Understanding Veterinary Prescriptions – A Guide
Ordering
Products that require a veterinary prescription are clearly marked on our website. These products can only be purchased from our site with an accompanying veterinary prescription provided by your pet’s veterinary surgeon.
You can provide the prescription to us in a number of ways:
- Upload your prescription during the checkout process
- Send your prescription to us via the post
- Use an existing prescription that is already on file
Once we are in possession of your veterinary prescription and it has been authorised, we will process and dispatch your order. For more information about delivery please click here.
For orders containing both veterinary prescription medicines and non-veterinary prescription medicines (such as food, flea combs, joint supplements), these will be dispatched together on receipt and authorisation of the veterinary prescription.
Please note, it is a criminal offence to tamper with a written prescription. Any persons found submitting an amended or fraudulent veterinary prescription will be reported to the relevant authorities and a Misuse Fee of £25.00 will be charged.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I need a Veterinary Prescription?
Certain pet medicines carry a legal classification, which, means they can only be prescribed by a qualified Veterinary Surgeon (much in the same way that a Doctor prescribes human medicine). These medicines are known as Prescription Only Medicines – Veterinary or POM-V for short. If you chose to purchase POM-V medicines from an alternative source, you will require a written Veterinary Prescription from the Veterinary Surgeon who looks after your pet.
Is it safe to buy my pets medicines online?
Definitely! However, we would always recommend that you use an approved supplier. The governing body for Veterinary Medicines in the UK (the Veterinary Medicines Directorate or VMD) have a scheme called the Accredited Internet Retailer Scheme. Any online supplier endorsed by this scheme has been rigorously checked by the VMD and satisfies stringent checks to ensure the safe and secure supply of veterinary medicines to pet owners in the UK. For more details and to find a list of the accredited suppliers in the UK click here
Will my vet charge me for a prescription?
Yes, most vets will make a small nominal fee for writing a prescription for your pet’s medication. Most owners will still make a considerable saving by purchasing their veterinary medicines online.
Example:
- Buddy, a 4 year old Golden Retriever suffers with Atopic Dermatitis.
- Buddy is prescribed Atopica 100mg Capsules, one tablet every other day to treat the condition
- Buddy has a check up with his vet every 4 months
- At each check up, the vet writes a prescription for 60 Atopica tablets or 4 months’ supply
What is a repeat prescription?
A repeat prescription is a written prescription that can be used more than once. If your pet is on long term medication or preventative treatment, and is stable, your vet may be happy to provide you with a prescription that will last until your next check-up. This is usually between 3 – 6 months. Your vet may mark somewhere on the prescription ‘This prescription may be repeated X amount of times’ or simply write the prescription for a sufficient quantity that will last until your next scheduled check-up. It is important to note, that unless stated by the vet, you do NOT have to order the entire quantity at once. The important thing to note is that the full allowance must be used prior to the expiry date. For more information about prescription expiry dates, please see the FAQ below.
To see if your prescription is a repeat, check your last invoice. If the invoice states that the prescription is complete, you will need to obtain a new prescription from your vet. If the invoice states a remaining balance and expiry date, you may use the prescription again.
How long does a prescription last?
A standard veterinary prescription is valid for up to 6 months from the date signed on the prescription. A vet may specify a shorter expiry date; however, this should be for clinical reasons only. The only exception is for controlled drugs, and in these cases a veterinary prescription is typically valid for 28 days from the date signed on the prescription.
Do you accept non UK prescriptions?
It is our policy not to accept prescriptions from outside of the UK. Due to Veterinary Medicine Regulations (VMD) we must, as responsibe providers be satisfied the prescription for the product to be supplied is valid.
