Heartworm med for dog

[DianeH]

Has anyone purchased, or can you purchase heartworm meds for a dog online? (USA)

Diane

 

[wackymother]

Yes, you definitely can. I think you need a vet's RX, though. Our vet charged us around $55 for a year's supply, then I went online and saw I can get it for less. But not a LOT less, I was surprised to see (b/c I think my vet is really expensive!)--it's around $45.

One source is www.1800petmeds.com. I just went over and looked and they have an 800 number so you call them, give them your vet's info, and they call the vet and get the RX over the phone.

I know I saw cheaper sources of the heartworm medicine online--less expensive than 1800petmeds. Some have free shipping, too!

 

[DianeH]

Thanks WM. Our canadian vet charges about $50 plus the blood test so I guess its a bit cheaper but I can't get a perscription until he has the blood test......

Diane

 

[Cat]

I have never needed a prescription for heartworm meds. I purchase mine through www.petshed.com, which has the best prices I've found.

 

[ouaifer]

I have never needed a prescription for heartworm meds. I purchase mine through www.petshed.com, which has the best prices I've found.

WOW! I checked out the website...they are from Australia. You should read the General Disclaimer at the bottom of the page . Maybe it's not a law there to have a script for Heartworm Preventative, but it is here in the USA. The reason being, that the vet has to do a blood test first in order to determine that the animal has not been infected. Then the vet writes the script for the meds...and you can fill it at a number of on-line places. Warning ...if you start giving your animal the preventative and it happens to have been infected, you have a chance of killing the animal. This is a preventative medication/dose...not a treatment. You really should get your animal a blood test, and get the script to fill.

I have been using Omaha Vaccine Company in Nebraska for almost 20 years for all of our canine needs. Their prices are quite reasonable.

Good luck.

 

[teachingmyown]

WOW! Warning ...if you start giving your animal the preventative and it happens to have been infected, you have a chance of killing the animal. This is a preventative medication/dose...not a treatment. You really should get your animal a blood test, and get the script to fill.

Good luck.

This statement isn't entirely true. My beagle tested positive for heartworms and one of the treatment options was to give her the same medication that she would have been given for prevention if she had been negative. I had heard the same thing you said and so double checked with other vets and online research and found out that the treatment plan was valid, and in fact, opted for it.

I also checked into purchasing meds online to save $$ and decided it was worth the extra $3-5 bucks or so to (1) have my vets "in the loop" with my pets and (2) help defray some of their expenses for dealing with charity cases. After all, if they stop making the money they need on meds then I figure they'll raise their office visit rates to offset it.

 

[Cat]

Not to worry, Evie! I have her tested every year. I would never, EVER just put her on meds without knowing what's happening with her internally. I just buy the meds from this website and have been for the last 4 years. No problems, whatsoever. I use their generic ivermectin pills. I also buy the Advantage doses from this website. It's Advantage, exactly as we buy in the US, but a LOT less money. We have to keep her on it year round here in FL.

WOW! I checked out the website...they are from Australia. You should read the General Disclaimer at the bottom of the page . Maybe it's not a law there to have a script for Heartworm Preventative, but it is here in the USA. The reason being, that the vet has to do a blood test first in order to determine that the animal has not been infected. Then the vet writes the script for the meds...and you can fill it at a number of on-line places. Warning ...if you start giving your animal the preventative and it happens to have been infected, you have a chance of killing the animal. This is a preventative medication/dose...not a treatment. You really should get your animal a blood test, and get the script to fill.

I have been using Omaha Vaccine Company in Nebraska for almost 20 years for all of our canine needs. Their prices are quite reasonable.

Good luck.

 

[JoAnn]

We had a Vet in Ohio who did not approve of the 'on-line' or catalog meds for animals for the simple reason that she felt that a lot of people would ignore ever bringing their pet to a Vet for a check up at least once a year, or have them tested for anything. I know that in Ohio, the animal control people did not recognize 'at home' rabies shots, and the other shots puppies need as valid IF they were not given by a Vet. They felt that there was a strong possibility that the shots were not handled right ...or kept refrigerated, if need be.

