Veterinary prescriptions

Veterinary surgeons should provide a written prescription for horse owners on request unless medicines are not suitable for the treatment of a specific condition. We've provided guidance and resources to help you when providing a prescription.

When prescribing the animal should be 'under your care', having undergone an assessment for the condition being treated, although repeat prescriptions can be provided without physical examination on each occasion. The RCVS expect you to set a policy for the frequency of examination needed for ongoing treatment and make clients aware of this policy.

Prescription fraud

Prescription fraud may occur with veterinary prescriptions. In order to limit the possibility that a prescription has been amended we recommend the following steps are taken (as a minimum):

1. That prescriptions are only accepted when they are written on tamper evidence documents such as the BEVA prescription form; when the BEVA prescription form is used this has been watermarked with the BEVA logo and the words 'British Equine Veterinary Association'. If no watermark is present then you should assume that the document has been changed.

2. That you confirm the identity of the prescriber using the RCVS Register to confirm that a valid registration number has been included.

3. That you confirm the prescription with the prescriber by calling the telephone number shown on the practice website. Do not assume that the phone number or email provided on the form is correct and unamended.