How much should it cost for a prescription but no consultation at the vets.?

swingaloo

Our dog is on some medication which needs a vets prescription. He has been on it 2 years and only needs to have checks and bloods done annually.

I ring the vet to say I need the meds and they tell me to collect the day after. This medication when bought at the vets costs just over £70 but can be bought online for less than half the price, however you have to upload your vets prescription.

Does anyone do this - just ask for a prescription and buy elsewhere and if so, bearing in mind the cost of having the prescription written up, is the saving worthwhile? 

saganaki20

We do this for our cats flea treatments, the best one we’ve found for them is around half the price when bought online but you do have to factor in the cost of the prescription from the vets. We order the maximum prescription for both cats in one go. 

However my vets have a policy that they will only issue a paid for prescription if they’ve seen the cats during the last 2 years. If we’ve not taken them in during that time, they need a check up first in which case it’s easier to do that and get the prescription at the same time. 

swingaloo

Thank you for the reply.

I understand that the vets have to see the pet from time to time.  What Im trying to find out is how much I should expect to pay just to get a prescription to take away. The vet is happy to give me the medication every 3 months if I just ring up and ask for it without seeing our dog as long as he gets a check up once a year.

Bue21

We have just switched vets and used to get my dogs flea and wormer sent monthly. New vet offers the same service but is also happy to write a prescription. We need a consultation/vet check to get the prescription and the prescription provides enough medication to last a year. In our case the vet prescribed 2 packs each lasting 6 months - the online pharmacy then keeps the prescription on file until the second dose is claimed (which must be within 6 months of the prescription being issued). It certainly works out cheaper than buying from the vet (and our vet is happy to do it this way).

elsien

My Vet charge is about £12 for a prescription to use elsewhere. No idea how many months that covers because I haven’t used it. 

Surely phoning your practice and asking the question is the best way to find out? 

lisyloo

We do that and it's around £13-£14 but sometimes this is for a 6 month prescription.

I use petdrugsonline for apolquel and used to use weldrick for allopurinol.
It's worth noting that for medications used on humans e.g. allopurinol, you can get his from a normal pharmacy e.g. a supermarket with a vet prescription.

sheramber

Each vet sets their own charge.

My last vet charged £19 , my current on charged £21.

Just phone them and ask how much they charge.

swingaloo

Thank you all. I am going to phone and ask them but I just wanted a sort of ballpark figure so I know if what they charge is reasonable or not before I do. 

Penguin_

£14 for a prescription from my vets.

FlorayG

They can charge whatever they want. I pay £25, still works out massively cheaper than buying from the vet. When you ask for a prescription ask how long it covers; I thought £25 a bit much for a medication that is £50 a bottle, but when I saw it the vet had made it valid for three bottles