Vet will only give 3 month prescription at high charge

Frances63

Is my vet being greedy?

We have been buying advocate flee& worm treatment from them for £31 + vat for a 3 month supply.
I have found that I can buy the same online for £28 + vat for a 6 month supply - so, less than half price.

I ordered some, but then got an email saying I would need a prescription from my vet, that they usually charge around £5 for writing the prescription and that they can write one for 6 months.

My vet however has just advised me that they charge £10 and will only prescribe for 3 months (they say this is due to a directive from the RVC).

This seems excessive to me.

It's also odd that I can buy a 6 months supply from the vet, but they will only give a prescription for 3 months. How can that be?

Anyone had a better service from their vet?

krlyr

My practice have recent put the prescription fee up from £6 to £12 - it will still save me to get the prescription though so I don't mind (too much!). This is for a 6-pippette pack though.
The RCVS guidelines are that the fee must not be high enough to dissuade you from asking for a prescription - unfortunately they don't set a maximum. The RCVS also don't set a minimum or maximum length, again it is the vet's discretion, but I think you may perhaps have a case with the vets being willing to sell you 6 months worth but not prescribe it. Afterall, why would buying the product from them make it more suitable to only see the dog every 6 months instead of 3? The RCVS may be interested to hear this - you just have to decide if it's worth a potentially awkward atmosphere at the vets.
Could you see if there's another vet practice locally who issue prescriptions cheaper? There's no law on how many practices you can register at so you could use a second one simply for getting your flea prescriptions if you really wanted.

Frances63

Thanks that's good advice about registering with another vet, I know our dog has to be 'under their care' in order for them to give a prescription.

When we originally registered with our current vet we had to have an initial check-up where he was weighed etc. and were charged (I think about £40) for this. So presumably a new vet would do the same.

I'll have a ring around tomorrow morning to see if that's the case & therefore if it's worthwhile.

Alternatively I'm thinking of changing from Advocate to Front-line spot on combo, which doesn't need a prescription at all apparently (which is odd in itself if they do the same thing?).

krlyr

It can really vary. My vets do free initial consultations for new pets (not even just new customers, but every new pet existing customers get too) and also free 'prescription checks' so those savings so make it worthwhile even despite the prescription fee.
Advocate and Frontline have different active ingredients - Advocate is one of the only treatments for lungworm, for example, which is why I use it (the South East being an area where lungworm cases have been quite high in numbers). There are also quite a few reports of Frontline losing its efficiency as fleas develop a resistance to it.

Fire_Fox

There have been a few threads on this, it's worth running a search. You may find the reason is 'patient' safety - you are talking about a prescription medication, purchase is controlled for a reason. It's surprising how many people post on here wanting to share prescription drugs between their pets.

Frances63

Thanks krlyr & Firefox. I didn't realise that lungworm isn't covered by Front-line.

Can I get any other lungworm cover prescription free, does anyone know?

Maybe I'll give my vet one more chance to give a 6 month prescription. I've only been through to the receptionist after all & he's probably primed to say 3 months only, & not able to use their discretion, (whereas the vet himself might be free to).

If no joy I'll try another vet who will.

My online order is for 6 months, so, unless they're prepared to refund me, a 3 month presription is still no use, no matter what I'm charged by the vet.

krlyr

Panacur is the only other treatment, but it must be given at a longer dose of 7-10 days, at half the strength of the one-off worming dosage
http://www.noahcompendium.co.uk/MSD_Animal_Health/Panacur_Small_Animal_10_ACU-_Oral_Suspension/-29773.html
"For the control of lungworm Oslerus (Filaroides) osleri in dogs administer 1 ml per 2 kg bodyweight daily for 7 consecutive days (= 50 mg fenbendazole/kg bodyweight daily for 7 days"

Milbemax claims to reduce an infestation but not treat it. Also bear in mind that two doses of Advocate are needed to treat it, one will just reduce an infestation.

Did you only just order the Advocate? Remember distance selling laws allow you to change your mind on an order - and as they haven't received a prescription they would not have posted it out so they can't ask you to pay return postage.

rising_from_the_ashes

I would have another word with your vets - it does seem odd that they'll let you have 6 months supply buying from them, but only 3 months on prescription.

My vets will write prescriptions (once pet checked & stabilised on the drugs of course) for 6 months at a time - cost is £12 which I'm happy to pay as they obviously have to use their time to go through the pets records etc & it's still saving me money.

Frances63

Thanks, I'll call again in the morning and ask to speak to the vet to explain the situation. I don't mind paying a bit more for a 6 month as opposed to a 3 month prescription if that's the issue.

Will let you all know what they say tomorrow. (That's if I can get past the receptionist ).

Frances63

Morning!

Last night I sent a quick email to Pet Dispensary (from whom I'd ordered the 6 months of Advocate) explaining that I might have trouble getting a 6 month prescription and could possibly only get one for 3 months. Not wanting to lose my money (which has been processed) I asked if they would consider a swap for something else, such as Frontline/Drontal or even a refund. I doubted a positive response.

I'm pleased to report a speedy, informative and helpful reply from them. They explained that a vet can give a 6 month supply at their discretion, but that each vet has their own policy. They are also happy to refund, or swap for the alternative and refund any difference, whichever I prefer. Additionally they gave an explaination of what is covered by each drug and what is not, explaining that "If you are concerned re the lung worm or mange mites then it would be better to stick to the advocate as that is the only preventative treatment for lungworm." as krlyr has already advised.

I have to say I'm impressed with Pet Dispensary. I was half expecting to just lose my money.


Now to call back the vet's surgery...fingers crossed.

Frances63

Lucky me, the receptionist agreed to ask the vet for special dispensation to issue a presciption for the 6-pack of advocate. I got back to them after 24 hours as asked and I now have it.

It was worth asking again once I knew some of you are prescribed for 6 months from your vet, so that info really helped.

Thanks so much to each of you for your advice, it helped me get somewhere!:T