Pongo has a problem with recurrent ear infections - smelly, stinky ones. It is about once every couple of months, he will start shaking his head and his ears smell yeasty; there is a thick black gunk in them. The vet gave us Surolan ear drops, which we use on him when the problem crops up. Our 15ml bottle is nearly empty. Rather than go back to the vet for more, I was thinking of buying some online (much more convenient, and possibly cheaper). But I'm suspicious of the quality / trustworthiness of online sites. Do any of you buy repeat meds online, and if so which sites do you use? Or should I stick to getting it from my vet?
I always used medicanimal.com for my old lab who needed Surolan and other meds. Great service and a good company I think. Sam
I've used Vet UK in the past for meds - never had a problem, although delivery has got a bit slower recently.
There are many good companies to order from online although you may need a vet prescription for some items. VioVet used to be really good but service is nowhere near as good now, zooplus is usually very good. I've also used medicanimal and vet uk but not recently. You need need to look out for minimum order values for free delivery as well as they do vary.
Just checked Viovet and they require a prescription for the Surolan so medicanimal and vet uk probably do as well. Couldn't find the drops on zooplus but they ship from Germany to the UK anyway.
Counterfeit and outdated meds can be a problem. Some manufacturer's websites have places where they detail what to look for in legitimate packaging and where they put the Best By date. You should check whether you will have backup from the manufacturer if the med fails or is bad. I'm in Canada, your rules may be different, but here are some things that apply to me, for Rx items. I must have the Rx. The place I buy from must have a licensesed Vet or Pharmacist working for that company IN Canada, ONe did not, I reported it to the Province of Manitoba and I believe it is now shut down. I will be covered for damages if I buy from a properly accredited on line site but apparently the same manufacturer could have different rules for purchasures in the U.S., who must buy from a Vet. I have not bought any items on line for years so things could have changed for me, but they are still things you might want to know. Also be aware that your Vet may charge a fee to write a Rx. Mine did, for all the animals that were not at an appt. and it was still much less money to buy on line. The on line site I used here in ONtario was also a bricks and mortar pharmacy and for my first purchase I drove to the city to buy from them. All my next purchases were online and even with shipping and Rx writing fees from my VEt it was still cheaper to buy on-line. Good luck, the money savings can be significant.
I buy meds from my vet if he prescribes them there and then - I think the mark up on meds made by vets is ok, and I'm happy to pay it. They keep a stock of meds in, so they can hand them to me when I need them, and I'd expect a mark up on anything supplied by me (maintaining a stock of meds probably isn't cheap, and everyone has overheads to pay). I wouldn't ask my vet for a prescription so I could buy stuff online though, I think that's just cheeky. I expect to pay for his expertise in checking prescriptions are still ok for my dog. If I thought my vet was over charging, I'd just find another vet. For things that I use all the time (ear cleaner for example) and don't need a prescription for, I do buy it online. I buy from Amazon, because I think that Amazon do take steps to make sure the site stays free of scammers, and I often find the things I want are supplied from a company called Animal Dispensaries. I have never had a problem. That said, the price difference is only about £1 - so it doesn't matter much. It's just more convenient for Amazon to deliver, than to find time to call down to the vet in office hours. By the way, ear drops prescribed by my regular vet NEVER cleared up Charlie's ear problems, but a trip to a specialist dermatologist did.
Interestingly, I had just this conversation this week with my vet. Been trying to trim expenses down (OH thinks that being a Tour Manager/photographer will eventually start paying wages ) I have used petdrugsonline.co.uk for a while for my wormers/flea/tick preparations on the recommendation of a colleague of mine who used to breed boxers. I found them quick reliable and easy to use. At our routine visit to our vet last week I discussed with her whether a private prescription for our NSAID (it is Fircoxib/Previcox) as well as our Bravecto was a good idea, and she felt it was as long as we used a reputable uk site. She had a look at the costs online when we were there. For them to give me a box of 30 Previcox tablets it was around £54. This would last Lilly 2 months. Online I could purchase it for £21 PLUS £10.70 which I paid the vet for a private prescription. Bravecto from the vet last time was about £45 if I recall correctly. Online it is £18.54. Even with the £10.70 prescription charge, clearly much cheaper. She says they cannot possibly compete with "a man in a warehouse with some padded envelopes". She was quite happy to give me the private prescriptions however, and said she would do the same if it were her. I feel mildly guilty I am doing the vets out of their earnings, but hey, we all got to make savings. It is important though to bear in mind my dog is being regularly monitored when taking the prescription meds (6 monthly) and the vets are authorising the use of these meds. I still pay for the consultation and advice and a prescription charge for each item prescribed. The products I receive from them appear to be identical tablets and packaging to the ones from the vets - I have no concerns they may not be genuine. Its the first time I have done this. I don't claim for these meds off my insurance (some would say I should, but I don't and won't). If you want a recommendation for who to use for online purchases, I can certainly recommend https://www.petdrugsonline.co.uk/
I buy worming tablets, Advantix etc from a different vet to mine, because my vet is ridiculously expensive in comparison. I'm more than happy to pay extra for the service that I get from them - for example, I paid about three times as much for Willow to be spayed, but they did thorough tests beforehand and with a lot more aftercare (forgetting about the mix-up with the medication...) - but it seems daft to pay three times as much for the exact same worming tablet I can buy just down the road.
I buy worming and flea treatments online as I'm affraid the Vet charges so much more, so why pay more when it's exactly the same product. I don't feel bad about it at all
I've used Viovet before for flea treatment. Our vet was happy to give me a prescription for a fee, he said they couldn't compete price wise with online as can't buy in a great bulk due to storage room. I use to pay about £45 plus £11 for prescription for a years supply of Stronghold for our cat online, it would have been around the same price for 3 months worth at the vets. My vets had no problem with me doing this at his yearly check and booster injection appointment.
I use http://www.petdrugsonline.co.uk for Lucan's meds, my vet charges £15 for a repeat prescription which lasts 6 mths, it works out less than half the price my vets charge. I do feel guilty about taking their trade away, but do still buy from the vet when it's covered by the insurance or for one off occasions.
