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Prescriptions Explained

Sleeping basset puppy, whose owner could save money on pet medication with Petscribers

23,000,000

Pets In The UK

54

% Adults Own Pets

13

% Owners Buy Online

What Is A Prescription?

When your pet needs medication, the vet will write a prescription for it. Unlike a doctor's visit, where you’d head to a pharmacy, the vet often provides the medication directly to you during your appointment or you collect it at the front desk on your way out.

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Alternatively, you can get a written prescription from the vet. This document details the medication your pet needs, so you can have it filled at any pharmacy of your choice.

Why Would I Want One?

When you get your pet’s medication during your consultation (or at the front desk afterwards), you'll pay the veterinary practice directly.

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Veterinary practices set their own prices for medications, often buying them from suppliers and then adding a mark-up before selling them to you. This mark-up can vary wildly, sometimes can be as high as 300% (so they might charge you three times what they paid).

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Many vets use this mark-up to help cover the costs of running their practice, which can make their consultation fees lower. However, this often means you’ll pay more for the medication if you buy it directly from the vet compared to getting it from another pharmacy.

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Alternatively, you can purchase medication online from a pharmacy at a fraction of the price, which can be especially cost-effective for pets on long-term treatments. And remember, written prescriptions aren't just for sick animals—you can use them for routine meds like flea and worming treatments too!

Owner high fiving their dog because they've saved money on their pet medication with Petscribers

How Do I Get One?

Since 2005, it’s been a legal requirement for all vets to provide a written prescription if requested. So, all you need to do is ask.

How Do I Use One?

Once you have a written prescription from your vet, you’ll need to choose an online pharmacy to purchase the medication. After uploading the prescription or sending it by post, the pharmacy will then dispense the medication for your pet. Just keep in mind that this process can take some time, so remember to allow for this when ordering online.

Pet owner walking four dogs, who could save money on their pet medication with Petscribers

Why Do I Need To See A Vet?

Vets can only dispense medication for pets they consider “under their care.” This is a professional responsibility and something they take very seriously. In order to be “under their care” a vet must have clinically assessed your pet. This usually means they must have seen and examined your pet. The frequency of these checks can vary: some practices might dispense certain medications with an annual check-up, while other medications may require a check every three months.

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Regular checks are crucial to ensure your pet is still on the right medication. For instance, changes in weight might require a dose adjustment, or your pet may need a different drug if their health condition changes. Remember, our pets age much faster than we do - three months for them can be like two years for us.

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