How does getting prescriptions for flea/worm treatment work?

[QueenStromba]

The vet said that Rice only needs deworming and flea treatment once every six months since she's an indoor cat and there haven't been any other cats living here. She's due them in about 3 weeks.

Do I just ring up the surgery and say that I want X worming tablets and Y flea treatment?

I know that Stronghold is the current recommended flea treatment - what should I ask for with regards to worming?

Stronghold does worming as well.

Our vet will only give a prescription for Stronghold if he has seen the cat recently. And it's £23 for a consultation .

Stronghold does roundworm but no others, I usually use milbemax for worming. In our vets you can just pop in and get flea and worm over the counter, but it depends when your cat was last weighed and your vets policy on giving flea and wormer without weighing your cat. Our vets is dogs need to be weighed every 3 months and cats every 6 to make sure the correct dosage is given.

He saw her in April. Would that be recently enough? So I can just ring up and say I'd like some Stronghold and Milbemax for Rice?

The practice will have a policy regarding written prescriptions and when they can be given related to how recently the pet has been seen. They are allowed to charge for this prescription so check that the online cost plus the prescription cost is less than what your vet charges.

I was probably just going to get it from the vet anyway since she only needs it twice a year - does that mean she doesn't need a prescription?

I would have thought that having seen her in April would be enough this time round - give them a buzz and ask.

If you're getting them from the vet anyway, the prescription will be implicit. (They'll - say- get vet authorisation, record it on their drugs record and Rice's file and it will probably (like my own vet) have to be signed off by one or two authorised signatories.)

While you're on the phone, why not ask them about the charge for a prescription though? Then you can do comparisons with online providers. Remember that you'll be taking her in annually anyway though for her MOT and booster shots.

If you buy from the vet then no separate prescription is needed.

Presumably you can't just turn up and buy it - you need to ring them up first?

Practicalities and all. They would have to have it authorized by someone and you might turn up at lunchtime when there wasn't a person to hand. (Or there was an emergency or something and everyone appropriate was in surgery.) You could have a long wait.

It's safer to phone first, I think, and then they can have it all done and ready for you.