Save Money on Pet Medicine

51 comments

Happy Tuesday everyone!Today is medical day and I want to pass along some money-saving information to you. As you know 3 of our kitties are on medicine for hyperthyroidism. Millie and Spooky take Felimazole which costs $38/month each and Polar Bear takes Methimazole which is very similar, but I got his from the low-cost vet clinic which actually ended up bring $1 more.Millie

Millie ( Thank you Dezi, Lexi and their Mom for fixing Millie’s blue eye ( it was red in the original).

I remembered in the past having to get pet meds from the regular pharmacy and figured I would check their pricing. Several years ago when I was without insurance, I was able to get $4 prescriptions at Walmart for my hypothyroidism so I was hoping I could get the kitty meds for $4. I wasn’t quite that lucky, but they quoted me $9 for the Felimazole and $12 for the other. I know everyone isn’t a fan of Walmart and I don’t even get my meds there ( I go to Walgreens because they have a drive-up- I am lazy), but I am thrilled to save $82/month. I would rather have that money to donate to needy cats or to save for an emergencies that come up with mine. I just thought I would let you know in case you want to save some money.

I wrote about this on Facebook the other day and had many comments. Someone wrote that Target has $4 meds so you may want to check with them too. I did call the nearest one (half an hour away) and the meds would be $20/month. I guess it depends on what kind of meds you need. Someone else wrote that their vet would charge to send the prescription there. I think that is wrong if you are paying for the office visit /check-up you should have a right to get the meds wherever you want and not have to pay for a prescription.

001Joanie thought you might want to see her tummy for Tummy Tuesday- you can even rub it- she is very sweet.

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51 comments

  1. Our vet does ‘price matching’ so if you can get a printed out quote from wherevfur, they will let you pay that same price fur theirs…hey, why don’t they just charge the lower prices to begin with…they must think we are dumb or made out of $$ or both.
    We did this for the heartworm drugs.

    1. That is great that your vet does that, I go to a VCA so they would never do that.

  2. Good tip on the meds. My vet always gave me prescriptions for pharmacies if it was a lot cheaper. Sometimes I bought from him but other times he told me to get stuff online because it was too expensive for him to carry.
    Costco (and I’m guessing Sams) pharmacy might be good places to check too.

    1. Good idea to check Cpstco, etc. I don’t go there, but I am going to have a friend check the pricing for me. Thank you.

  3. It’s important to price check meds – they can get expensive! Sadly, Binga is on OTC PepcidAC, and my human has yet to find a way to save money on that – it is not cheap.

      1. @Summer
        Minko is on that,too…2.5mg twice a day…which is 1/4 of a 10mg tablet. We use the generic, its $6.59 for 30 tablets. Which means a 2 month supply. It really has been helping with his vomiting:)
        (Pepcid is Famotidine)

        Not sure what the generic $ would be say at a Rite Aid or a Walgreens…maybe a bit less, because those staores have ‘saving cards’.

        1. It sounds like you have a good price. I am glad the meds are helping Minko. Does he eat anything on his own or do you still have to feed him?

          2. Small steps is better than nothing and it is good he will eat for you and less vomiting is always good.

    1. That is a good idea too, but the vet I go to only sells specific things because VCA is a big corporation that partners with certain companies. If my niece didn’t work there, I would go elsewhere.

  6. I totally agree. A regular pharmacy is almost always cheaper than getting meds through the vet. A few years ago I had a cat who had to be on buprenorphine (synthetic morphine) for long term pain control. Through the vets office the cost was absolutely ridiculous, like $10/day! Plus, they had a really hard time getting the meds for me. So I called around and found a pharmacy specializing in hospice care – they were able to get me the meds for $85/month, and they could fill the prescription in 24 hours.

    Also – don’t know if anybody out there has a cat on sub Q fluids, but it’s been tricky for the past year or so because there has been an international shortage of fluids. Apparently one manufacturer went out of business, plus there’s been an increased demand with the Ebola crisis, believe it or not. Anyhow, I think the worst of the shortage is over now, but if anybody’s having trouble getting fluids, try a farm supply company like Leedstone, or do a search for “veterinary lactated ringers” – it’s the same as the regular human grade lactated ringers solution, but I think there are fewer hoops for the manufacturers and it can’t be used for people so there’s less demand.

    Sorry to blather, you’ve hit on a subject that I have more experience with than I care to think about! 🙂

    1. Thank you for this information. I had no idea there was a shortage because of Ebola. You should write a post about this and where to find it for pets. I only used the fluids briefly when KaChoo had kidney disease, once she passed, I donated the rest to a shelter. I don’t consider this blather, it is why I write posts, to share information I get and hopefully others will do the same. We all have the same goal, to help improve all cats’ lives. 🙂

  7. Thanks for the info! I get Sam’s meds from the vet – his Methimazole is $24 for a 60 day supply so we think that’s pretty reasonable. Have never looked at an alternative place to get it – the vet’s office is so close by too which is convenient. As for Joanie’s beautiful tummy – it looks like a perfectly fabulous tummy for a “Tummy Tuesday” indeed!!!!!!