 

[dougp26364]

It's never been so expensive that I've ever considered buying anywhere but from our Vet. Aside from being reasonably sure I'm getting what I'm paying for, I feel it's better to have my vet know that I'm purchasing and giving the meds to my dogs.

 

[wackymother]

The vets around here are pretty staggeringly expensive. I'm okay with paying $10 or $20 more for the ease and comfort of getting heartworm medication from the vet, but the vet we used for our new dog also charged a bundle for (for example) cleaning the dog's teeth while the dog was already under full anesthesia for being spayed. And what I really, really didn't like was that her staff gave me three estimates on the spaying, tooth cleaning, and dental work--and all three were different, line by line. And when I questioned why that was, the staff acted like I was an incredible cheapskate. That's why I'm looking for a new vet.

 

[ouaifer]

This statement isn't entirely true. My beagle tested positive for heartworms and one of the treatment options was to give her the same medication that she would have been given for prevention if she had been negative. I had heard the same thing you said and so double checked with other vets and online research and found out that the treatment plan was valid, and in fact, opted for it.

I also checked into purchasing meds online to save $$ and decided it was worth the extra $3-5 bucks or so to (1) have my vets "in the loop" with my pets and (2) help defray some of their expenses for dealing with charity cases. After all, if they stop making the money they need on meds then I figure they'll raise their office visit rates to offset it.

Actually the product is the same, but the dosage it greater.

 

[arlene22]

Heartworm drugs can be serious medication for some dogs. I have learned that herding type dogs (for instance, collies) should not take ivermectin based medicines as many of them have a genetic mutation that makes them experience neurotoxicity at much lower doses than most dogs. It is fairly simple to have the dog genetically tested. After my last collie died of unexplained toxicity, I had my collie puppy tested. His test came back "mutant, mutant" so we are definitely careful with what we give him. No ivermectin and no ant sprays.

 

[timetraveler]

My pooch has her teeth cleaned once a year. And I also buy my meds from my vet. I consider his prices reasonable enough. I'm sure they would be cheaper online.....but I feel my vet is entitled to make a living, and his overhead is I'm sure much greater than an online vendor. Plus.....he's right there in an emergency.

I guess it would put my knickers in a knot too, if my clients wanted me to take the extra step in an emergency, but then cut me out, in the smaller stuff.

 

[skydvtmj]

My girlfriend works in a Vet clinic and they will match the on-line prices to be competitive and keep your business. But, you have to ask or they still charge $10-15 more. Couldn't hurt to ask
Troy

 

[Cat]

My girlfriend works in a Vet clinic and they will match the on-line prices to be competitive and keep your business. But, you have to ask or they still charge $10-15 more. Couldn't hurt to ask
Troy

That's great, Troy! Good idea.

The prices charged by vets for meds is scandalous! Recently we had our Westie in to a specialist, at the behest of her regular vet. $800 for the day, and about $120 worth of meds. At the end of the day, I was told nothing new that her usual vet didn't already know.

I looked at one of the line items on the bill, 14 chlorpheniramine maleate tabs for $28. This seemed really high to me. So I did a little research and found out that it's the exact same thing can be purchased, same dosage (in fact, they're also physically identical - little, yellow pills!) in a bottle, across the counter, at Wal Mart for $4 a bottle of 100!!

I am as sensitive as the next person about a vet needing to make a living. However, as weird as it may seem to some, to let myself get ripped off just rubs me the wrong way. It doesn't in any way mean I love my dog any less than others who don't mind paying $28 for something that is readily available for less than $1. If the vet would not gouge for meds, I'd rely on him as my sole source, like I used to years ago.

The vet makes plenty with the office visits, inoculations and physicals. And I have to rely on the vet when there's an acute problem, like a urinary tract infection. Can't wait to order the meds then. So we buy from the vet. Cephalexin at $1.25 per pill. Available generically (with a prescription) for about $.32 each.

