Rx for pets; support your local vet

[~~Who,Me?~~]

Warning/Disclaimer: This is one of my soapbox issues.


I got one of my local grocery store's weekly ads today, and in it I see a coupon enticing shoppers to purchase your pets' Rx at their pharmacy. I really hate to see stores and pharmacies going after this market. In addition, I'm not a fan of the online Rx for pets either.

Support your local veterinarian. Yes, many are financially well off. But did you know that the average starting salary for a veterinarian is only $40k-$50k? Any other doctor starts at 3-4x that, yet vets still have almost the same amount of medical school debt.

I've worked in the veterinary industry for several vets and they depend on that income. The markup on most of their products and services is quite minimal, compared to people medicine. By and large, veterinary medicine is still quite affordable for most of us. That's not to say we all haven't encountered a huge bill or expensive surgery along the way, but for the most part, most Americans can afford to own a pet, barring any major tragedy.

I just would hate to see vets lose this piece of their business, and have stores like Walmart eventually step in and undercut them so bad they can't compete. Buy your Rx at your vet's office. Ask them if they will price match if you find a better price online--most will. Tell them cost is an issue for you, if it is, and they may even try a different course of Tx first.

Look, I know we're all trying to get things the cheapest we can, I get that. But as far as what we do for saving money, we're usually doing it off of the backs of big chain stores and multi-billion dollar manufacturing companies. Your local 2 or 3 doctor veterinary practice does not have the profit margin to work with, that these big companies do. If you want your vet care to remain affordable in the long term, support your local veterinarian for Rx and things like Frontline.

[Doglover8180]

I didn't know grocery stores were selling pet meds now in their pharmacy... But yes, I buy mine now from the vet as well... it does cost a few dollars more but after having a friend's dog get heart worms - while on a monthly heart worm preventative (that she bought online)... I did some research and I found out that the the medicines you get from those online vet places... is not necessarily as "clean" and "pure" as what the vet sells..... The sources for those online pharmacies are often from other countries that don't have the mandatory requirements that the U.S. does.

[Rene S]

I will purchase things like antibiotics and pain medications from our vet (things I need right away or for an illness), or things like special shampoo, ear mite treatment, etc.

However, I have five regular prescriptions between our cats, and simply can't afford to buy them all through the vets. Two of our cats have accounts at Target instead.

I am not trying to slight the vet--they still get several hundred dollars from me each year in wellness visits, etc., but when the price difference is about $22 cheaper for just one medication, I can't justify spending that much more.

[kjwent]

I don't order my pets Rx online anymore. I had an argument with my vet one time about Revolution. They would not give me the prescription to mail into a nationally advertised online discount service because she said the maker only sells to vets and she had no idea where this online service was getting their meds. I called the maker, Wyeth, and spoke to a customer service rep -- and it's true -- they don't know where this online service gets the stuff either! Even though it is featured prominently in their TV and magazine ads! Not sure why Wyeth doesn't sue them.

But, on the other hand, the vet I go to sells Revolution at a very expensive price. They will actually fax my script to ANOTHER vet in town because the stuff is so much cheaper. My vet cannot explain it (duh -- call it higher markup -- or higher volume at other vet) but at least I get that much of a break.

I still get some of the meds from the drugstore or the grocery pharmacy -- I just can't afford not to. My vet is willing to separate the scripts that I can get elsewhere from the ones I fill with her.

When I had 4 cats it just was a smart shopper issue. We shop around for everything else, why wouldn't we shop around for pet meds?

Kathy

[Rene S]

Originally Posted by kjwent I I still get some of the meds from the drugstore or the grocery pharmacy -- I just can't afford not to. My vet is willing to separate the scripts that I can get elsewhere from the ones I fill with her. When I had 4 cats it just was a smart shopper issue. We shop around for everything else, why wouldn't we shop around for pet meds? Kathy

I wouldn't order pet meds online either. My vet is also willing to give me prescriptions for the ones I fill at Target. In fact, one of the meds I give they don't even regularly stock, so she HAS to give me a script.

[momof2inohio]

I don't trust the online pet meds websites. I always get mine through our vet and he always price matches for me which is really nice!

[Whispered]

sigh, this is such a hot button topic.. I agree "in therory".. but yet..
I can't afford to do so.

Its like my cat has a thyroid problem.. supposedly you're supposed to check twice, a yr.. nooooooo f way, can i do that!
($$40/ 50 for the office visit and 140 for the test.. so 200 bucks!!)
my other cat, had it done once and stayed on the same dose, for years and years, and lived to be over 18..

If I could afford it sure.. but my baby, is soo small, and old.. he's like 6 and a half lbs and its a half hr drive (the vets near me, are awful.. plus he once was feral and is terrified of most people).. so a country drive is easier. He has arthritis in his back, now too.. so being in a carrier.. i don't like doing that to him..

My vet's , I really really like, they're reasonable. Sometimes, i'll buy his vitimins there.. which are neccessary..

Just depends on the cost and if i can save 22 bucks, hey.. thats the place, i'm going.. i have to!

I think one way, we can give back, is to sharpen our garage skills, which i'm betting most of us have.. and bring in extra towels, pillows, sheets, etc.. Donate to the no kill shelters, etc.

Pets are such a wonderful part of life.. couldn't live w/o mine~

[motherofmolly]

unfortunately, in this day it is hard to say you wont go with the most inexpensive. i started doing one of the two dog shots my dogs get. will save me about $18 per dog...and i just got my own needles and pennicilian at tsc for my dogs. the one lab always has something. his ear is swollen (i know the vet is going to have to lance it, but dang it we just did the other one last year), his eye gets infections and his butt glands were swollen. after 3 doses of pennicilian and his glands are no longer swollen and his eyes are cleared up. the ear is another story.
disclaimer: the vet told me to give him the pennicilian to save some money. love the nice old time vets. i try and pay him back by recommending everyone to him

[~~Who,Me?~~]

Hey, you gotta do what you gotta do. Just give your vet the opportunity to price match. Because we will all lose out in the long run.

[Smee]

Originally Posted by ~~Who,Me?~~ Hey, you gotta do what you gotta do. Just give your vet the opportunity to price match. Because we will all lose out in the long run.

I agree. I understand that it's tough, though, since one of my dogs is currently undergoing a $250 procedure every threeish weeks, $160 a month (that may be going up!) in meds, two other dogs take a different med that's costing me an additional $160 a month, etc. etc. etc. Old dogs are expensive!

But I agree. I haven't reached the point of having to consider alternatives, but I do some serious budget juggling for the sake (in part) of supporting my vet who has been great with my animals and who gives me a substantial discount for a variety of reasons.

I also love that my vet is willing to barter. We've traded everything from stockpile stuff to labor. We helped with the construction of new kennels in exchange for our Lab's hip surgery several years ago. Sometimes doing whatcha gotta do means getting really creative.