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05-03-2010, 05:32 PM | #1 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA
Posts: 77
| Source for cheaper pet meds. I know that a lot of you think of your doggie as a member of the family and would never buy fluffy medicine from anyone but the vet. However, I'm a teacher and on a budget. I have spent a fortune on my yorkie at my overpriced vet and just can't afford 250 bucks every six months for preventative meds. Here is what I'm going to do. I've researched it thoroughly. I'm going to order Frontline for large dogs and give my Yorkie a much smaller dose. I'm also going to order a highly rated product called Heartgard for heartworm protection. It also controls intestinal parasites. Frontline Plus for Dogs - Red, 89 - 132 lbs (40-60kg) - 3 pack Current batch expiry date: November 2011 (or later) Order from this highly rated website: Frontline Plus for Dogs - Buy at PetShed and save $$$ It is the third one from the bottom. Get yourself a vial and a syringe. Squeeze all three disposable applicators into one vial. Then remove .67 millileters per month with the needleless syringe to treat dogs under 22lbs. This will last a year and a half for less than 45 dollars including shipping rather than going through the bet. My vet charged me 82 dollars for a six month supply! Heartgard Plus - Blue - Small Dog Under 25 lbs (<11kg) - 6 Month Supply Current batch expiry date: June 2011 (or later) Order this from the same site. Heartgard Plus - Buy at PetShed and save $$$ Combined shipping for both products is $5.00 According to my math, instead of spending more than 400 per year at my vet, ordering from this website, no prescription needed, would be about 75. That's a no brainer in my situation. |
Welcome Guest! | |
05-04-2010, 07:30 PM | #2 |
Donating YT 4000 Club Member | While I understand the need to cut costs where we can, I'm not sure your plan is the smartest way of going about it. There are two main problems I see off the top of my head. The first is that, once opened, medications begin to lose their potency. The second problem would be consistency in dosing. For instance, the heart worm preventative has X amount of medication per cube. But that doesn't mean the medication is evenly distributed in that cube. So even though you may physically divide it in half, one part may contain more med than the other. I would definitely ask your vet before doing something like this. Try calling around to different vet offices to see if their pricing is any different. And even though the mail order places say they don't require a prescription, they are still supposed to be "signed off" by the vet the have on staff. They will have you fill out a health questionairre about your pet. When you say you have a yorkie but you are trying to order meds for something the size of a lab, it ought to trigger a flag on their end. If it doesn't, I would be very leery about the whole operation. |
05-04-2010, 07:44 PM | #3 | |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member | Quote:
I use heartguard. | |
05-04-2010, 07:56 PM | #4 |
Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: North Carolina
Posts: 8,317
| I'd recommend Frontline spray. It's just as effective as the topical, but much more economical. One small bottle lasts me several years for Lady and my two cats. I put it on a cotton ball rather than spraying it on directly. Frontline flea Spray Kills Fleas & Ticks I see that they don't require a prescription for Heartguard like US companies do. There is a reason why it is only available by prescription here. If your dog is heartworm positive and gets a heartworm preventative, the dead worms can clog the arteries in the heart and be fatal. Dogs need a yearly heartworm test to be prescribed a preventative safely. Also, there are a lot of counterfeits on the market. Why take a chance? Counterfeit Pesticide Products for Dogs and Cats | Pesticides | US EPA |
05-05-2010, 06:21 AM | #6 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA
Posts: 77
| Groundless fears... First, no one said anything about splitting heart worm pills. I have no idea where that even came from. Second, Frontline Plus has an expiration date that I will be keeping within. Third, Frontline for large dogs is the exact same medicine at the exact same potency for large dogs as it is for smaller dogs. You just get more of it when you buy the package for larger dogs. For small dogs, you only use .67ml per month. Unless you are completely inept at doing simple measurements, then you are wasting your money. I'll be candid. I don't really trust vets at this point. First, my vet insisted that my dog be fed Science Diet, even after his stool was as dry as pine bark and made him bleed and cry when he used the bathroom. Against strong admonition, I switched him to Blue Buffalo, and the problem immediately corrected. The vet said Blue Buffalo had caused several small dogs she had treated to develop "stones". BS...she is on the payroll for Science Diet. She would have let my dog die before admitting feeding him that crap was making him sick. Second, my vet told me that her prices were cheaper than 1800petmeds because she buys in bulk. Again...BS. I purchased a six month supply of Frontline Plus and Sentinel from my vet before I realized I'd been deceived. I would have saved over 50 dollars by ordering from 1800petmeds but likely even more because they match the lowest price you can find. When I order from 1800contacts, they do the same thing. I always find some bootleg website with a much lower price, and they match it. I think it's totally reprehensible that you need a prescription for heart worm pills, and vets hold that over your head like it's manna from heaven. |
05-05-2010, 07:26 AM | #7 | |
I ♥ Armani & Chloe Donating Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 3,895
| Get a new vet... you need to have a vet whose opinion you trust and who you know will take the best care of your pets possible, there are many times during the course of your pets life when you will NEED a vet and you should focus on finding one you do trust. Quote:
A service goes into most PETCO's and provides cheap services for people on a budget, you might consider looking into something like this to insure that your dog is getting tested every year like they are supposed to.
