PRESCRIPTIONS UPDATE
On 1st September 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 January 2024 for some classes of medication including parasiticides (flea, tick and worming treatments). The new guidance requires that a clinical assessment, which usually entails a physical examination of your pet, be performed every time antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals and parasiticides are prescribed.
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.
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.
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.
A 'parasiticide check up' consultation is free for members of our Pet Health for Life (PH4L) plan.
For long term prescription medication which is not an antimicrobial/antiparasitic, our usual policy of requiring a regular examination usually every 3-6 months continues to apply. The medication review consultations will be charged at our usual fees.
You can read the full guidance from the RCVS on their website.
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OUR ISLE OF DOGS SURGERY IS NOW OPEN
We are thrilled to announce that our Isle of Dogs Forest Vets branch is now open after undergoing refurbishment.
Our team has been working hard to enhance our services and upgrade our facilities to provide the best care and a range of treatments and services for your pet.
Here’s what you can expect at our revamped practice:
- two consultation rooms
- a dedicated kennel area for both dogs and cats
- a preparation area
- separate theatre facilities
- and an X-ray and dental room complete with full CR X-ray and dental X-ray capabilities.
To book your next appointment, please call 020 7536 7555 or email
We look forward to welcoming you and your beloved pets back into practice soon!
Forest Vets Isle of Dogs
Here at Forest Vets, we are committed to providing the best quality healthcare for your pet.
We have four clinics across the Essex area so please familiarise yourself with who we are and what we offer by way of the services we offer, keeping your pet’s health and wellbeing at the heart of what we do.
