Hi. Just been to the vets...Saffi my gsp been diagnosed with an upper respiratory tract infection. (Sore throat) Antibiotics prescribed. Total bill £63 for 20 tablets, £39 for consultation! Does anyone know the cost of a prescription so that the meds can be bought online. I should have asked the receptionist but I was in shock!

OMG !!!
Prescription charges vary depending on the Vets, mine is about £12 some are £20+, also mine will do up to 6 repeats on it but some will only do 1 lot then you need another presciption.
You may have to pay for another consult to get one, depends how money-grabbing they are. :-(

Thanks for your reply. I think mine are in it for the money... but at least I find a visit does give me peace of mind. It’s annoying to find that online the tablets are £1.38 per 20 and that I have paid over to odds at £63!!! How do they justify that?!

Mine is £14 for prescription  and usually £30 for consult

I think they must have seen me coming! I’m thinking though that I may have to wait a week for online tablets to be delivered as it is I have them now to administer right away! Thanks for your reply. Also if it makes my dog well they’re worth every penny!

What I have done several times with A/Bs if vet suggests 2 weeks+ for meds is to ask for just 3 - 4 days (depending what day I see vet) and then a prescription for the rest of the course, pref with repeat in case we get 'well we will carry on for another 10 days'

Now that sounds a good idea. She’s had her dose tonight and they seem to have knocked her out....brill ‘cos it’s like world war 2 outside tonight!

Just ordered some medication online for a friend who doesn't do the internet. Ordered them yesterday & they were delivered by Royal Mail normal 1st class post today. If you shop around you will find some really excellent pharmacies that deliver almost by return.

Thank you I will look into that.

Although some online meds. require a prescription, there's often a huge difference between what an online company will charge and what the vet charges.   And in that it could suggest a huge rip off going on - plus the VAT charge too!

Mine charges me £18 for the prescription for Metacam, which I buy online and then the cost of the drug online.   But he usually does that without seeing my hound, so no consult. charge which would be somewhere in the £30s.  Considering they charge over £60 for Metacam (big bottle) as I recall, it's still way cheaper to buy online.   And my vet knows that!!

My vet told me (and I trust what she says) that the cost price to her practice is much more than the online price plus VAT. So they can’t compete, having said that some do inflate their prices to a ridiculous degree. The pricing issue would seem to start at the manufacturer. Even with a prescription (£16) it works out expensive with four dogs.

my vet said much the same RozzieRetriver and I believe them . She explained a little more and if I got this right there is some sort of control regarding price they can buy at .
Maybe some do inflate the prices but their overheads are far greater than any online company and we  know that getting lots of things these days online is far cheaper than buying from shops . Sad for our retail market but often true

I use prescriptions for long term meds as yes its far cheaper but if you need a short course of something and now , often its better to get from the vet after a consult.
I guess its up to us to be aware of this and make a choice accordingly.

> I use prescriptions for long term meds as yes its far cheaper but if you need a short course of something and now , often its better to get from the vet after a consult.

For the most part, I only use this option for the Metacam my boy needs, ongoing.    I have however, bought things like shampoo, ear cleaning preparations and worming meds, (off prescription) online.

You are right - my choice really.

>I use prescriptions for long term meds as yes its far cheaper but if you need a short course of something and now , often its better to get from the vet after a consult.

Plus of course legally the vet cannot issue a prescription without having examined the animal that is legally "under his care". If a condition is serious enough to need a prescription medication you must see the vet in the first instance.

Mist definitely  In our case vet sees cat regularly and then gives prescription  timescales within the law

To be honest antibiotics aren't of much use with infections like this, most respiratory tract infections are viral, vets give you antibiotics to make you feel better, and to make it look like they're doing something but it will just run it's course. I don't take dogs that are coughing or have sore throats to the vet, I use benylin sometimes if they're really bad, it just goes away itself. Most important thing is to keep your dog away from other dogs so you don't spread it around.

Yes chaumsong I agree with you and also try to treat minor problems (cuts, itchy skin etc) but in this case Saffi had rapid breathing and what sounded like croup! I was worried it was something to do with her heart. Having seen the vet this has been ruled out giving me peace of mind at least! (But at a cost!)
I discussed the cost issue with the head receptionist today and she as much said the cost of the overheads and the fact that the vets have to use a certain supplier puts the price high.

Next time (Hopefully not in the near future ) I shall be wise to this issue. My vets charge £20 for prescription!
Thanks for your response.

> My vets charge £20 for prescription!

I have a horrible feeling that sometimes, knowing they are being 'undercut' by online drug stores, they are upping their prescription charges!!  So if this continues, it's going to be swings and roundabouts, cost-wise.

Mine only give me a one off 'script each time, which is annoying!   So I have to pay them their fee each time.