How to buy pet medication online
The health and wellbeing of your pet is your priority – and your responsibility. From routine veterinary visits to urgent treatment, pet medication and prescriptions are often needed for their care.
On this page, we’ll guide you through the benefits of buying online pet medication, and how to buy pet medication online safely, whilst also explaining the importance of always consulting your vet first.
Pet healthcare costs and convenience
The two main benefits of buying pet treatment online are the convenience and cost savings of doing so.
Pet healthcare convenience
Unlike a lot of veterinary centres, online pharmacies are open 24/7. You can order pet medication or pet prescriptions online wherever you are, and it will be delivered directly to you.
If you already have a valid pet prescription from your vet, many online pharmacies can set up automatic refills, or make reordering the prescription a much simpler process.
However: if your pet needs urgent treatment for an illness, injury or specific condition, go directly to your vet, for immediate treatment that can help with discomfort, pain and distress (find your nearest vet).
Pet healthcare costs
The costs of caring for a pet, or multiple pets, can vary, especially in this cost of living crisis. Online pharmacies can alleviate some of that cost as they have the benefit of buying in bulk, and can pass on savings to their customers. Pet prescriptions are typically cheaper compared to traditional veterinary clinic prices. This is especially useful for pets who need long-term medication and pet prescriptions.
If you have pet insurance, this means that less of your vet fee limit is used by medication costs, and it can instead go towards any other vet care needs.
However: be wary of medicines that are exceptionally cheap, as this could be a sign of counterfeit or substandard products.
Learn how to choose reputable and reliable online pharmacies below.
How to buy pet medication online
Choosing a reputable online pharmacy
When looking for a legitimate online pharmacy to safely order pet medication, prescriptions and treatment from, look out for the following:
- Do they ask for a pet prescription? If they don’t, don’t use them. It is a legal requirement for the pharmacy to ask for a valid prescription with your order.
- Do they have a RCVS registered pharmacist available (meaning a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons)? If they do, that’s good. Look for information about their qualifications and how to contact them for advice.
- Does the site clearly display the VMD AIRS logo (Veterinary Medicines Directorate Accredited Internet Retailer Scheme)? If it does, that’s good. As an extra check, verify this on the VMD’s official register.
- Does the price of medication seem as expected? If they don’t, be wary. If prices appear to be ‘too’ cheap, the medicines could be counterfeit or even dangerous.
Finally, check that the website is safe, with secure payments, clear terms and conditions, and a business name, address and contact details.
Buying pet medication online safely
Before ordering any pet medication or treatment, your pet will first need to be examined by a vet, in person, in order to get a prescription. It’s not legal for an online vet to do so.
If the vet has said medication is needed, ask for a written prescription. They’ll prescribe the right drugs and dosage. Most vets charge for this (which can be claimed from most pet insurance, but you’ll need a receipt!).
Once you have your prescription, you can place your order from your chosen online pharmacy:
- Select the medication you need
- Upload a photo or PDF of the prescription.
Ordering pet medication online is completely safe when you order from a reputable online pharmacy. The pharmacist will verify your order and prescription, then check the medication and dosage.
However, when the medicine arrives, we advise you to check the medicine carefully against the prescription. If you’re unsure, please contact the online pharmacy or your vet.
Always consult your vet
When it comes to your pet’s health and welfare, the first and most important step is to always consult your vet. Work closely with them and listen to their advice – they know your pet’s health history.
For repeat prescriptions, your veterinary practice may need two or three days to prepare them, and could charge for the preparation (most pet insurers will reimburse for this cost, also).
You can discuss medication with the vet, to see if there are other, cheaper pet medications or alternative treatment plans that they recommend.
It’s important to consult your vet throughout the process of giving your pet their medication, too. Keep an eye on them, as you may need to talk to your vet about how your pet is responding to the drugs.
Non-urgent pet treatment
For non-urgent online pet treatment and advice for fleas, ticks and worms, find out more here:
Or visit our shop:
Frequently asked questions
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Contact your vet to schedule an appointment. At the end of the consultation, if your vet is suggesting medication, ask for a written prescription – you’ll need this for online ordering.
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No. It’s wise to shop around as some online pharmacies offer better prices than others. If the online treatments and medications are very cheap, take care and make other checks about that site, as the drugs could be counterfeit.
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Yes, most vets will charge for a prescription. However, the charge must be reasonable. Most pet insurance lets you claim for the prescription charge, as well as the medication, so check your policy. Don’t forget to get a receipt.
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Yes, it’s as safe to buy your pet’s medication from a reputable online pharmacy as it is from your vet. After you’ve put in your order, a pharmacist will check your pet’s prescription before the medication is dispatched. This means you can’t accidentally order the wrong medication or dosage.
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Online pharmacies may reject prescriptions for specific reasons. Here are some of the most common.
- Out-of-date prescription. Make sure your prescription is up to date. If it has expired, you need to check with your vet if a new one is still needed.
- Early reordering. Some pharmacies reject orders if you’re requesting another dose of treatment too soon. Follow the recommended dosage intervals.
- Unregistered RCVS. The pharmacy may reject your order if the vet’s Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) reference is not valid.
- Prescription form errors. Mistakes on the prescription form (such as incorrect dosages or missing information) will need to be corrected. The pharmacy will contact you and your vet.