be carefull with chemists, they're really not supposed to sell medication for animals. (code of ethics or something like that, tell them it's for yourself)

As long as it was prescribed by a vet it is ok with my chemist.

Two (?) years ago, the UK Government signed up to a ridiculous piece of EU rubbish which purported to increase choice and reduce costs for animal keepers. Its actual effect was to prevent vets from prescribing human meds for animals. This, supposedly, was to prevent drug residues from reaching the food chain (though, IMO, anyone who eats dog deserves all the residues he/she gets ).

For my Snorri-dog's epilepsy, our vet used to give us a prescription which we used to get filled at the local Boots - it cost about £6 for 4 months' worth. Now, he's not allowed to prescribe, and has to supply the veterinary version (exactly the same) at 8p per tablet!

I can remember banging on about it quite a lot at the time (probably bored the c**p out of everyone)

One case where there was overcharging, IMO, was with my Kali's Vivitonin. Vet price, £46 per pack (30 tabs). Net price (flown from Tahiti!) £58 for 3 packs (online).

I take on board what Mummy2Max said about the overheads (of course there are overheads), but all the vets in our practice always have shiny new cars and show no signs of being hungry.........

Snorri

Perhaps the price is higher, but you are getting more when you buy your pets meds from your vet. You are getting the assurance that the dosage is correct. You have access to trained vet nurses/techs and doctors if you have a question about your pets medication. Your vets will have your pets entire medical history in front of them to consider before prescribing a medication to rule out certain interactions that can occure. Your vet, and only your vet, will know when and how much exactly to tweak dosages to their most therapeutic levels. Your vet can assure you that the medications you are recieving are in fact, not expired, not counterfeit and have been stored and handled properly.

So getting medications from your vet means you are getting more than just the meds, you are getting experience and peace of mind.

My vets will match the price of the online pharmacies if we bring them proof of cost. Proof enough for me that they have my animals best interest at heart. Its not about the money.

from what i have learnt re tobys drugs they are the same as human and you can get them from boots with a slip.
plus it is cheaper over the counter than any online or vets.
some are just dog medicines which have to be got from a vet.

I use a local vets for medical treatment and vacs, pay less providing I pay on the day. my vet also charges less for medications than my neighbours vet in the same town. For health tests ie hip/elbow scoring I go to a specialist apart from it being cheaper they do it under sedation not GA like my own vets. Wormers I sourse in the UK, preventative flea/mite spot ons I buy in Aus dont need a script like you do for the spot ons that treat mtes in the UK, for cosequin DS my vet advised me to buy online used to source in the UK for £36 for 120 tabs, now get from the US $69.99 for 250 tabs plus $3.99 del. I dont have Insurance as untill recently most of my bills are health tests and preventative treatment. First Gsd that as cost me over a £1000 to date, the lines I buy dont normaly have health issues.

My vet charges £38 for 100ml of Metacam which I get for Roxy's arthritis. Petmeds charge me £23 delivered!
I get the prescription from the vet, and Roxy gets blood tests when needed, and then buy it £15 cheaper.
Since doing this I've noticed my vet has become a lot more distant with me - not as chatty. I have no objections to anyone making a profit, I just feel that a mark up of 65% a little excessive.
The problem (for the vet) now is, I will source all other long-term drugs outside of his practice and my vet only has himself to blame for this, sadly.

Well put Vicky

i agree some vets are in the money-making business, but not all of them. folk should think hard before they buy a puppy, can we afford it ??

i think it was the london school of economics that did a survey last year on how much it costs to keep a dog for life. the breed the chose was a rottie, by coincidence, they calculated that for a life of 10 yrs it would cost £20,000 for feeding,vets bills etc, all were taken into account !! scary init !!

Grt post Nero. When you do an accumulator, looking after pets properly is a lot of money.