Where do you buy your pet meds?
I am working on a consumer-related column about monthly pet medications. We all know that between heartworm pills and bug treatments that monthly medications for pets can be very pricey.
We get our pets meds from the Kroger pharmacy. We find that they are competitive on prices and it’s easy for me to remember to get their prescriptions filled when I get my own filled. Full disclosure, my husband is the director of finance for the Kroger division here in Roanoke, so we are pretty loyal to Kroger for a lot of reasons.
I think there is also some money to be saved shopping around online. A friend who used to shop exclusively at 1-800-PetMeds told me she found the same medications at a lower price at Drs. Foster and Smith’s website.
I know a lot of folks just get their medications at the vet’s office and frankly, I probably would too if I had only one pet. I would stock up and get a year’s worth at a time when I took my solo critter in for the annual checkup because it would be so convenient. But with three dogs and two cats, that’s a HUGE investment of cash all at once.
So, dear readers, where do you buy your pet’s prescriptions and where can your fellow pet parents find the best deals?
April 19, 2012 - 6:00 AM
It’s been a little while now, but the last time I tried to buy heartworm and flea/tick medicine from Pet Meds, it was almost equal to the vet cost because of the cost of shipping tacked on to the online purchase. I’ve bought exclusively from my vet since then.
I get all of our pet meds through Drs. Foster Smith: flea/tick meds, heartworm meds and two of our dogs are on seizure meds. I do extensive pricing research (have to, with four dogs plus a foster), and they are always the cheapest, *especially* on the seizure meds-less than half of what we were paying at the vet’s office.
If you want a local source, Angels of Assisi sells flea/tick and heartworm meds much cheaper than anywhere else local I’ve seen (the heartworm meds require a heartworm test prior to getting them). It’s also nice because they sell them by the dose, which if you’re running low on cash is a convenient option.
We offer free standard shipping on any order over $39.00, and have a low-price guarantee. If we’re not the lowest price, we’d be happy to do a price match for you!
I get all of my meds at the vet. I pick them up when I get Molly’s yearly exam. I also have to buy her food from the vet since she is on prescription food now. One stop shop. It probably isn’t the cheapest, but certainly the most convenient.
I still get Chesney’s flea/tick and heartworm meds at the vet, mainly because I’m still a little leery about buying meds online. It would be great to find a cheaper option than the vet……..any amount saved would be that much more in the ole piggy bank.
I buy from my vet. I know that everything I get from them is not out of date and besides, I rarely get home from work before 4pm and I hate to think of medications sitting in a hot mailbox all day in 90 degree heat this summer.
I get my meds from the vet. Only having one dog, it’s very convenient to get it while I’m there for her yearly exam and I, too, am still a little leery about buying meds online.
Deb: What bothers you about shopping online? Just curious and wondering if others feel the same.
I never thought about that Sandy, but that’s a good point.
Leisa: Why are you hesitant about buying online? I am just wondering if others also have reservations for similar reasons and if so I would like to mention that in the column. Thanks.
Convenience counts for a lot, Tami.
Thanks for letting us know about the price match, Abby.
Great tip about Angels, Amanda. Thanks.
I’m hesitant for the same reasons Sandy and Deb mentioned. With my vet, I feel like I can be fairly confident that they’re giving me the right medication for Chesney’s weight and that the meds aren’t out of date. I also worry about them being left in the mailbox all day and wonder what sort of effect, if any, that heat would have on the meds’ effectiveness and/or adverse effects on Chesney. I’m a natural worry-wart anyway, but after Chesney’s surgery last year I’m even worse, so I need to feel very confident in where I get anything for him.
On a side note, I wasn’t aware that you could get pet meds at a “people” pharmacy (or perhaps I’d heard it but just didn’t remember). I also wasn’t aware that Angels provided that service as well. I’m curious as to how the costs would compare to my vet.
I know not everyone makes the trek to Costco, but they’re now carrying pet meds, too. And some vets will ‘price match’ Foster & Smith if you ask them to, especially if you’re a “frequent flyer” like my furry brood is.
The closest Costco to Roanoke is in Greensboro, nearly as I can tell from its store locator on its website. Melissa: That’s great that your vet will price match.
Nona, I have only a single furry kid and have gotten his medications at the Lakeside Kroger pharmacy because I do a lot of my grocery shopping there. Their prices are less than my vet’s office and I dont have to travel all the way to Fincastle to the vet’s office to pick it up. I just put it down on my grocery list along with everything else.
I have 4 dogs and thankfully none of them are on any medications. Curtis’ seizures are food triggered and easily avoided. I feel horrible because it’s been a while since my pups have been on heartworm medication, due to the price.. BUT, I am going to have them tested and start them on Ivermectin for cattle. The tricky part can be dosing, but it costs pennies a dose verses the high cost stuff. And since I have dealt with caring for sick dogs, cats and ferrets I am good with administering medication. There is actually a dogster thread covering the information on it, with different links and recommendations
http://www.dogster.com/forums/Dog_Health/thread/702187
I buy vet wrap, antibiotics, syringes, needles, “Bluekote” (Great for cuts/scrapes or ear infections) from tractor supply. This stuff is mostly for my first aid kit in case of emergencies (That would be another great subject for the blog!! First aid kits)
@Leisa- they list all of their prices on their website here:
http://www.angelsofassisi.org/info/display?PageID=6606
I just heard that Roanoke Valley Mobile Vet has an ONLINE PHARMACY! Now you can purchase all of your pet’s medications from home and have them delivered right to your door and save gas money. Works for me! All prescriptions will be reviewed by Dr. Rogers to ensure your pet receives the right medication.
Just check out their prices compared to other internet pharmacys. They also have a REMIND ME program. This lets you purchase 1 flea or heartworm dose per month. No more 6 month boxes laying around waiting to be forgotten! Thank you for offering this service RVMV.
I buy most of my meds at the vet for convenience sake, although when there was a chance we were going to have to put Madi on a very expensive med, the vet said we could look at buying it from Canada. My vet will price match with online pricing, but includes shipping costs (if any). I generally get my heartworm from Planned Pethood in Franklin County, because it’s very cheap. I didn’t realize I could do that at Angels too. While I like the idea of saving money through pharmacies, the truth is that it’s not the most convenient, especially since right now no one is on any long-term meds.
I buy flea/tick and heartworm meds from my vet for my two cats, mostly for many of the reasons already mentioned. Convenience (the office is down the street and they both eat vet formula food also) and the security of knowing what I’m getting will be the correct types, doses etc. We actually get two different doses of the heartworm medication as one of our kitties is a bit pudgier than the other and crosses over into the next weight range category.
My parents, however, have gotten meds for their pets online and haven’t had any trouble. Also, they get insulin, needles, alcohol prep wipes, etc. for their diabetic cat at the “people” pharmacy. It’s pretty funny to see the prescription boxes with the formally printed labels that say “Patient: Spooky”.
I get my meds from the vet, mostly for convenience because they are close to my workplace. I only have two pets and thankfully we just need flea/tick meds most of the time. I just really like my vet and like to support them as much as possible so using them for my meds is worth the few extra dollars it may cost.
Maria, pleeease be careful about giving your pets Ivermectin, which is meant for cattle. I once worked at a vets office and had to watch a cat, whose owner had given it worm treatment for cattle, suffer in a coma for over a month and then eventually die, all because of giving it the wrong dose. Sometimes, the risk to your pets life isn’t worth the money saved!!