Veterinarians and frugal dog owners - cheap prescriptions for preventatives?

[dragoncar]

I know there are some veterinarians around.  My dog has been taking bravecto and interceptor plus for years, ever since we got him.  Although he is usually seen at least once a year for something or another, I don’t like paying for a separate appointment to get his annual preventatives - this runs $50-100 around here.  I’ve seen that some online vets will write an rx and ship you the product but not sure if this is legit.  I usually prefer to order from 1800petmeds since it’s the cheapest with coupons or sales.

So anyone willing to do an online consult and write an rx for a modest fee?  Assuming it’s allowable (I read recent guidance that vets can supply drugs across state lines as long as they are licensed). 

Alternatively, for the non-vets, anyone have any tips or tricks to get these meds cheap?

(Not really willing to switch brands since this works for us although it isn’t the cheapest, it’s easy and we have a lot of ticks in this area.  He’s also had a fecal sample within the last year, which I understand is not really necessary if he’s continuously and rigorously on antiprasitics)

[katsiki]

My MIL used to get her dog's meds from an online pharmacy in New Zealand.  She did this for years (and may still).  She felt it was the exact same stuff but much cheaper.  YMMV

[TheWifeHalf]

In Ohio, a vet is not allowed to prescribe something for an animal he hasn't seen in more than 2 years. I believe this went into effect within the last 10 years.

Will your vet just write a prescription that you can fill elsewhere? Our vet doesn't carry the anti-seizure meds my one dog needs, and said the cheapest place he knows to get it is Costco. Your don't have to be a member to use the pharmacy. It's a med that's given to children, but they do have just pet meds too.

[FireHiker]

Have you price checked Chewy.com? When I had a cat that needed prescription food it was the cheapest place to find it.

[Frankies Girl]

You don't have to see your fancy regular vet if you are just wanting to get a refill to get scripts from someplace like 800Pet Meds.

I have an uber fancy vet that has an in house surgical center that is the one I go to for our serious illness or when I have the least little bit of concern about the pet's health.

For basic yearly checkups and boosters/shots, I have a low cost vet - the one I have right now is through a chain and called Thrive. They charge $15 for an office visit and basic physical exam. If all you need is a quick "here is my pet, you've seen it and now I can get my scripts refilled" that's what I'd do.

It is likely illegal for any veterinarian to "treat" an animal online for what you're asking. Vets can't prescribe any meds for an animal they have never physically seen in person, so you do have to take your dog in something like once a year to do so.

So my suggestion is to google "low cost vet" in your zip code and go in for a basic exam, explain you're just getting a basic and are going to order all pet meds online. My low cost vet even tells you to do so to save money. :D

[dragoncar]

I ended up buying from http://www.hoofanhound.com

It's an Australian company and actually had an Australian-market formulation (Nexguard Spectra) that's cheaper and easier than the separate preventatives I've been using (same active ingredients though). 

By itself, it was cheaper than 1800petmeds.  Once you factor in the savings from avoiding an extra visit to the vet, probably saves me around $150 this year (all vets here are expensive, yo, and my normal vet couldn't even see us for two weeks). 

Again, I'm not neglecting my pet.  He'll still get an annual checkup.  But the timing on this one was weird and I should have just asked for a prescription a few months ago at his last visit. 

I haven't received my order yet, so I'll report back on how it goes.

[Dave1442397]

This is a good place to get heartworm meds - http://heartwormprevention.com/

I get the discount brand of flea and tick meds directly from the Costco website. It runs me around $28 for a six-month supply versus the $79 box of Frontline at the local warehouse.

[dragoncar]

This is a good place to get heartworm meds - http://heartwormprevention.com/

I get the discount brand of flea and tick meds directly from the Costco website. It runs me around $28 for a six-month supply versus the $79 box of Frontline at the local warehouse.

Wow, does it come in 30ml bottles?  So about $1/month vs. $10/month for the chewables?  If so, that's a great deal.

[Fomerly known as something]

Have you price checked Chewy.com? When I had a cat that needed prescription food it was the cheapest place to find it.

Chewy just started carrying my cats insulin for 20% less than Costco (my previous cheapest find)

[Dave1442397]

This is a good place to get heartworm meds - http://heartwormprevention.com/

I get the discount brand of flea and tick meds directly from the Costco website. It runs me around $28 for a six-month supply versus the $79 box of Frontline at the local warehouse.

Wow, does it come in 30ml bottles?  So about $1/month vs. $10/month for the chewables?  If so, that's a great deal.

60ml bottles, which would last our dog ten years (based on weight), which would be 25 cents/month.  I'm coming to the end of the Heartguard meds that the vet prescribed, and I'll order from that site when it's time to renew.

[dragoncar]

Reporting back with a good experience from hoofanhound.  Got the meds today, pretty fast shipping for a small international site.  The product seems authentic.  Only complaint is it’s a couple years old.  It will still be within the expiration date when it’s used, but obviously I prefer fresher stuff since I don’t know how well it’s been stored. 

[jnw]

This is a good place to get heartworm meds - http://heartwormprevention.com/

I get the discount brand of flea and tick meds directly from the Costco website. It runs me around $28 for a six-month supply versus the $79 box of Frontline at the local warehouse.

I read that Ivermectin can cause certain breads to get really sick.  My dog I figure is 1/4 german shepherd, 1/2 lab & 1/4 beagle.  I need to get her on heartworm med but can't afford the $10-20 per month the vet wants.  My brother had to pay $2000 for a treatment after his dog got heartworms.