vet bills

[starrs]

we have a 9 year old cavalier king charles spaniel who has been on medication for his heart problem for just over a year. he has been taking 2 different tablets every day (vasotop and frusemide) and after a bad turn last week he now has to take a third tablet (lanoxin). I was browsing the internet yesterday and noticed that you can buy your pet's tablets online. I think you order the tablets in the normal way, you can then print off a prescription which you then take to your vet who signs it. you then post it to the supplier who posts the tablets to you. the good thing about it is that the tablets seem to be a lot cheaper than what we are paying at the moment. also the website says that any vet cannot refuse to sign the prescription. my question is is there anybody who buys their pets tablets in this way and is it as easy as it sounds. our vet is very good with benji but we are finding the bills getting harder to pay especially at christmas time. also are there any owners out there whose cavalier is in a similar situation, if so is he/she on the same medication. thanks for any help.

ps we cancelled benji's insurance about 4-5 years ago, if only ..................

[lankeela]

Don't know if your insurance would have covered this anyway, as Cavs have a predisposition to heart problems and it is in most cases a hereditary condition. (This can be tested for in the parents, so there is no need to breed them with a problem).

As for online prescriptions, there are two companies who specialise in the UK Vetmedic Pharmacy and Canine Chemist, both do the same sort of job. Your vet may try to persuade you to still buy from him (he makes a good profit from it!) by telling you that these firms cannot give consultations and advice, but if it is an ongoing condition like this there is no reason why you should not use them. The vet may make you pay a fee for the visit to get the prescription, but I don't think they can charge for issuing the prescription itself. It is also a good way of buying Frontline as it is much cheaper and other flea and worm treatments can be bought from them without prescription.

[alancameron]

You are correct in saying that vets now legally have to provide a prescription for which, most will charge a fee - think about it....they have overheads too i.e. staff salaries, utility bills, rent etc etc. Vets are not out there to 'rip you off', drugs are expensive to buy in as is veterinary equipment (which can cost thousands of pounds) and skills.

An on-line drug company can provide savings due to bulk purchase of drugs, but cannot provide diagnosis and care that a vet can offer.

This is another example of penny pinching that leads to high street degredation and the decline of traditional culture and society!!

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[Tammera]

also bare in mind that changes in weight and condition can lead to changes in quantity and drug weight so make sure you dont over or underdose.

[Tammera]

also 10 years ago when i used frontline it was also weight based, my vets wouldnt sell it without regular weight checks i dont know if its changed now, my current cat strangly has never had flees so dont need it.

[starrs]

I'm not sure what your problem is alancameron. I don't have a problem with taking Benji to our vet for consultations etc but if there is a way of buying cheaper medication then why can't I look into it. If these tablets are going to keep Benji healthy for a few more years then believe me we are going to save a lot more than a few pennies as you put it.

Are you a vet yourself? If so how much do you charge just to put your signature against a prescription.

[alancameron]

Starrs,

I did not have a problem with regards to your query, it was the answer that lankeela gave in response. I am not a vet, however, I do work in the industry, and I can assure you that vets will not rip you off as lankeela suggests. I don't know how much a vet will charge you as they all vary in prices, depending on location and circumstances. I totally understand where you are coming from re the cheaper tablets, and wish you well in finding them.

[starrs]

thanks alan.

[Toureman]

our Rotty had a problem with one of it's eyes and we had to buy expensive drops from the vets until we found out the drops were used on humans.

We were able to buy the same drops from a chemists at half the price