Shopping online for pet meds
After four long months, my tiny puppy, Lola, is finally ready to go outside! That also means it’s time to start buying heartworm pills and flea and tick medications (since she plans to spend most of her summer romping around in the grass and playing with our neighbor’s Chihuahua, Coco!).
Our vet sells the heartworm and flea and tick medications at competitive prices, but I decided to shop around a bit to see if I could find it for less online. Here’s how I ended up saving more than $40:
Use price comparison sites. I used TheFind.com and searched for the heartworm pills (Interceptor 2.3 mg) and flea and tick medications (Frontline Plus since that’s what my vet recommended for Lola).
Look around at different times. Amazon had the lowest prices for Frontline, but I couldn’t find Frontline Plus with free shipping for small dogs the first time I looked. I waited and searched again the next day—sure enough, Frontline Plus was available for smaller dogs with free shipping (poor Lola—she had to stay away from our lawn for a week or so since I opted for the free shipping option, which took a few days).
Make sure you follow the directions whenever you apply flea and tick medications since the EPA recently issued a statement that they’re taking a closer look at spot-on flea and tick medications.
Shop from reputable sites. Heartworm pills require a prescription—bypass sites that don’t require prescriptions on Rx-items—that’s a sign that it might not be legitimate.
I ended up buying the heartworm pills from Doctors Foster and Smith, which a friend uses to buy her dog supplies—I even found a promotion code for $5 off any order and they offered free shipping on prescription medications. I ordered a 12-month supply so that I would only need to bug my vet once for a prescription for Lola.
My total savings: I saved $15 on the heartworm pills and $26 on the flea and tick applicators—that’s $41—or a little more than half of our “salon visit” (AKA grooming bill) for Miss Lola.
Where do you buy your cat and dog medications? Do you have any great sites that you love?
Nicole Sarrubbo
Posted by: Dan | Jul 23, 2009 1:03:05 AM
I think Drs. Foster Smith is a good website, but they are a bit pricey.
I tend to buy my pet meds from a lesser known site that also sells only EPA / FDA approved pet meds... PetMedPros.com
Posted by: Debbie Hemenway | Jul 23, 2009 6:03:52 PM
I talked to my vet about this the other day and he is quite unhappy with the big online pet medication supplier. His staff has to spend time finding and sending prescriptions and it is a cost to him which is paid by neither the client nor the pet medication supplier. He has offered to come as close as he can to their price. He was also unhappy with their attitude in telephone communications, but that may have been an issue of individuals. In any case, I value my relationship with my veterinarian and since I want him to be able to continue to afford to run his practice, I have decided that I will no longer use the online service for medications. I still use them for supplements, as that transaction is strictly between me and them.
Posted by: Pete Nikolai | Jul 23, 2009 8:03:31 PM
The best price on Frontline and other pet meds is frequently from PetCarePoint. They ship from Australia and seem to have lower prices there or benefit from exchange rate.
Posted by: Nancy | Jul 28, 2009 8:05:28 AM
Our vet was very annoyed that I asked to fill our dogs Rx at Target. I used to work as a vet tech so I know what meds have a human comparable that can be used by animals. Some vets do not want to lose the profit on selling you a medication. Many like amoxicillin and valium are the FDA human drugs dispensed at the vet clinic or a pharmacy.
Posted by: Margaret | Mar 9, 2010 12:48:39 PM
DO NOT, I REPEAT DO NOT used Petfooddirect.com for any of your pet medications or supplements. Customer Service is horrible. I waited nearly 2 weeks to receive all prescription medications plus supplements and the only reason I got them was because I called the CEO of the company. First they didn't get the fax approving the script from my vet, my vet never got it. Next, it will ship tomorrow and never did. I then had to go to my vet to get a few pills to hold me over until it did come. Still didn't receive and I had to demand to have the order sent Fed Ex and refund my credit card.