Prescription Medication Policy

PetDerm’s Prescription Medication Policy

PetDerm strives to promote consistent and transparent communication regarding prescriptions, medication dispensing, and the use of external pharmacies to our clients.

Our goal is to prioritize patient safety, quality control, and confident home care, while respecting client choice and maintaining Alberta Veterinary Medical Association (ABVMA) regulatory standards. Whenever clinically appropriate, PetDerm prefers to dispense prescribed medications directly to the client.

If You Choose an External Pharmacy: Clients may choose to obtain medications from a pharmacy of their choice.

What PetDerm Can Do:

  • Provide a hard‑copy prescription directly to the client, or
  • Fax a prescription directly to the pharmacy designated by the client.
  • A medical administrative fee will be charged for up to three prescriptions.

This fee reflects the time required for:

  • Accurate prescription preparation.
  • Medical record verification.
  • Communication and clear documentation,

What PetDerm Cannot Do:

  • Assist clients in finding, contacting, or recommending pharmacies. The ownness is on the client to find an appropriate pharmacy.
  • Confirm medication availability, pricing, compounding, or formulation.
  • Manage communication issues between the client and the pharmacy.

Prescription changes must be handled carefully to protect patient safety and medical record accuracy.

Changes Made During an Appointment:

  • May be discussed, adjusted, and prescribed as part of the in-clinic visit. Please communicate to a PetDerm team member if you would like PetDerm to dispense the medication or you would like a hard-copy of the prescription.

Prescription changes requested outside an appointment, you may choose either to

  • Send the prescription to an external pharmacy (refer to section When Clients Choose an External Pharmacy), or
  • Have the medication dispensed directly through PetDerm.

We do not send revised external prescriptions without appropriate clinical review.

This approach supports:

  • Clear documentation
  • Safe dosing decisions
  • Consistent care standards

Last Updated: 2026-07-01

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