Feb 04 2009
When your pet needs a Rx (prescription)… do you really need a vet visit???
So, your pet has been seen by a vet recently but needs a refill on the prescription, or maybe is just having a recurring issue which was treated well in the past with a certain medication. Do you really need a vet visit and all of its associated costs? Not necessarily.
Being a prescription item, it is only legal to get the prescription as well as refills from the veterinarian who has examined and diagnosed your pet. However, what you can do is use online pharmacies, of which there are several. What you need to do is just call your vet instead of making the appointment and let them know you need a prescription for the refill either faxed directly to the company or to you to have it sent from where you order, or speak to your vet directly and tell them the problem at hand if you’ve been seen recently, and they can let you know if an exam is necessary again.
Online pharmacies are quite convenient for many people who do not want to travel to get their meds, and can many times (though not always) be cheaper.
Here are just a sampling of online pet pharmacies:
http://www.petcarerx.com/PCRX/Default.aspx?upi=0&company=Overture+Free+Shipping&id=1448
Christine, LVT
Just a note on another way to save on some pet prescriptions …
My old guy Horace has been taking Methimazole for thyroid for some time - and since it’s the same pill as is used for humans, it’s available at regular pharmacies. I watch for special promotions that local stores offer (often in the form of gift cards when you transfer a prescription or get a new prescription) and shift his prescription from place to place to take advantage of savings. Really helps the budget!