The prescribing cascade allows a veterinary surgeon overseeing the health of an animal – as long as it or its produce is not eaten – to provide treatment in order to avoid unacceptable suffering. If a medicine is unsuitable or unavoidable for a particular animal, then this vet can prescribe a medicine in accordance with the following sequence:

1. Provide a veterinary medicine authorised in the UK for use in another animal species or for a different condition in the same species.

If no such product exists, then:

1. Provide either a medicine authorised in the UK for human use, or a medicine authorised for veterinary use in another country, in accordance with an import certificate.

If no such product exists, then:

1. Issue a prescription for a medicine to be prepared extemporaneously by either themselves, a pharmacist or a person holding an appropriate manufacturer’s authorisation.

human medicines are only allowed to be used in animals if a suitable authorised veterinary medicine is not available – which is not the case here – and only under the authority of a veterinary surgeon in accordance with the prescribing cascade (see below). The latter requires a written prescription, so Ivanda will be unable to purchase a cough bottle for her dog.

No, medicines available over the counter cannot be used for animal use. These are licensed only for humans.