Veterinary rules regarding prescription costs

McSkint

Hi folks
Can anyone clarify please?
My elderly dog is on prescription meds costing £76 for 180 tabs (3 month supply) from the vets. I called to order more, was told they're not available and they would need to give me a prescription to take to a human pharmacy to get it filled and they can only give me a month supply. I arrived to collect prescription to be charged £19 + pay for meds from human pharmacy (only cost £7.20 so I hope he can stay on them, much cheaper and seem to be more effective too!). However, I'm cheesed off I had to pay for prescription in the first place - not my fault drug is not available. Should the prescription not have been free of charge. I cant seem to find any RCVS rules/guidance on this.

Second gripe - I want to buy a specific flea/wormer for my other dog. Its prescription but my vets dont/cant supply it. I had a prescription for a 6 month supply when woofer had his vacs but I have been charged £42 for a consult + £19 for a prescription before I've even bought the flea/wormer Does anyone else think this is excessive? What are the rules regarding seeing an animal before prescribing flea/wormer?

I appreciate the Vets is a business but the way they are going with prices, it's no wonder people resort to some of the cheap, over the counter crap that is available. Seems they're getting a little greedy and stopping a lot of people opting for better options by overcharging for their drugs or quick checks or am I just being unrealistic?

Any thoughts or clarification would be appreciated. Cheers

sheramber

A vet is required, by law, to only prescribe a prescription medicine to a dog 'under his care'. I t does not matter whether it is a flea or wormer treatment or some other drug, the rules are the same.

the vet can set his own charge for a prescription. My vet charges £17.

If it is new medicine then initially it will be a month's supply to ensure that the medicine suits your dog.

You may find further prescriptions are for longer.
e.g my vet explained when she prescribed a long term medicine for my dog that they issued a small supply the first time. If the dog had no adverse effects and it was working then they would issue a larger supply next time.

When you buy a prescription medicine from your vet the cost of the prescription is included in the charge so you are paying for it. It is just not billed separately.

Vets usually have a set charge for vaccinations which covers an examination and the vaccination.

Anything extra be could be an additional charge as it involves extra time .

Vets are a private business and each set their own trading practices and prices. . Some areas are more expensive to live in / run a business in than others and the running costs for a practice will reflect that.

Fire_Fox

Profitable treatments are used - in part - to offset a veterinary practice's voluntary or low cost work (wild animals/ rescue charities). Owners/ guardians can pay their vets for actual care received, or can insure their pets.

If you contacted your medical practice (family doctor) requesting a specific drug for yourself that is not first line treatment due to cost or risks, or not available on the NHS at all, you would be charged for a private prescription and possibly charged for a private consultation.

Regular medication reviews - face-to-face or over the telephone - are the norm in the NHS, and this has nothing to do with 'greed'. With the minimal information you provide I don't see how your situation is necessarily any different.

Sometimes vet practices will allow you to see the vet nurse rather than the veterinarian before renewing a routine prescription. This can be cheaper or even free, depending what needs to be checked (eg. weight, to ensure the dose is both safe and effective).

Lastly there may be a generic drug available that is cheaper than the branded version. One example is the anti-inflammatory drug meloxicam (vet brand names inc. Metacam and Loxicom). In human pharmacy they are obliged to supply you the brand if that is what you request (compare the price of branded Nurofen to generic ibuprofen) so it is always worth noting down, and using, the drug name.

HTH.

sheramber

The pint about check ups for weight etc is very relevant.

My old dog is taking Loxicom. At his checkup it was found he had lost weight so his original dose for 26kg was now too much.

Fortunately, I had been giving him a 20 kg dose , which was adequate for him but I could have been giving him too high a dose. Not the vet's fault as the higher dose was correct for his weight when it was prescribed.