Frequently Asked Questions

Absolutely. Having paid for a consultation, a vet's refusal to provide a script because you will not be buying medication from their surgery is arguably both unethical and anti-competitive. You are not obliged to purchase medication from your vet, but may choose to part-purchase if your pet is in distress. Already dispensed amounts will be clearly indicated on the prescription. The vet may charge a fee for the prescription.

Without doubt. PetRX has taken premier legal advice and investigated the relevant laws. There is no doubt that a licensed pharmacy may lawfully dispense veterinary medication when a proper and legible script is issued by a vet. This is common practice where human medication is validly prescribed for animals. Our dispensing facilities are fully accredited.

For the majority of medication, yes — simply WhatsApp a clear photo or email us an image. Certain highly scheduled medication will require an original paper script. We will need that original in our possession before dispensing. This will be clearly flagged on the relevant product listing.

Yes, we accept prescriptions from all licensed veterinarians authorised to prescribe scheduled medication. Our fully licensed pharmacists review and verify each prescription before dispensing. Our team may contact your vet to confirm a prescription. Any fraudulent scripts will be reported immediately to your vet and the relevant authorities.

We source from the exact same South African distributors that supply your vet — we simply don't apply an unreasonable mark-up. We guarantee this. Absolutely no parallel imports, untested, or "grey market" products will ever be issued. Not only is this strictly against the law, it could harm your pet.

This depends on the price charged by your vet, which differs from practice to practice. Our best market intelligence indicates savings of anywhere between 25% and 50%. Please feel free to compare our prices against amounts historically charged by your vet for identical products.

Unlike human medication, vets are under no legal obligation to inform you a generic option exists — but we will. Generic medications contain the same active ingredients as brand-name versions and are just as safe and effective. All generics we dispense are licensed for use in South Africa and sourced from the same accredited suppliers used by your vet.

Simply WhatsApp a clear photo of the prescription to our WhatsApp number, or email us a clear image. Many vets will also email you a copy directly.

No. We will stock your basket once we have the script. This eliminates errors and allows our pharmacists to carefully check the prescription. Once your basket is filled, we will send you a detailed invoice and payment link.

Yes, that's no problem. Our system will guide you through the process. There may be a slight delay while our team loads your prescribed items. You will be sent a payment link and detailed invoice as soon as that's done.

Once your order ships, you'll receive an email with tracking information. You can also view your order status any time in the My Orders section of your account.

We accept direct online bank transfer, all major credit and debit cards, and digital payment methods. You may also pay interest-free over time using PayFlex or PayJustNow. For bank transfers, payment must reflect as cleared funds in our account before we dispense or deliver.

No. We will never diagnose or examine your pet, or provide any veterinary services — whether by telephone, email, or video call. This must be done by a registered vet.

Not all products require a prescription. Over-the-counter medications, supplements, and care products such as dog food or tick-and-flea treatments can be purchased without one. Prescription-required items are clearly marked on the site.