rationale for selecting the medicine(s) chosen; this is mandatory if the prescription is ‘verbal’ or ‘recorded verbal’ (i.e. to be dispensed from within the same practice).

A written prescription for a veterinary medicine must include the following and be printed or written legibly in ink or otherwise so as to be indelible:

• Name, address, and telephone number of the person prescribing the product 
• Qualifications of the person prescribing the product, including their RCVS or SQP number 
• Name and address of the owner or keeper of the animal 
• Identification (including the species) of the animal or group of animals to be treated
• Premises at which the animal(s) are kept, if this is different from the address of the owner or keeper
• Date
• Signature (or other authentication) of the person prescribing the product - sign in ink with your normal signature on paper prescriptions or use a validated electronic signature for electronic prescriptions
• Name and amount of the product prescribed 
  • Use product or approved generic name for drugs in capital letters – do not abbreviate. Ensure the full name is stated, to include the pharmaceutical form and strength
  • Write out microgram/nanogram – do not abbreviate
  • Always put a 0 before an initial decimal point (e.g. 0.5 mg), but avoid the unnecessary use of a decimal point (e.g. 3 mg not 3.0 mg)
  • State duration of treatment where known and the total quantity to be supplied
  • Give precise instructions concerning route/dose/formulation. Directions should preferably be in English without abbreviation. It is recognized that some Latin abbreviations are used (see Abbreviations)
• If the prescription is for an antibiotic medicine that is being prescribed for prophylactic or metaphylactic uses, a statement to that effect
• Necessary warnings, including those regarding responsible use of antimicrobial drugs (e.g. ‘Make sure you complete the course’)
• The phrase ‘It is an offence under the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013 for a person to alter a written prescription unless authorized to do so by the person who signed it’
• Withdrawal period, if relevant (i.e. if for a legally food-producing species)
• The directions that the prescriber wishes to appear on the labelled product. It is good practice to include the words 'For animal treatment only'
• A declaration that 'This prescription is for an animal under my care' or words to that effect
• If it is prescribed under the cascade, a statement to that effect. If drugs that are not authorized for veterinary use are going to be used when there is an alternative that is 'higher' in the prescribing cascade, there should be a clear clinical justification made on an individual basis and recorded in the clinical notes or on the prescription.

Written prescriptions for POM-V or POM-VPS medicines: 

• Are valid for 6 months unless the prescriber states a shorter period 
• May only be used once unless the prescriber specifies that it is repeatable 
• If repeatable, the number of repeat supplies that may be made must be specified (if the prescription is not repeatable, it is considered good practice for it to state that).

In addition to the general prescription requirements above, a written prescription for a Schedule 2 or 3 Controlled Drug (CD) should state an exact dose in words as well as in figures (e.g. not ‘as directed’). A written prescription for Schedule 2 or 3 CDs can only be dispensed once and only within 28 days. Single prescriptions with multiple dispenses (repeatable prescriptions) are not allowed for Schedule 2 and 3 CDs. Instalment prescriptions are acceptable under RCVS guidance and must state the amount to be dispensed and the interval between authorized dispenses; however, there is no strict legal mechanism for instalment prescriptions under the VMR and as such, not all dispensaries and pharmacies will accept them. It is good practice to mark the prescription ’no repeats’.

For all prescriptions, any alterations invalidate the prescription – it must be rewritten.

The following is a standard form of prescription used:

If the veterinary surgeon or SQP is prescribing a medication for repeat supply from the same practice, this is referred to as a ‘repeat’ or ‘ongoing verbal prescription’. In this situation, the clinical notes must record:

• The clinical assessment undertaken, which may or may not include a physical examination (this is mandatory for antimicrobial prescriptions, or for the first prescription of a Controlled Drug, except in exceptional circumstances)
• The rationale for the prescription
• The product name that is authorized for dispensing
• The pack size, volume or quantity of the product that can be dispensed
• The dosage, warnings and any other instructions
• The frequency of dispensing and an ‘expiry date’ beyond which additional dispenses are not permitted; this requirement can also be met by listing the number of authorized repeats, although an expiry date or re-examination/reassessment date specified is still required.

If the patient’s weight is likely to change (e.g. medication for puppies or kittens, or those on a weight loss programme), then the clinical notes should reflect the actions to be taken in the event of a change in weight sufficient to require a different dose or product. This may include repeat assessment (which in the case of antiparasitic drugs would require a physical examination), a different dose or an alternate product.