In-House Prescriptions

We can fill many prescriptions right here in our clinic for your convenience. Please allow up to 2 business days for us to prepare your pet’s medication.

If we need to special order it, we’ll let you know right away.

Online Pharmacies

We’re happy to work with the online pharmacy of your choice. However, we strongly recommend using our trusted online pharmacy. It’s directly backed by veterinary professionals and ensures:

  • Safe, properly stored, and authentic medications
  • Correct dosages and formulations tailored for your pet
  • Clear sourcing and reliable shipping
  • Manufacturer Guarantees

Some large online pet pharmacies—even well-known ones—do not disclose where their medications come from, and we cannot confidently verify the safety or effectiveness of those products. Making sure your pet’s medication comes from a trusted source is very important!

When you order through our online pharmacy or pick up medications at our clinic, they are often covered by a manufacturer guarantee that will often cover the price of treatment in case of product failure.

Written Prescriptions

We’re also happy to provide you with a written prescription that you can take to the pharmacy of your choice. Just a heads-up: not all human pharmacies carry pet-specific medications, so we recommend giving them a quick call first to make sure they have it in stock or can order it for you.

Let us know if you have any questions—we’re always here to help!

Controlled Substances

At Summit Veterinary Care, we take the dispensing of controlled substances seriously and strictly follow all federal and Virginia state regulations to ensure the safety of your pets and compliance with the law. Controlled substances are categorized into schedules (I–V) based on their potential for abuse and medical use, with Schedule II drugs being the most tightly regulated. Due to these regulations, we are required to conduct more frequent follow-up exams and monitoring when your pet is prescribed certain medications, especially those in higher schedules. Schedule II prescriptions—such as some pain medications—must be issued via a written prescription and cannot be refilled or sent electronically. Medications classified under Schedules III through V may be dispensed in-house, electronically, or with a written prescription. We appreciate your understanding as we follow these guidelines to ensure responsible and legal care for your pet.

FAQ

Yes! If you’d prefer to use a different pharmacy, we can provide a written prescription for you to pick up or have sent directly to your pharmacy of choice.

We recommend requesting a refill at least 5–7 days before your pet runs out of medication to allow time for processing, shipping (if applicable), or ordering from suppliers.

Yes. By law, a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR) is required to prescribe medication. That means your pet typically needs to have been examined within the past year. For some medications or conditions, more frequent check-ins may be required.

Yes. We can approve requests submitted by your online pharmacy, or you can request a written script to upload or mail to them. However, please note that processing times vary by pharmacy, and we recommend using our online pharmacy for the most streamlined service.

Some medications require compounding (e.g., flavored liquids, specific dosages). We work with trusted veterinary compounding pharmacies and can help coordinate this when needed.

Yes. There are certain medications we don’t carry or prescribe due to safety concerns, manufacturer restrictions, or lack of veterinary-approved formulations. If that’s the case, we’ll help guide you to a safe alternative or a reliable source.

Unfortunately, we cannot accept returns on prescription medications—even if unopened—due to strict regulations on medication handling and safety. Please contact us if you’re unsure whether to fill a prescription.

Stop giving the medication immediately and call us as soon as possible. If it’s after hours and the reaction seems serious (vomiting, collapse, breathing trouble), please seek emergency veterinary care right away.

Sometimes. While some human medications can be used in pets, the dosage, formulation, and inactive ingredients can vary. Never give your pet a human medication without veterinary guidance—it could be dangerous.