New regulations require that we physically examine every cat whenever we prescribe prescription-only medications including flea/tick/worming preparations. The prescribing must be made at the time of examination, but we are able to write you up for repeats at appropriate intervals without necessarily needing another examination (depending on the drugs and the situation).
Having examined your cat and discussed your home environment and parasite risks we will prescribe anti-parasitics for a 12 month duration if appropriate.
Please note that you DON’T have to use the repeats. So if, for example, you only treat during the summer months you just treat then and don’t bother later. There is no additional cost over-and-above the annual health check fee for any product sold in-house (other than the cost of the product!). We would always recommend an annual health check in any case, and this currently costs £55.
Similar rules apply for antibiotics such that we need to see cats before antibiotics are prescribed. This applies to un-planned repeat-doses of all products containing antibiotics, including skin preparations like Surolan.
So please understand that we don’t make the rules, we just have to stick by them whether we agree or not!
Here’s a link to the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons rules
https://www.rcvs.org.uk/setting-standards/advice-and-guidance/under-care-new-guidance/
