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Heading to the vet can be an anxious time. You’re concerned for your furry friend, but you might also be worried about the cost of your vet bills.
Let’s take a closer look at the cost of vet prescriptions in the UK – and find out whether you might be better off buying prescription medication for your cat or dog online.
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The average vet prescription cost in 2025
We surveyed prices from 36 vets around the UK in January 2025 to get a true picture of how much vets charge for prescriptions.
Our research puts the average price of a vet prescription at £27.46.
The lowest price of a vet prescription we found was £10.79, but this is unusual. In fact, more than 70% of the prices we found for writing a prescription were between £22 and £33.
The highest prescription fee we found was a vet in South Wales charging £37.28.
Understanding vet prescription costs
Unlike the NHS, veterinary practices in the UK don’t have standardised prices for prescriptions. The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) says only that they may make a ‘reasonable charge’ for writing out a prescription.
It’s up to each individual vet to decide what’s reasonable, but it does mean you might expect to pay more in areas with a higher living cost, like London and other major cities.
The prices in our research are all for prescribing a single medicine. You’ll usually need to pay a prescription fee for each medication, but most vets charge a lower fee for second and subsequent medications on the same prescription.
Tips for managing prescription costs
If you’re worried about the bill you might get after a vet visit, don’t fret – there are ways to cut the cost of medical care for your furry friend:
Ask questions – Don't hesitate to discuss the cost of your pet’s medications with your vet, along with any concerns you have about price. Your vet may be able to offer more cost-effective alternatives.
Compare prices – Take the time to find and compare prices for your pet’s prescription meds at different vet practices and online pharmacies.
Buy online – There are a number of online pet pharmacies in the UK that offer prescriptions for less. Buying online can offer savings for longer-term prescriptions, but you’ll need to factor in prescription fees and the cost of regular in-person consultations.
Consider pet insurance – All our policies can help manage the costs associated with veterinary prescriptions and treatments.
Does it work out cheaper to buy my pet’s prescription medication online?
It depends.
Once you have a prescription, you’re free to buy your pet’s medication from wherever you want - whether that’s a different vet or an online veterinary pharmacy.
With the typical cost of a vet prescription at less than £28, that could mean some big savings on more expensive drugs - but make sure you take into account all the costs. There are three to think about:
The prescription cost
The cost of the drugs
The cost of in-person consultations with your vet to check the medication is still suitable and effective.
We’ve already taken a look at the prescription costs and you can shop around online to find out how much you’ll pay for your cat and dog’s medication. But don’t forget about vet consultations.
RCVS says that written prescriptions for medications that are not controlled drugs are usually valid for six months. That means you’ll need to budget for a prescription and a consultation to have your pet examined about twice each year. It could be more frequent if your vet decides it’s necessary.
You’ll only be able to get a prescription for a month of controlled drugs at a time.
Counting the cost of prescriptions
For non-urgent treatment, it could really pay to add up the cost of getting meds from your vet versus paying for a consultation and prescription then buying elsewhere.
Whatever your approach, we understand that your pet’s health and happiness come first. Make sure you’re prepared for your next costly vet bill with the right pet insurance policy. You can claim for the prescription and medication, even if you bought it online.
Did you know some flea, tick and worm treatments don’t need a prescription? Take a look at our preventative pet care plans to see if they’re right for you.
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