Veterinary prescription charges

marie_r_2

Kimberley wrote: »

I think prescriptions should be written out for free to be honest. I mean they don't even write them, they print them off and the vet just signs it and it doesn't take a minute of their time. They know full well that people can buy them cheaper online thats why they charge so much for a prescription.

This is probably also why so many people leave their pets to heal themselves rather then get treated at the vets. Many cases have come about where an animal has been taken in for Paracetamol or Asprin poisoning because people try to heal their pet themselves. I know that because a warning was up on my vets wall about it when I had to take my cat in.

poeple wouldn't need to mess around with prescription charges if the greedy vets didn't charges so much for the medicenes in the first place. my vet isn't too bad for prescription charges which is £2 if you buy the medication from the vet and £12 if you buy it any where else but the medication is very expensive £40 at the vets and £23 online.

MrsE_2

lazza_w wrote: »

It isn't - go to any pet shop and there will be an array of over-the counter flea and worm products for you to purchase. Unfortunately they're probably not highly effective.

If you want more effective products you will need to got to a merchant, a chemists or a vet (or somewhere else with a suitably qualified person) to purchase Panacur, Drontal or Frontline Spot-On.

If you want prescription only products (Frontline Combo, Advocate, Program etc) then you need to get a prescription. For that you need a vet.

But the stuff I would buy over the counter for my kids nits or worms would work.
I can't buy stuff over the counter for my cats that will.

snowman2_2

MrsE wrote: »

But the stuff I would buy over the counter for my kids nits or worms would work.
I can't buy stuff over the counter for my cats that will.

It's not my fault that OTC meds don't work. How Bob Martin's do so well I don't know. Their marketing department must be good!

MrsE_2

snowman2 wrote: »

It's not my fault that OTC meds don't work. How Bob Martin's do so well I don't know. Their marketing department must be good!

I don't think it is;)

Tiggers

I have had problems with vets in Stafford area not giving the full / correct information regarding their fees for prescriptions. Firstly, when the fees came back in last October I was told over the phone that I would be able to place multiple drugs on one prescription. When the time came this was not the case and had to purchase 2 separate prescriptions with one drug on each. I changed vets a couple of days ago, I wrote to them in July regarding prescription fees, I now have been told, after the consultation, that each prescription will be for ONE month only at the cost of £7.50 for each drug! How do they get away with this?

Tiggers

I also complained To RCVS - they didn't want to know and sent me some totally irellevant bumff. Have emailed again today but not hopeful.

Fire_Fox

MrsE wrote: »

I am happy enough to pay vets prescriptions charges & medical checkups for medicines BUT I really do think the who flea & worm treatment on prescription is a big money spinner.

If a child needed nit or worm syrup I could buy it from the local chemist & administer, why is it different for animal flea & worm treatments?
These are not one-off medical needs, they are routine things, much like a human taking vitamin pills or children being doused it not lotion. Is it because the doctor & prescriptions are free for children:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:
No money to be made on it:rolleyes:

Flea & worm treatments being POM is ridiculous:mad:

It's not at all ridiculous! With both human and animal medicine, any drug that is new to the market OR that has significant side effects OR the potential to interact with other drugs is deemed prescription only for safety reasons. After a period of monitored use some drugs will be deemed safe enough to be purchased over the counter, others will remain POM for all eternity.

These decisions are made by a panel of the leading experts in their field. In fact those who make the greatest profits (the manufacturer) often push for drugs to come off POM onto Pharmacy only as that is where the real money is. The products you refer to for children for nits and worms have been on the market for years or even decades longer than the equivalent flea products so you are comparing apples with oranges.

I am a qualified pharmacy technician: there are many in the industry who believe that, if paracetamol were new to the market today, it would not be licensed for general sales - the therapeutic window (difference between effective and toxic dose) is very small. As few as ten tablets can cause fatal damage to the liver, yet this drug can be purchased twenty four hours a day from any garage! :eek: Would you want the same for our pets simply to save a few quid?

lostinrates

Fire_Fox wrote: »

I am a qualified pharmacy technician: there are many in the industry who believe that, if paracetamol were new to the market today, it would not be licensed for general sales - the therapeutic window (difference between effective and toxic dose) is very small. As few as ten tablets can cause fatal damage to the liver, yet this drug can be purchased twenty four hours a day from any garage! :eek: Would you want the same for our pets simply to save a few quid?

I take a daily dose of Panadol extra as part of my cocktail (doctor approved before anyone panicks). I italy I could not get the same strength of stuff OTC..it just isn't available for sale. So the pharmasist spent time with me working out dosages higher than marked on the packets. OTOH, I could buy a drug very restricted over here after throurough discussion with the pharmasist..where I also bought my flea treatments and wormers for the cats.

snowman2_2

Fire_Fox wrote: »

I am a qualified pharmacy technician: there are many in the industry who believe that, if paracetamol were new to the market today, it would not be licensed for general sales - the therapeutic window (difference between effective and toxic dose) is very small. As few as ten tablets can cause fatal damage to the liver, yet this drug can be purchased twenty four hours a day from any garage! :eek: Would you want the same for our pets simply to save a few quid?

They don't seem to use rational pharmaceutical reasons to regulate drugs. The newest brainwave is to list a whole load of drugs as being safe to have a 3-year prescription. Not sure how many animals with heart disease or kidney failure don't change within that 3 year period. Safety should be the main concern, not profit. Animals change very quickly, their life-cycle is rapid so we need to take more care.

Fire_Fox

snowman2 wrote: »

They don't seem to use rational pharmaceutical reasons to regulate drugs. The newest brainwave is to list a whole load of drugs as being safe to have a 3-year prescription. Not sure how many animals with heart disease or kidney failure don't change within that 3 year period. Safety should be the main concern, not profit. Animals change very quickly, their life-cycle is rapid so we need to take more care.

If a serious medical condition were to change, it's going to get worse so the animal would usually need a higher not a lower dose. Therefore it is safe for the animal to remain on the same dose for three years (once stabilised), tho it may not be therapeutically beneficial. I wonder what percentage of animals with heart disease or kidney failure survive three years, and whether this formed part of the decision. I don't really understand the logic behind your comment on profit??