My comments on Reader's Digest article "50 Secrets Your Vet Won't Tell You"
40 "You can go to an online pharmacy and get the same exact drugs you would for 10 to 20 percent off. But check first to make sure it's certified as a Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Site (VIPS certified). Some vets will also match online prices- you just have to know to ask."
42 "Some veterinary drugs have a generic version that's made for humans, and if your vet believes it's a safe and effective alternative, you can get it from a human pharmacy and pay ten times less than you'd pay for the animal version. But recognize that there are legitimate reasons why the generic might not be appropriate for your pet."
45 "A lot of pet medications are available at human pharmacies for lower prices than we charge. Walgreens even has a list of veterinary medicines for $4 per one-month dose. These are medications that you would pay $20 or $30 dollars for at your vet."
UGH. Apparently this is a hot topic- or at least we think it is. Look, vets' medications sold from the hospital are a profit source. There, I said it. I make money when you buy drugs from me. So do the pharmacists when you buy from them, or those folks who answer the phone for 1-800- youknowwho. And yes, you might pay a bit more for mine than those you can get on line. You will get meds from me right now, those from the pharmacy later today, and those on line later this week. Are they all really the exact same thing?
Medications from me have gone from the manufacturer to the distributor to me. I know they have been stored properly. I can trace them back the other way. Those meds that you get online (including heartworm and flea meds, and vaccines) have gone from manufacturer to distributor to someone else to someone else, etc. There are documented cases of expired veterinary medications- especially flea and heartworm products- being shipped overseas, repackaged to look like they are still good, then shipped back to the US and sold as "the same as" those you get from the vet.
There are some good generic medications out there. There are even some prescription medications that my clinic has stopped carrying because we can write you a prescription and have the same drugs filled at a local pharmacy less expensively for you. There are times I need a medication properly compounded to the strength you need- that requires a compounding pharmacist; their services are invaluable. So I'm not saying don't use pharmacies.
Yes, many pharmacies will have generics for $4 or less- they can be used as loss leaders. Once they get you in the store, they hope you will do some other shopping. This is how business works. I have no problem with it. I might not think to offer that- but feel free to ask.
I will write you a prescription. You can do with it as you will. Just please be aware- it might not actually be the "same" as that you get from me. Also- take that source of income away from your vet, and you might find yourself paying $100 exam fees and walking out with a handful of prescriptions that still need to be filled. I actually think this is in the future for us- that we will function more like MDs and will charge more for our time and expertise as we give up making money from products. To use an overused phrase- it is what it is. Some vets are really fighting this change, and all of us want to be sure you are actually getting the best products for the health of your pets.
Enjoy your pets!
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