What a racket!!

 

[TravelSFO]

Yes, some vets charge outrageous prices for very basic stuff. One of our birds was put on antibiotics for a bacterial infection. Luckily, I was able to give her the shots myself. Unfortunately, the vet charged us almost $3 per insulin needle -- the same ones that could have been purchased from a catalog at 20 cents. The first treatment did not work, the sample sent to the lab indicated she still had the bacteria, so the vet prescribed another round of another type of antibiotic -- all in all, it cost $1000 to treat our bird. $150 for the initial exam, $100+ for the lab work (recommended by the vet), $300+ meds, $150 follow up exam, $100+ for repeat lab work, more money for more meds.

In the end, I really felt cheated since our bird never showed any signs of being sick. My guess is that this process was more stressful on her than the bacteria itself.

 

[JoAnn]

In our area there are occasional ads for 'vet clinics' for inexpensive Spay & Neutering and the yearly shots that our pets need. I don't know if it's for anyone, or just those who can not afford going to a Vet.

We have a very good Vet that we take Kelly (12) and Kota (1) to. Kelly had an upset stomach when we brought Kota into the family and our Vet suggested we give her Pepcid AC...and it worked. They have suggested over the counter meds several times for our dogs, which I think is very nice of them. I buy Revolution for our dogs Heartworm medicine from our Vet, because we get such good service from them and many times the 'girls' in front will answer a lot of my questions over the phone. To me...that's worth the extra I have to pay.

 

[Don]

I checked the price online and they charge the same as my vet. Also, the pets records are kept up to date by getting the meds through the vet.

 

[MarTN]

I'm having mixed feelings about this these days. I used to be willing to pay a little extra for heartworm (definitely a necessity around here) and flea/tick meds from the vet because he was always willing to see me same day if I needed it. I've recommended the vet group to several people.

We are a foster family for a Golden Retriever rescue group www.rescueagolden.org and I went to the shelter (who called us) and adopted a pregnant Golden. I asked my vet's assistant on the phone if they could give the group any kind of discount on the vet check and x-ray to determine gestational age. I told her we were a 501c non-profit and could provide a reciept for the donation. She checked with him and called me back. Nope, no discount. She said their computer wasn't set up for it. I felt that was a cop-out. It was $98 for a 10 minute check and x-ray. He said the skeletons were just beginning to form and it would be at least 2 weeks until they were born. They arrived a week later.

So, as I said, I'm torn. I have never tried to save money by purchasing online (and I even mentioned that to the vet tech) but he wasn't willing to return any type of favor. And now that we adopted one of our puppies, we'll have 2 vet bills to deal with.

 

[DianeH]

Wow, I really opened a can of 'worms' with this topic. Thanks for the info.

Diane

 

[Laurie]

For pennies per dose, rather than dollars, and especially if you have multiple pets, you can use the cow ivermectin for dogs (measure it out in a syringe, put it on a piece of bread). We buy that at our vet and it lasts a long long time. It's the same stuff, you just need to know how to dose, and a good ethical country vet will share that information with you.

From what I understand: if an animal has a very mild case of heartworms, treatment is ivermectin. For an advanced case, not.

We also have been immunizing our dogs ourselves (the combination shot, and bordatella - everything except rabies), for a few dollars per shot, for the same reason.

Oh- and speaking of overcharges- here's one in reverse. Know how a vet charges about $12 or $15 for a rabies shot (which includes their mark-up)? We the humans had a rabies exposure this year and needed to get the series of shots; the only place we could find was the emergency room, x 5 visits. Hospital charges: about $3000 (THREE THOUSAND dollars, before insurance.) for EACH of the 2 of us. A vet told us it's the same stuff they give animals - she said she knows this because vets have to get this treatment. I asked her if she just self-administered the animal kind and she said no, she'd lose her license - but chemically it's the same.