Online prescription flea (etc) treatments

pineapple

I generally use Advocate for my dog and like many other treatments, it's available a lot cheaper online than from the vets. But you need a prescription. Has anyone gone down this route? Does the vet charge so much that it's not worthwhile? Or have you even been refused one?

Sagz_2

My vet charges £15 per item on the prescription for 6 months worth of meds. Works out cheaper than buying Advocate from the Vet - but only as I can buy at cost price through work.

If you search you'll find lots of threads about it on here, it crops up often.

Igottawii!!

I bought my Advocate from here http://www.discountpetcare.co.uk/products.aspx?id=15&product=advocate_spot_on_

and didn't need a prescription

gettingready

Igottawii!! wrote: »

I bought my Advocate from here http://www.discountpetcare.co.uk/products.aspx?id=15&product=advocate_spot_on_

and didn't need a prescription

Sorry but I would be a bit.. careful here:

Shipping Timings
Most of our orders are shipped within 2-3 days of receiving your order. Orders generally arrive within 10-15 business days.
If you any questions about your order status you can contact us toll free 0800 999 0845, or email us at support@discountpetcare.co.uk

That alone tells me the company is not UK based (although have co.uk site) and if they are not UK based, God only knows where they products are manufactured/stored etc.

I would not be buying from them - just my personal opinion.

krlyr

As above, be very wary of buying from a site that sells POM without prescription. There are legal ramifications (you could be deemed to be importing prescription medication without a license) as well as the 'scam' side of things - many of these websites have been found to be sending out counterfeit products, or generic versions of branded medication in false packaging. At best, you get an ineffective product, but worst case scenario could be a product unsafe to administer and a seriously ill, or worse, pet. Not worth it for saving a tenner or so in my opinion.
Alternatively, I've heard several times that they just don't send the product at all, and then prove impossible to get hold of on their "toll-free" (big giveaway they're not UK based as they don't call it freephone) number, the fax line is out of order and they don't respond to emails. If you're lucky, you can chase a refund through your credit card company but if not, you've just wasted your money that you could have spent getting a legitimate prescription.
I believe the RCVS have been involved with some of these sites to get them shutdown, which appear to be run by the same people, rebranding when they get too many complaints/people become aware of their reputation/

I buy Advocate online with a prescription. My vet charges £6 per prescription and this covers both my dogs. I save at least £20 so definately worth it for me. The cheapest I've found (and recently ordered from - Advocate arrived quickly, prescription only had to be scanned and uploaded so that was really easy) was Animed Direct, though it's worth checking around for deals or discount codes elsewhere too.

Legally, a vet cannot refuse a prescription just because they don't want you to buy elsewhere. They can refuse on health grounds, and they're entitled to charge a "reasonable" prescription fee, but they cannot just say no.

Igottawii!!

See, I'm just not safe to be let out alone - I didn't know any of this
I bought the Advocate for 1 of my dogs so thought I was being very money-saving when I found such a 'great deal' on that site to buy the last one.

I only did them all about a week or so ago, I suppose I should be glad my baby with the medication from online is okay and not suffered any side effects or anything, I'd better get rid of it and get the genuine stuff ready for next time :huh:

Please could one of you responsible grown-ups be my mum (or at least my advisor!)

penny_pincha

Igottawii!! wrote: »

See, I'm just not safe to be let out alone - I didn't know any of this
I bought the Advocate for 1 of my dogs and both the cats from the vet but didn't quite need the one for the other dog at the same time (they are all different sizes so four separate packs to purchase :mad:) so thought I was being very money-saving when I found such a 'great deal' on that site to buy the last one.

I only did them all about a week or so ago, I suppose I should be glad my baby with the medication from online is okay and not suffered any side effects or anything, I'd better get rid of it and get the genuine stuff ready for next time :huh:

Please could one of you responsible grown-ups be my mum (or at least my advisor!)

Sound like your doing fine by listening to the excellent advice given by others on this thread.

Yes, I agree with krlyr, only buy from UK based on-line pharmacies. If your pet needs a medication, vets do have to write out a prescription rather than sell you the drug / pharmaceutical product but are allowed to charge a reasonable amount.This varies between vets, mine charges just under £10. You then have to off set the charge of the prescription against the cost of the saving. Vets are only allowed to write them out for 6 month's supply. Also they can charge you a prescription charge for each animal you have.:(

Try vet.medic.com petdrugsonline.co.uk & viovet.co.uk I have used all of these companies, are very competitive on pricing, give a good service and they are UK based.:D Shop around between these as they are always readjusting their pricing.

Bitsy_Beans

Igottawii!! wrote: »

I bought my Advocate from here http://www.discountpetcare.co.uk/products.aspx?id=15&product=advocate_spot_on_

and didn't need a prescription

I find it useful to forum search some of these companies before purchasing as generally people have feedback on their experiences, glad I did because I found the same site the other day but after a bit of investigating on here I wouldn't touch them with a barge pole!!!

~Chameleon~

Bitsy_Beans wrote: »

I find it useful to forum search some of these companies before purchasing as generally people have feedback on their experiences, glad I did because I found the same site the other day but after a bit of investigating on here I wouldn't touch them with a barge pole!!!

They also only provide a UK mailing address (equivalent to a PO Box number) and currently claim that they're having technical difficulties with phone line so advise to email instead :rotfl: