Specialized care just for cats!

Florida Veterinary Prescription law under House Bill89/Florida Statutes s.474.224 effective 7/1/26

Florida law gives the veterinary client the option to 

1.  Receive a prescription for medication that can be filled at the pharmacy of your choice. The prescription must be written with the signed copy provided directly to the client or electronically transmitted directly to the pharmacy when available. 

OR: 

2. Have your prescription filled at the veterinary establishment if we are able to fill the medication.

Exceptions

• Emergency      situations where immediate medication is necessary to prevent suffering or      save an animal’s life.
• Certain      controlled substances regulated by federal or state law are exempt from      these disclosure requirements

So, what does this mean for you?  This DOES NOT mean that you cannot purchase your pet’s medication from outside/online pharmacies.  However, we must issue handwritten prescriptions (free of charge directly to you, the pet owner).  This ensures two things for you.  One, that you can take your prescription and get it filled at any pharmacy that you feel is best for you and your pet.  And two, that the information that is given on the prescription is accurate.  You will need to contact the pharmacy that you are choosing and determine what their policy is on written prescriptions.  Each one has their own policy on processing written prescriptions.  To prevent lapses in dosing your pet’s medication you may need to plan ahead. If we receive a request from an outside/online pharmacy, we will contact you once a written prescription is ready to be picked up.  Please be patient if making prescription requests close to the weekend.   

Third Party Online Pharmacy Policy 

If you choose to get your pet’s medications from a third-party online pharmacy, we are happy to provide a written prescription per law for you to pick up, just as your doctor supplies you with a written prescription.  Per Florida Law, we are not allowed to email or snail mail prescriptions to clients or pharmacies, nor are we allowed to authorize prescriptions via phone.  Many online pharmacies are claiming that we are being difficult or refused a prescription.  This is simply not true - we are following Florida State Laws.   It is your responsibility to ensure that your prescription is sent, filled, labeled, shipped and used correctly.  Please be aware that most online pharmacies require the original prescription be mailed to them.  We advise that you to keep a copy for your records and ensure that you receive the correct medication with the correct dosing instructions. 

If your pet needs a medication, the Florida Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners stipulates that there must be a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR).  This means that in order for us to be able to fill any prescriptions, Dr. Norrell needs to have examined your animal within the past 12 months.  

Some medications require follow up appointments and/or lab work to help monitor the response and risks associated with the use of the medication.   

Below are some helpful links regarding prescriptions and choosing a pharmacy. https://www.avma.org/prescriptions-and-pharmacies-pet-owners-faq    

https://www.fda.gov/drugs/quick-tips-buying-medicines-over-internet/besaferx-know-your-online-pharmacy    

Most food and medication prescriptions can be filled here at the clinic or through our online stores (Purina and/or Hill’s prescription diets).  Recently, we have seen an increased demand for home delivery services for your pet’s prescription food and medications.  We completely understand the convenience and the safety this provides your family.   Unfortunately, due to this increased demand we have been inundated with calls and/or emails (we no longer have a fax) that are clogging up our lines and preventing our clients from gaining access to our services.   If a prescription needs to be filled through a local outside pharmacy (Walgreens, Walmart, CVS etc.) or Wedgewood, it can still be done via our clinic portal with Wedgewood, or written script (per Florida Law).    

As a small business, we do our best to have competitive pricing, but we do understand that sometimes there is better pricing elsewhere and when everyone is living on a budget sometimes even small amounts can make the difference.  If you like the convenience of ordering online and having your pet’s prescription diets delivered to your home but want the peace of mind knowing that your pet’s food is coming from a reputable source and want to support your local small business, we have accounts for veterinary prescription diets that works directly with our clinic and the manufacturers of prescription diets.  We have accounts with Hill’s Science Diet and Purina, which offer competitive pricing and online rebates and discounts.  Links to order prescription diets are located above.  You can also contact our office and ask about rebates for medications for which you are interested.  Often, we have rebates from the manufacturers that make purchasing medication directly from us cheaper than ordering online.   We are invested and care for your pet’s overall wellbeing. Please contact us with any questions or concerns regarding your pet’s individualized care and needs.  We appreciate your understanding and look forward to our continued partnership to get the best care for your furry family members.  

The staff at Gulf Coast Scratching Post Cat Hospital