Huge dog prescription bills... advice please?

onwards&upwards

Head over to the debt free wannabe board on here. They are very friendly and helpful and will help you find room in your budget you’d never have known was there!

(I think your ex should help, but he won’t and you can’t make him, sorry.)

Vegastare

Have you thought of speaking to Blue Cross.... you might fall into the criteria for support.
The other idea is to ask your vet if he can issue a repeat prescription
that last 6 months ( they can put a quantity say 1 a day x 30 tabs with repeat x 6.) Under your present situation a vet might agree to this. With this you may be able to find a cheaper supplier online.

Your dog is an oldie and your circumstances have changed, yet you want to maintain his quality of life and keep him o his present medication, explain this and that your ex is not offering support.

Sophsters82

Thank you. Unfortunately we used to get the prescription every 6 months which did help cut the cost down a little but the vet recently changed its policy to 3 monthly instead and hiked up the script price.

I do appreciate all help and don't mean to come across as 'knocking all suggestions back'... I just mean to say that we love our dog and do not want to put him down or rehome him. I'll carry on paying for his tablets, I just wondered if I was valid in thinking that my ex had a responsibility to contribute and if maybe small claims or putting it to the divorce solicitor might have been an option as I know dog custody can be dealt with but I just wanted to see what others thought about it.

Thanks guys

Savvy_Sue

onwards&upwards wrote: »

(I think your ex should help, but he won’t and you can’t make him, sorry.)

This: whatever WE think, he has ignored your requests and seems to have moved on from you and the dog.

Sophsters82 wrote: »

I just wondered if I was valid in thinking that my ex had a responsibility to contribute

Unless (and even if) he had always been regarded as your ex's dog, I don't think he'd have any responsibility that would make the least bit of difference. And even if he went out and came back with a puppy for your son without any prior discussion or agreement, you and your son have taken on the responsibility over the years, from what I can see.

Sophsters82 wrote: »

and if maybe small claims or putting it to the divorce solicitor might have been an option as I know dog custody can be dealt with but I just wanted to see what others thought about it.

Small claims: not a hope, especially as it's an open-ended and unquantifiable amount. Divorce solicitor: by all means ask, but I think your priority should be maintenance for your son rather than the dog.

Once you've got the maintenance settled, I think your son is of an age where you can sit down and talk through the budget with him. Obviously it's not something you want him to be worried about, but it is worth him being aware that these are the things we have to pay for, and we have this much left over, so how can we work out what we can do with that money, and how can we make that money stretch?

And yes, Debt Free board will find you money you never knew you had ... which may again be a conversation to have with him, especially wrt TV channels!

onwards&upwards

Sophsters82 wrote: »

Thank you. Unfortunately we used to get the prescription every 6 months which did help cut the cost down a little but the vet recently changed its policy to 3 monthly instead and hiked up the script price.


Thanks guys

Try calling around other vets to explain the situation and see if they can help.

Also, look for Facebook groups for owners of dogs with the same condition. That will you in touch with other people who might have tips, and sometimes when the dogs pass away they donate unused meds to group members who are struggling.

Definitely get on the debt free wannabe board, trust me they will help!

Vegastare

I really think you should approach your vet regarding the situation, be frank and explain it to him.....is it a large company owned vet or a local vet. I really feel a vet that is half way decent would see that you have maintained this dogs quality of life and at 13 it is not correct to re home or change medication and finally the only other option you find out of the question while the dog has a quality of life.
If the vet will got move his stance - I would look at other vets in the area.
I do understand that you were asking about the ex part in this....but I think as you are committed to keeping the dog ( you are a star in my eyes) you really should lean on the vet.
If you don't want to have the cost of a consultation speak to the practice manager or receptionist....same goes if you are looking at a new vet....explain it to them...they may know whether a vet is more likely to be understanding.
Also you say you get the prescription 30 miles away. Well I would speak to them and ask them is there any vets in the area that might be more understanding.
You are in a bad place at the moment and you would be surprised how many people would understand exactly where you are coming from with this.

The idea about face book is a good idea, also I would post on petforums.co.uk. You will have to join like on here, but there may be folks on there with some ideas on this from the angle of prescription costs and vets etc. or dog charities or local dog rescues who may help.
Many dog rescues now have there own vet and to keep this going they take clients on who have pets, you pay nominal fees and lower prescription cost.
Have a look on here https://www.money.co.uk/pet-insurance/how-to-get-help-with-vet-bills.htm
Finally you are not looking for sympathy but understanding that you want to keep your dog and that is what you need to convey to a vet.
Good luck and I would certainly join a pet forum in UK to get ideas of there

JamesTom

Sometimes when my dog ​​has a fever I give him "human" ibuprom.
Medicines for animals are really expensive

elsien

JamesTom wrote: »

Sometimes when my dog ​​has a fever I give him "human" ibuprom.
Medicines for animals are really expensive [/]

Prescription medicines for humans can be eyewateringly expensive. We just don't see it thanks to the NHS. If we paid privately, as we do for dogs, it would be just as expensive for most things other than the generic painkillers.
As an aside, you do check with the vet before giving medicines designed for people?

Fosterdog

JamesTom wrote: »

Sometimes when my dog ​​has a fever I give him "human" ibuprom.
Medicines for animals are really expensive

Please please stop doing this, ibuprofen based medicines are extremely toxic to dogs, paracetamol is also pretty bad but if given under vet advice can be okay as a one off/short term solution but always as a low dose and on a rare occasion.

How do you know your dog has a fever without getting them checked at the vet?

sheramber

If your dog is having fevers then you should be consulting your vet to find out why.