This is currently a hypothetical situation but it’s possible that I could be facing a major income reduction in the near future so I’m trying to plan financially :no:
If you couldn’t afford your pet’s meds, are you better off giving them their meds every other day rather than dropping them all together? I know it depends on the meds (as some would not be safe to do this with) but assuming it would be safe, would it still be worth giving them at a reduced frequency?
TIA
I think it’s not really possible to say, since it would depend on the specific meds. But it would probably be worth a conversation with your vet; it may be that there is a less expensive option that would be an appropriate substitute. I know it’s not often that we get this lucky, but my dog was on a “dog-specific” drug that was costing me I think $180/month. Turns out that the identical drug is available for humans, and for a little bit less dosing convenience, she is now on the human version which costs $7 for a 90 days supply. So I would definitely let your vet know the situation, and they may be able to recommend something that is not quite as effective but more affordable.
It would definitely depend on the meds. I faced this with Rimadyl. Yoshi’s prescription was $100/month but he was clearly uncomfortable without them. I did try using the meds once a day and aspirin the other time, but it didn’t work as well. I did find generic Rimadyl at half the price so now his prescription is $50/month. The vet doesn’t carry the generic so I went to an online pet pharmacy.
Paula
It really depends on the meds and their purpose.
If you’re looking at a major income reduction though, I’ll tell you what I had to do…pick up jobs off of CL. I would do things like help people unload a moving truck, do yard work, etc. Cash money, usually no less than 25/hr. So in a few hours on the weekends, I could throw money into my critter fund. I also started tutoring. I’ve now been doing that for about 5 years. I’ve made some connections with professors so I usually have as many students as I can handle each semester via the university.
I think that I’d find a way to get the meds as needed via working a few hours here or there else euth if I really didn’t think I could keep my critter comfortable.
I know that sounds harsh, but the simple truth is that most meds are scripted out based on need, not convenience so if your pet needs them, they probably need them at the doseage and frequency recommended. That said, of course speak with your vet about money saving ideas. Sometimes there are options. Just be careful about “generic”. There are some valid generics out there and then others that are referred to as generic when actually, they are different compounds altogether.
[QUOTE=paulaedwina;6807739]
It would definitely depend on the meds. I faced this with Rimadyl. Yoshi’s prescription was $100/month but he was clearly uncomfortable without them. I did try using the meds once a day and aspirin the other time, but it didn’t work as well. I did find generic Rimadyl at half the price so now his prescription is $50/month. The vet doesn’t carry the generic so I went to an online pet pharmacy.
Paula[/QUOTE]
Would you mind sharing where you get it from online ?
Quite right to make sure the generic version is the same stuff. With rimadyl it is and you still need a prescription from your vet so they’re still in the loop. But there are rules for generic drugs so you’ll probably be fine. Also, as the other poster said; sometimes there is a human dose equivalent that comes up cheaper.
Also, way before we get to talking about killing your beloved animal :eek: talk to your vet, your shelter, anyone that will listen because meds are donated back to organisations all the time.
It’s good to ask and talk about it.
Paula
[QUOTE=Roxyllsk;6807835]
Would you mind sharing where you get it from online ?[/QUOTE]
My pleasure. Generic Rimadyl is carpofen (sp?) and I got it through National Pet Pharmacy. It does require a prescription so you’ve got to talk to you vet.
Paula
Carprofen. Here are two sites that sell generic caplets. Not the chewables, though.
I’m sure there are others.
StG
Yes caplets -no chewables.
Paula
As others have said, it really depends on the medication. You may be better off giving half the dose daily than a full dose every other day.
It is important to talk to your vet and not make that decision on your own.
Paula
You may be better off giving half the dose daily than a full dose every other day.
either option is unlikely to work- most meds are prescribed at the dose they are prescribed at because that is what is needed to reach a therapeutic level. If you don’t give enough, you might as well not even give it at all- because you’re not giving enough to do anything for the animal at the reduced dose.
Look for another option.
Without the specific medication name, or at least the condition you are treating for, no one can give you more specific advice.
Thanks for the replies. Don’t worry - I would definitely run all of this past my vet before just deciding to do it on my own. I was just thinking out loud and wondering if anyone else had found themselves in the same situation.
The meds she is on is ursodiol (which I have to get compounded at the Vet School pharmacy and Fed-Ex’d to me) and Denamarin along with a high quality probiotic. She has liver disease. I could drop the probiotic if I really had to but the other meds are still $100/mo by themselves.
well, ursodiol is also used by humans, so it’s possible it could be obtained more cheaply via a regular pharmacy. I think there is a generic version of denamarin.
You can try giving SAM-e and Milk Thistle from GNC instead of Denamarin. May save you a good bit there too. The sylbin in Denamarin is just the active portion of milk thistle.
As a side note, anytime you are altering any medication schedule, or wanting to add in another med please run it by your vet. The poster who said they gave aspirin every other dose in place of Rimadyl is very lucky to still have a healthy dog. Dogs cannot tolerate changing NSAIDS the way people can, and it frequently results in ulcers.
Ursodiol at 1-800-petmeds - 100 ct 300 mg $210
[URL=“http://www2.costco.com/Pharmacy/DrugInfo.aspx?p=1&SearchTerm=u&Drug=URSODIOL”]
Ursodiol at Costco - 100 ct 300 mg - $42.66
StG
[QUOTE=paulaedwina;6807841]
My pleasure. Generic Rimadyl is carpofen (sp?) and I got it through National Pet Pharmacy. It does require a prescription so you’ve got to talk to you vet.
Paula[/QUOTE]
Thank you ! My vet will write scripts for stuff like this - and my old pup needs his every day. It does wonders for him.
[QUOTE=paulaedwina;6807894]
Yes caplets -no chewables.
Paula[/QUOTE]
I don’t this would be a problem for my boy - he inhales anything that is mixed in his dinner.
Her ursodiol is in 100mg doses so I’d have to have them compounded somewhere. Most of the doses available are too large for her. 
I’ll check the people pharmacies to see if any of them can offer it for cheaper.
Thanks for the GNC tip… I’ll check there too for Denamarin replacements.
RE: The poster who said they gave aspirin every other dose in place of Rimadyl is very lucky to still have a healthy dog. Dogs cannot tolerate changing NSAIDS the way people can, and it frequently results in ulcers.
Thank you for your concern. My vet and I were in on it. Back in the day before Rimadyl aspirin was exactly what they gave old dogs for arthritis. Aspirin is where we started but had to escalate.
You are absolutely correct however; all NSAIDs are not created equal and I remember teching/caretaking at the practice when a dog was brought in with a bleeding ulcer from being given Aleve (do not give your dog Aleve). When we were looking for relief for Yoshi we tried Previcox because of its high efficacy and I could tell within one day’s dose it was causing upset so we were able to stop before he got an ulcer.
As I’ve said -consult with your vet.
Paula
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