If you have a pet that requires medication, you are entitled to ask your vet for a written prescription and order the medication online from us. Although you’ll need to pay for the written prescription, the cost of this compared to the amount you’ll save on the price of the medication with us will make it more than worth your while.
Step-by-step Guide: How to Order Prescribed Pet Medication Online
Step 1
Ask your vet for a written prescription.
Step 2:
Register your pet’s details with us. Head to the ‘My Account’ section at the top of the Animed Direct website to do this.
We have to match any medication your order with the correct animal. If you have multiple pets you’ll be ordering for, you’ll need to register all of them.
Step 3:
Place your order and send us your prescription. There are three ways you can do this:
- Post: Write your order number on the top of your prescription and send it to: Prescriptions, Animed Direct Ltd, CVS House, Owen Road, Diss, Norfolk, IP22 4ER
- Upload: Scan or photograph your prescription and upload it with your order. This is the easiest way, and you’ll be prompted while ordering.
- Email: Send an email with your order number and a photo or scan of your prescription to prescriptions@animeddirect.co.uk
You’ll find more help and advice, including screen grabs of the upload process here.
Top Tips for a Smooth Process
Sometimes prescriptions can be delayed or rejected because there is a problem with them. Below are the most common reasons why and how to avoid them, for a quick, easy process.
Check the prescription is in date
Before sending us your prescription, make sure it is in date. By law the maximum length of a prescription is 6 months, so you’ll need to return to your vet for a new, valid one and pay again once it has expired.
Also ensure you don’t leave it until the last day of your prescription’s validity before ordering! If we receive orders on the last day of the prescription’s date, our system stops the order and our vet team have to manually check it to release it. To avoid delays, order a few days before the date expires.
Make sure you have a new prescription if you’ve already bought your allocation on your last one
You’ll need to ask your vet for a new prescription if you’ve already bought your allocation.
For pets on long term medication, vets can write repeat prescriptions to be used a number of times over 6 months, saving you time and money. For example, if your cat requires 1 tube of eye ointment per month, a repeat prescription for six months treatment would state 5 repeats. This includes the original prescription plus the five times it can be repeated.
Check if your vet has given any special instructions
For example, your vet might specify that you need to post the original, rather than email a scan or photo.
If you post your prescription, send the original
Prescriptions sent in the post must be the original, not a photocopy.
Check with your vet if your pet’s prescription is for Controlled Drugs
If it is, you’ll need to post us the original document. For Controlled Drugs, we can’t accept a photocopy or picture of the prescription sent via email or upload.
Bear the postal time in mind when placing your order.
Do not send two prescriptions in one image
If you have multiple prescriptions and you’re sending them to us as photos, make sure there is only one prescription in each photo. If you don’t, these have to be cropped into individual prescriptions by our team which causes delays.
Only upload a prescription once
Sometimes orders are delayed because customers accidentally send a duplicate of a prescription already on file, or they upload the same prescription multiple times.
Make sure the photo of your prescription shows the whole page and is clear and easy to read
If we can’t read it, we can’t process it. We need to be 100% about what is being prescribed and for which animal, and we need to be able to see that the prescription is valid.
Check you’ve uploaded the right attachment
You might be surprised to hear of some of the things we’ve received from customers in the past instead of a valid prescription! We’ve had everything from pictures of product packaging and labels from a previous dispensing, to photos of pets, bank statements, electricity bills and NHS appointment letters!
Only send your prescription!
Order in good time
Allow plenty of time so that you don’t run out of necessary pet medication. See our usual delivery times here. You have the option to pay for express delivery if required.
Don’t forget we provide a huge range of non-prescription pet products including dog food, supplements, and accessories, as well as cat food, supplements and accessories, along with small animal and horse products from the industry’s leading brands. Plus, get free delivery on all UK mainland orders over £39.