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While I am not a proponent of drugs for dogs, there are occasions when some drugs can be vital such as in diabetic dogs, thyroid or heart conditions where natural remedies

can help but drugs are necessary.

 

The CBC did an undercover story on the prices of drugs to pet owners with some astonishing revelations. The varied prices of pet medications and the higher costs of pet care necessitate pet owners to shop around. A scratch on a cat can cost $100.00 or eye drops for a dog also costs $ 100.00.

 

The study revealed markups from veterinarian sold drugs range from 200 to 300 percent and higher from 5 vets in various parts of the country.

 

The veterinarian industry accounts for 4 billion dollars in Canada alone and much higher in the United States. Major pharmaceutical companies are getting into pet drugs such as Abbott, Pfizer and Novartis who are marketing drugs to through veterinarians.

 

Animal health physicians write tens of thousands even millions of pet prescriptions for pet meds daily across the country for cats or dogs.

 

 

 Today these newer medications are for conditions such as:  separation anxiety, motion sickness, and or even weight loss drugs for pets.

 

The problem lies in the fact that the vet can charge any amount they wish and it is what you are willing to pay that determines whether you are going to get hit with a high drug bill.  These costs can really add up quickly especially for pets with long term illnesses. In the probe, insulin for dogs which costs $ 4.16 was sold to the pet owner for $ 22.00 and Tapazole for a thyroid problem cost the vet $ 25.91 was sold to the pet owner for $ 86.00.

 

Rarely do pet owners question their vets and we are paying very high prices for our pet’s

medications.

 

 

 

Some pet owners do not know that they can get a prescription from their veterinarian and go and buy the drug elsewhere such as at a pharmacy that carries pet medications or online.

 

Another customer went to a pharmacist indicated she was charged $ 65.00 for eye drops for her cocker spaniel while the pharmacist charged only $ 12.00 for the same medicine. For another customer who breeds poodles he had indicated that his savings are $ 700.00 a year by using prescriptions instead of buying from the veterinarian.

 

Animals and pets cost money and today with the high cost of everything from gas to food, saving some hard earned cash on pet drugs is a boon for a pet owner.

 

In the UK an investigation into pet medicine prices has forced the government to put legislation into place where a veterinarian has to post in their office what the charges are for common pet medications.

 

Money saving tips on pet drugs:

 

1)     Always ask what your veterinarian charges for the medication.

2)     Ask your local pharmacy if they carry the drug or find one.

3)     Ask your veterinarian for a prescription and buy elsewhere.

 

Common sense tells us that veterinarian offices in expensive buildings will charge more for their services since they have high overhead costs to pay for the goldfish tank in the waiting room. Another money saving tip is to find a veterinarian in the less expensive part of your town will save you money on pet drugs.

 

When all else fails you can purchase drugs online and these companies will get the prescription straight from your veterinarian.  This is a convenient and less expensive way to save money and buy medications from reputable companies online.  To compare prices go to:

 

Pet Medication OnLine

 

 

 

Written by:  Teri Salvador

 

Tags:  veterinarian, pet drugs, pet medications, CBC, Pharmacist, pharmaceutical companies, Pet medicine prices,  tips on saving money for your pet’s medications,  pet owner, prescription, veterinarian industry, diabetic dogs, Abbott, Pfizer, Novartis, separation anxiety, motion sickness, weight loss drugs for pets, drugs for dogs.