__________________ Armani & Chloe | |
05-05-2010, 07:48 AM | #8 |
YT Addict Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: ohio
Posts: 319
| I agree that finding a new vet is the answer. That being said, our vet runs a program buy 6 months get one free. 12 months get 4 free. He also has buy monthly plan. I think it may be 5 dollars per dose maybe. I understand that sometimes its hard to pay the entire 6 months or a years worth of money at one time. See if its an option to go monthly. I have a friend thats in college and has 3 roommates and she goes monthly not based on cost. But on space issues. She keeps her dogs meeds in the medicine cabinet in the bathroom and a full box wont fit. So each month she gives the meds. then replaces them for the next months use. Sure in the long run it may cost you more to do it that way, but its broken up into smaller payments. You may also try and find coupons where the maker of the product gives you back a few dollars when bough in bulk. My vet uses all kinds of coupons to get extra packs and turns around and gives them out for free, so I know they are out there. |
05-05-2010, 01:39 PM | #10 |
I ♥ Armani & Chloe Donating Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 3,895
| pretty much sums it up.
__________________ Armani & Chloe |
05-06-2010, 06:59 AM | #11 | |
Action Jackson ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Maryland
Posts: 17,814
| I was under the impression that Frontline is NOT supposed to have an expiration date. I've always read to make sure yours doesn't have an expiration date or else it's a counterfeit item. I could be wrong, but just wanted to point this out. Also, do you have any spay/neuter type clinics around you? I purchase Iverhart Plus (for heartworm) for $19 for a 6 month supply there. Great deal. Also, Petsmart just recently started carrying K9 Advantix (which is what we use) there w/o a prescription. I prefer to get heartworm meds with a vets signature and prescription though because if your dog was ever to get heartworms (which can be deadly) the company will cover the veterinary care if they got heartworms while on their medication. I understand about money issues! I'm a college student so am looking to be spare whereever possible. Quote:
__________________ ~ Brit & Lights! Camera! Jackson! CGC ETD TKP ~ Follow Jackson on Instagram: https://instagram.com/jacksontheterrier Last edited by Britster; 05-06-2010 at 07:03 AM. | |
05-06-2010, 07:16 AM | #12 | |
Lola's Love Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Mill Valley, CA, USA
Posts: 2,934
| Quote:
More vets should price match..they get a lot more business....
__________________ | |
05-06-2010, 09:33 AM | #13 |
Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Bay Area, California
Posts: 499
| I get prescription pet meds from kvvet.com only I order by phone and give them my vet's contact number. They call to confirm and ship out the next day. Shipment takes approximately 4-5 working days and is free when you spent $50 or more.
__________________ "What I do is wag my tail and lick your face until you feel better!" Guinness and Penny: |
05-10-2010, 04:04 AM | #14 |
YT Addict Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: OHIO
Posts: 379
| My vet will not give out prescriptions either. Its either get it from her or forget it. Her vet tech told me it is how she makes a profit. Nice. I am going to find a new vet also!
__________________ Kayti~Khloe~Miaya~Sharon~ (their proud Mama) |
05-10-2010, 05:40 AM | #15 |
BANNED! Join Date: May 2007 Location: USA
Posts: 11,073
| I do not use heartworm or flea prevention as not really needed here but i do order meds from www.drsfosterandsmith.com for clindamycin. A vet tech recommended that is a safe place to order meds. She steered me away from petmeds.com |
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