Veterinary prescription charges

snowman2_2

LusciousLuce wrote: »

I work in a 12-vet mixed practice, and I feel I should point out that in a multi-vet practice you are likely to see an assistant (ie not a partner) who will be paid a salary & therefore has little knowledge of or interest in profits. In my 7 years at our practice I have worked with dozens of vets, and have not yet met a single assistant who prescribes on the basis of maximising profit. .

It can be sometimes hard to get younger vets to charge properly for their time, let alone have them try to maximise profits unless they are on a profit share. Personally, I feel profit shares are divisory and just cause vets / nurses to try to pick off the big stuff and leave the nail clips and anal glands to someone else. We don't offer any incentive scheme other than a pat on the back and I would rather make my money in consult charges through being busy.
Hotpot - I am up north and we have loads of insured clients and we will ask everyone with anew puppy / kitten to at least consider the idea of insurance when they come in for initial vaccinations. If it is not for them, fine, but at least consider it.

hotpot1000

What I mean is that they're not offering insurance but they ask whether the animal is insured before anything else, what difference to that make to the fact that my dog needs medical assistance?
Are they asking so that they know if I will be claiming the bill on insurance? thats was my point. I would be asking them for any paperwork needed for insurance claim -not the other way round.

moggylover

So, can any of the vets here actually tell me why I need a script for Stronghold, but not for Frontline?

Have got to get some this week and the difference between the on-line price and the vets price is quite appreciable, but with 11 cats to do I am going to go completely balistic if I have to have separate scripts:D.

snowman2_2

hotpot1000 wrote: »

Are they asking so that they know if I will be claiming the bill on insurance? thats was my point. I would be asking them for any paperwork needed for insurance claim -not the other way round.

I ask to find out whether I need to discuss costs in full or can just get on with my job without worrying about the costs. It is nice to be able to do what is needed and in the animal's best interest without cost concerns. Mind you, I like to use my brain and not just blindly use loads of expensive tests. I am fortunate in having a lot of clients who trust me and even if not insured, will pay the bill because they believe I offer good value. Some vets will use it as an excuse to do every test under the sun and increase the bill but most of us are sensible.

Moggylover - you need a script for Stronghold because it is a prescription only medicine (POM-V) as determined by the Veterinary Medicine's Directorate. Frontline was de-regulated but unless Pfizer ask the VMD for a change, it will stay prescription only. As for why one and not the other - ?????????

simontheiceman

moggylover wrote: »

So, can any of the vets here actually tell me why I need a script for Stronghold, but not for Frontline?

Have got to get some this week and the difference between the on-line price and the vets price is quite appreciable, but with 11 cats to do I am going to go completely balistic if I have to have separate scripts:D.

That much?? You gotta ask for discount! I'd give you one. I'd be strongly looking at a price match - I've said all this before though.

moggylover

Thanks Snowman and Simon! I have asked for a discount before - didn't get me anywhere near the on-line price I'm afraid. However, I am still friendly with a vet who gave up to be a full-time mum for a while and she worked out that I could do about 10 cats with one tube of the large dog size (they get 4 drops each) as it is stronger and a bigger quanitity per tube. Not so easy - but works and I haven't had any problems with doing it this way. This helps a bit - but with the new practice manager at our vets I am not sure that I am going to get away with this.

I wonder if they de-regulated Frontline because the fleas seem to have developed a resistance to this? I am sure it used to work better when it first came out than it does now.

MrsE_2

moggylover wrote: »

Thanks Snowman and Simon! I have asked for a discount before - didn't get me anywhere near the on-line price I'm afraid. However, I am still friendly with a vet who gave up to be a full-time mum for a while and she worked out that I could do about 10 cats with one tube of the large dog size (they get 4 drops each) as it is stronger and a bigger quanitity per tube. Not so easy - but works and I haven't had any problems with doing it this way. This helps a bit - but with the new practice manager at our vets I am not sure that I am going to get away with this.

I wonder if they de-regulated Frontline because the fleas seem to have developed a resistance to this? I am sure it used to work better when it first came out than it does now.

I never thought of that:cool:

I think fleas have developed a resistance to Frontline, like popular nit lotions (well I've read its happened with nit lotions).

snowman2_2

Although you would get away with it with Frontline, as a general rule, do NOT use dog flea treatments on cats. Over the counter medicines and even some prescription only medicines could easily KILL a cat and pet shop dog flea treatments have killed many cats. Do not also give human painkillers to cats as aspirin kills and the others aren't much better

hotpot1000

Yes - a friend did this and her cat was extremely ill, I wouldnt advise it and Im not a vet.

Snowman Im lucky I have a sensible vet.

kingkano

moggylover wrote: »

So, can any of the vets here actually tell me why I need a script for Stronghold, but not for Frontline?

Have got to get some this week and the difference between the on-line price and the vets price is quite appreciable, but with 11 cats to do I am going to go completely balistic if I have to have separate scripts:D.

I'll say! We have 2 cats and they recommended Stronghold so we went with it. But they charge £54 for 6 applications. The same was £24 online last time I ordered. Luckily they charge a reasonable £10+vat script charge and will give me 6mths for each cat on 1 script. (which means it costs me near enough half their price)

Surely their cost must be under £20? SO why charge £54 for it? Thats considerably more than standard retail markup, and for something they must shift caseloads?!! IF they charged even £35 I would just buy it there....

Can any of you vets explain this one? DO you guys charge this much for Stronghold for cats?