Overview
- In most cases, your vet will charge more for sub-Q supplies and therapeutic kidney foods than other sources. If you can save money on the basics, you will have money available to pay your vet for regular check ups.
- Small local pharmacies may be able to help.
- Alternatively, below are some online suppliers used by members of Tanya’s CKD Support Group.
Fluids
Hartmanns Aqupharm no. 11 or Vetivex 11 are the nearest equivalent to lactated ringers solution. Please see Subcutaneous Fluids Tips for more information on the different fluid types.
Normally a prescription is required.
Some fluids sellers have recently closed down, and many suppliers do not sell fluids, perhaps because of their weight, but fluids are available from the following:
VioVet sells Hartmann’s Aqupharm No.11 for £5.15 per litre. It also sells 250ml and 500ml bags. Delivery is free for any order over £35 regardless of weight.
Hyperdrug sells Hartmann’s Aqupharm No.11 for £5.15 per litre. It also sells 250ml and 500ml bags. Delivery is free for any order over £49 regardless of weight.
Needles
Click here to learn why Terumo needles are the best choice.
Medisave sells 100 size 20 Terumos for £3.59. Shipping is calculated based on weight, but if you are only buying 100 needles, your total cost will be around £9. Shipping is free for orders over £25 plus VAT.
MediSupplies sells 100 Terumo Agani needles in various sizes for £3.45, shipping for orders over £50 is free.
Winged Infusion Sets
Medisave sells size 23 Terumo winged infusion sets for 47p each. Other sizes are available, some of which are cheaper. Shipping is calculated based on weight, but is free for orders over £25 ex-VAT.
MediSupplies sell Terumo winged infusion sets in various sizes for 68p each. They sell a pack of 50 for £21.60. Delivery is £4.95 or free for orders over £50.
Fluid Administration Sets (Giving Sets)
Please see Subcutaneous Fluids Tips for more information on choosing an administration set.
Medisave sells a number of veterinary fluid administration sets. Shipping is calculated based on weight, but is free for orders over £25 plus VAT.
DS Medical sells fluid administration sets for £19.44 for 10. Shipping costs £4.95 but is free for orders over £75.
MedTree sells fluid administration sets for £2.39 each or ten for £18.45, with free delivery for orders over £25 plus VAT.
Veterinary Diets
Zooplus sells a number of therapeutic diets, including some German varieties, without a prescription. Delivery is free for orders over £39. I use Zooplus myself regularly and have always had good service. They also have a cheaper offshoot called Bitiba, which offers free shipping for orders over £45. Zooplus and Bitiba have websites all over Europe.
Animed Direct sells a wide variety of cat foods, including therapeutic diets, with free UK delivery for orders over £49.
Hyperdrug sells a wide variety of cat foods, including therapeutic diets. Delivery is free for any order over £49 regardless of weight.
Pets at Home sells a number of renal foods, with free delivery on orders over £40, or free delivery if sent to your local Pets at Home store.
Vet UK sells a variety of therapeutic foods online. No prescription required. Delivery is around £4.99.
Waitrose Pet sells a variety of therapeutic foods online without the need for a prescription. Delivery is free for orders over £40.
You can also ask about buying in bulk from your vet. One of our cats needed a therapeutic diet which cost US$2 per 5.5 oz can. However, when we bought a case, the price fell to US$1.40 a can.
If your cat does not like a particular therapeutic kidney food, many brands will allow you to return the food for a full refund.
Other Supplies
Many of the companies listed above also sell other supplies. Please also see the following pages:
- Phosphorus Binders — for phosphorus binders.
- Holistic Treatments — for holistic supplies such as slippery elm bark.
- Erythropoiesis Stimulating Agents — for Aranesp, Eprex or NeoRecormon.
- Appetite Loss, Nausea and Vomiting — for treatments for vomiting and nausea, such as ondansetron or famotidine.
- Medicating Your Cat — for items to help make pilling less stressful for you both, such as Pill Pockets and gelcaps.
This page last updated: 24 September 2025
Links on this page last checked: 24 September 2025