    Hugs, Pam and Sam

    1. That is very reasonable and it is nice that you live close to the vet too. Joanie says thank you. She loves a belly rub 🙂

  9. Yes, that is a great way to save some money. Our Vet always tells us that she can fill it for us but it’s way cheaper if she just writes us a script and go to Wal-Mart. She is always helping save money that way.

  10. lookin gorgeouz az all wayz mille & joanie !! ♥♥

    haz yur mom ever looked inta Drs Foster & Smith ?

    2.5 mg of Felimazole iz $19.00 for 100 and Methimazole iz 5 mg; 100 for 25.00….free shipping on itemz 49.00 and up

    her mite wanna look inta 1 800 pet meds az well ~~~~

    ♥♥♥

    1. Those prices are even better- thank you, I will check into that. You are not only sweet, you are super smart kitties too.

  12. Dat’s gweat Ms. Ellen. And even better dat they carry purrscwiptions fur us anipals. Our local farmacies don’t and won’t accept a scwipt fwum a VET. Cute fotos, altho’ we hope yous not mind, we borrowed Millie’s and edited out da devil eye and sent it to yous email. Y’all have a pawsum day.

    Luv ya’

    Dezi and Lexi

    1. That is too bad your pharmacies won’t take scripts for pets, all ours do, just some cost more than others. Thank you so much for getting the devil out of MIllie 🙂 XO

  13. Great information here. I don’t know if I would continue to go to a vet that charged to write up a prescription! Price shopping can really save you money, if your willing to spend the time doing it. The pharmacy prices are always changing so expecting your vet to know where to send you for the best price is unreasonable, but if you do the work and check around to find the best deal, I don’t see any reasonable reason why your vet couldn’t call in or write a prescription for you. Shame on that veterinarian for charging for that.

    1. I agree the vets shouldn’t charge that much, especially the low cost one. It is good to shop around with everything, it is the only way to save money.

    1. Thank you, I am sure they are expensive in all countries. I wish I had tips for everyone. Joanie thanks you for the tummy rub. Purrrs to you too.

  18. Joanie, that is one incredible tummy!!! And thank you so much for the great info. With my cats I’ve used a compounding pharmacy and it is very expensive.

    1. Joanie says thank you. Compounding is expensive, I have done that a couple times and changing the flavor didn’t make it any easier to get into the cats.

  19. Joanie, you made us squee!

    Isabella is on Flovent for her asthma and it comes from the human pharmacy for $200 for a 3 month inhaler. Guess she’s worth it.

    Purrs,
    Angel

  20. That’s some good info. We have gotten some med at the human pharmacy. The only problem we have had is in the dosage. Many times the human pharmacy doesn’t carry the med in the dosage size that we would need. Which requires the mom having to split pills or other stuff which isn’t easy. We get most of our meds from a compounding pharmacy where we get exactly what we need and it’s a flavored treat that we will eat. Yes, it’s more expensive that way, unfortunately.

    1. DO you kitties take your meds when it is compounded. I tried that with Benadryl for Prancie because she used to drool all over from the cherry flavor. She did the same thing with venison flavor and it costs a small fortune as you said. I don’t mind doing that if they really take the meds.

    1. I am sure there are some cheaper options for you if you shop around. Do you have the equivalent of Petmeds ?

  22. Mew mew mew it iss a shame it costs so much fur meddycayshunss fur us feeliness!!!
    LadyMum uses her Farmacy fur mee eye ointment an thee Farmacist allwayss asks to see fotoss’ of mee. Inn fact LadyMum tooked Mistur Mani his own wallet foto an hee was so happy to have it!!!
    So LadyMum says if shee needs anyfing fur mee shee will go to Farmacy 😉
    Joanie yur belly iss berry nicebutt mee onlee has eyess fur Phoebe mee sweet buttercup! 😉
    ***nose kissess*** Siddhartha Henry xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

    1. Joanie understands 🙂 That is sweet that the pharmacist has your photo- he is very lucky to have a special photo of you. I am very lucky to have lots of photos of you. Love, your Buttercup purrincess. Nose kisses to you too cutie pie. 🙂

  23. LadyMum was not sure how Mistur Mani wood reeact to mee foto butt hee was like a littul boy getting a birthday gift hee alllwayss wanted!!!
    Hee said hee wood carry mee with him inn his wallet. Mee wishess mee could go meet him!! Mee allwayss chins anyfing hee has touched that LadyMum brings home!
    Mee iss glad you has lotss of fotoss’ of mee! That way you nevurr furget mee, mew mew mew……
    ****paw kissess**** an ~~~head rubss~~~
    Siddhartha Henry yur sweet kittyboy xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

    1. Maybe he could visit you in your outdoor condo sometime- do you live near the pharmacy? I would never forget you even if I didn’t have a photo, but I am glad I do have lots of photos of my handsome purrince. XO head rubs.

  24. Say Purrincess Phoebe mee sweet buttercup gurl thiss is a pawsum idea!!!!
    Wee onlee live 1 long lock away. Thee onlee fing iss maybe hee not aloud to visit customers??? Mee not sure…..
    LadyMum will have to ask Mistur Mani 😉
    fankss fur thee grate idea!!
    Beeuteefull an smart!!!
    ***paw kissess*** an ~~~head rubss~~~ an **nose kissess**
    Yur Purrince Siddhartha Henry xxxxxxxxx

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