Absolutely DESPARATE about dog meds cost - UPDATE

dieselhead

Whilst I agree that vets run a business and do have significant cost associated with that. They must realise that especially when it comes to the very expensive drugs and treatments its advantageous to both parties to work together to try to find the cheapest solution. After all if they can work together to find a cheaper source of the tablets the customer is likely to stay with them.

OP I am not too good at doing this as I find it really hard to talk to people about money, but sometimes you just have to be frank and say that quite simply you cannot afford to pay, make it very clear, hopefully the vet will realise that they need to help you find the medication cheaper.

skintlass

My dog is on constant medication for incontinence (not her fault she just has an odd shaped bladder apparently). My insurance keeps rising year on year as does the excess which I blamed on this (its now £105 excess). I approached the vet about a prescription for her drugs and he asked me to cost them online. I phoned the vets as the best online price I got was about £44 ( was about £76 normally from vet) and they matched the price . I think you should do 2 things - 1. change your vet (those prices sound horrendous), 2. explain to new vet that you can't afford astronomic prices for medication and that you want them to price match medication or supply a prescription.

olibrofiz

Thank you for your replies everyone, I'm feeling a bit calmer this evening

I have been saying to the vet all along, at each appointment, '...haven't got a lot of money...you've used up all the insurance....please keep costs down...'

olibrofiz

Thanks for all your advice. I checked with Chemist Direct and then went to see my vet. With regard to them only being able to get 10mg and not 20mg he said that the drug company had seemingly discontinued the 20mg.

I said I'd like to try getting it online so please could I have a prescription, and prescriptions for the other 3 lots of pills.

I went into a local chemist and got the 20mg Arava straight away. And have ordered the other 3 online. Saving me, this month, £345. :T:T:T:T

Thank you so much everyone xx

foreign_correspondent

wow - that is amazing!

I think in this situation, after you have asked your vets to take all possible measures to keep costs down, and they have not managed, this is a fair measure to take... it is pragmatic and sensible and will take some of the pressure off for you. How is your dog now? I remember the thread you posted when she was very ill at the vets, and in for quite a while I think?

olibrofiz

Oooops, forgot to add in the prescriptions - the saving should be £308, but still :T:T:T

Yes, she was at the vets for 3 weeks back in Jan/Feb. She's been home 6 months now (and lots of £££, at my expense), there've been ups and downs and a few set backs, but at the moment you wouldn't think anythings wrong with her - apart from the shaven bits that don't seem to be recovering quickly

Her blood pcv count has gone from 18%, when she was at deaths door, to 32% last week :T:T (I think in a healthy dog it's about 55%)

foreign_correspondent

that is great news, glad to hear she is happy and feeling much better!

orlao

olibrofiz wrote: »

Saving me, this month, £345. :T:T:T:T

Thank you so much everyone xx

Well done you!

elsien

skintlass wrote: »

My dog is on constant medication for incontinence (not her fault she just has an odd shaped bladder apparently). My insurance keeps rising year on year as does the excess which I blamed on this (its now £105 excess). I approached the vet about a prescription for her drugs and he asked me to cost them online. I phoned the vets as the best online price I got was about £44 ( was about £76 normally from vet) and they matched the price . I think you should do 2 things - 1. change your vet (those prices sound horrendous), 2. explain to new vet that you can't afford astronomic prices for medication and that you want them to price match medication or supply a prescription.

I have a dog with the same problem due to unusual shaped innards ( and the same excess) so I was interested to see you'd been able to do this. Can I ask what meds yours is on - mine has urilin, incurin and hexamine, so if I could get it cheaper that would be really useful.
Also, how does this work if you're claiming on the insurance as the vet usually fills in the form and send it off for me, but obviously if I'm buying online it's going to be different.

snowman2_2

Your vet can't fill in an insurance claim form for meds bought on-line. You will have to send a separate claim form to the on-line pharmacy for them to fill in. If they wont fill it in, speak to your insurance company but don't ask your vet - nothing to do with them.

I have also never heard of Arava and it is not available through the second largest wholesaler. It may be that your vet has to get it through a chemist who is adding a mark-up from wholesale and then your vet is adding a mark-up. An on-line pharmacy may be able to get it straight from wholesale or the manufacturers at a much cheaper price. Sometimes clients can get drugs on-line cheaper than I can, don't assume that we can all buy at the same price, particularly as some manufacturers have heavy discounts based on bulk purchases.