Care Corner: Managing Pet Medication Costs

At some point, your pet is likely to need medication for one reason or another. And while prices can be high, there are ways to save so your pet’s medication is more affordable.

Why It’s Important

Medication can be a necessity for maintaining a pet’s health and quality of life. But, in some cases, the cost of pet medications may become a financial burden, especially when the cost of virtually everything goes up! Fortunately, with a little research and some helpful resources, you may be able to save on your pet’s medication.

First, when your vet writes a prescription for a brand-name medication, ask if there’s a generic version of the medication that may be cheaper to purchase. Also, you can always shop around with the pet’s prescription in hand as cheaper versions of medications given yearly, such as flea and tick as well as heartworm protection, may also be available elsewhere. (As a best practice, if you have concerns about generic vs. brand-name pet medications, consult with your vet.)

Next, look for resources that generally may have the pet medication you need at a cheaper price. Here are some ideas to get you started below.

• GoodRx – This online platform brings together prices from major online pet medication retailers, local pharmacies, and other sources to help find you the lowest prices on all your pet medications, just like it does for human medications.
• PetCareRx –  This full-service pet pharmacy and pet supplier provides treats and toys, foods and vitamins, flea, tick and heartworm protection, and a vast range of prescription and non-prescription medications, usually at a great value and with the convenience of 24-hour access and home delivery.
• PetMeds® – Licensed to dispense prescription medications in all 50 states, PedMeds® provides coupons as well as autoship. Just select the medication you need and fill in your vet’s information and the company will contact the vet for authorization and ship the medication to your home.

So, when it comes to finding affordable pet medications, a little research just might help you save some money!
 
Check Out These Resources

Visit Phinney’s Care Corner for additional resources on ways to save on pet medications. Our Get Help page also provides a list of resources if you’re looking for affordable vet care services and more. 

What You Can Do To Help

Phinney’s believes in keeping people and their beloved pets together. We do this by extending a helping hand to pet parents in need when these emergency vet visits become too costly for some to afford. Ways you can help include donating to Phinney’s or volunteering.  And, anyone in need of help in caring for their pets can visit Get Help for more information.