Need more advice please

IHD

I wrote about my old chap being put on PCT tablets and when i came to re-order today was told it was a misprint! They are PLT as someone on here stated ...sorry! I would say there has been a 40% improvement most days, but ive just been told a months supply is £80 !!!! I would move heaven and earth for my lad but i just don't have that kind of money (i am ill myself and figured we might both go together) At the moment he makes me carry on. Has anyone any suggestions about the cost? Also a lady mentioned Cartrophen, could anyone tell me more about that? Again i expect it is costly? Some people will say i shouldn't have a dog if i cant afford his treatment but it wasn't always like this. Ive had him since a 6 week old pup and i was fit and healthy and working, now he is 14 and i couldn't abandon him after all these years together.

ljonski

as far as i can see on the net they are 55p each and the dog need s to take 2 a day - so approx £370 a year or £31 per month

IHD

Thanks i've just been looking. The vet wants my dog on 4 a day, and dividing the cost up per tablet my vet isn't that much more expensive. Im suprised!

Fosterdog

I'm a big advocate of Cartrophen, my boy was at the stage where he was on the verge of being PTS (recently rescued, still just a foster dog and in a very bad way with no surgery option). The vet recommended we try cartrophen.

The initial dose was four jabs a week apart, he has just had his second round of four after a year. The next lot will probably be needed in around 9 months and gradually the dosing will likely become more frequent until they are monthly.

They turned him into a different dog, he went from not being able to walk more that a few feet without his legs collapsing to being able to run and play. It wasn't instant and it is roughly 4-6 weeks after the first injection before you see any improvement. It works by improving blood supply and rebuilding cartilage. There are no known side effects but it only works for 7 out of 10 cases so without trying it you'll never know.

For my 35kg boy it was £12 per injection, another vet quoted £28 per injection for his weight so worth shopping around. Speak to your vet and do some research into it, it is a bit of a wonder drug and apart from a few cases of it not working I've not seen anything negative about it at all.

jumpedtheshark

I agree about the Cartrophen. I'm not convinced it's helped my dog, but as there are no known side effects, I see no harm in continuing with it. You can inject it yourself (OH does our dogs' injections) if your vet shows you how, which might save you money if your vet charges for appointments for that type of thing. We pay about the same as Fosterdog for ours.

Celli

I never realised PLT was so expensive :eek:, I don't remember it being that dear, but it is about ten years since I had a dog on it.
I'm assuming you've had a look at the various online outlets for prescription vet meds, so next step may be to have a word with the vet.
Most vets ( I would hope ) will be only too willing to allow you to pay up your bill as you can afford it, rather than paying all in a one. You won't be the first or last client who loves their pet but finds themselves a bit short on cash. I know my lovely vet has reduced clients bills when he's known they were a bit hard up.
It might even be an idea to give the RSPCA or Blue Cross a phone, they might be willing to help with the cost, it's a long shot, but if you don't ask, you don't get

ljonski

even if the vet proscribes 4 a day , the online stores say 2. therefore i would try him on 2 a day and see how that goes.