On 1st\u00a0September 2023 our regulatory body, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) introduced new guidance on prescribing prescription-only medicines. There was a grace period until 1st\u00a0January 2024 for some classes of medication including parasiticides (flea, tick and worming treatments). The new guidance requires that a clinical assessment, which usually\u00a0entails\u00a0a physical examination of your pet, be performed every time antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals and parasiticides are prescribed.<\/p>\n
The guidance is an important step towards ensuring responsible antimicrobial use and reduces the veterinary impact on the wider issues of global antibiotic resistance and decline in insect populations.<\/p>\n
Your pet will need to have seen a Veterinary Surgeon for an in-person consultation to make an appropriate parasiticide treatment plan personalised to their lifestyle and risk. We will aim to do this at regular, routine vaccination and health check appointments to reduce the need for additional appointments. However, a separate ‘parasiticide check up’ consultation may be required.<\/p>\n
We will enter a prescription ‘authorisation’ of our recommendations onto your pet’s clinical notes, which can then be used to issue medication for the following 12-months. Once this authorisation is in place you can order parasiticide treatment as you previously have done so.<\/p>\n
For long term prescription medication which\u00a0is not an antimicrobial\/antiparasitic, our usual policy of requiring a regular examination usually every 3-6\u00a0months continues to apply. The medication review consultations will be charged at our usual fees.<\/p>\n