Vet won't give out Heartworm prescription
Emily Smith
I recently received a catalog from Econovet, and
discovered that I could order the same Heartgard
tablets I give my two dogs for less than half
the price my vet charges ($6.89 vs. $14). So, I
went to the vet and asked if I could have my
prescription. I spend lots of $$ there on boarding,
shots, teeth-cleanings, and check-ups, so I
figured I was pretty trustworthy. The vet was not
in at the time, but the assistant told me that
"the dr. does not give out prescriptions". I
reminded her that both my dogs had just had negative
heartworm checks, so what was the problem. But no
go. She just kept repeating that the dr. does not
give out prescriptions.
Has anyone else asked for their heartworm prescription
and been successful or unsuccessful? Are these
drugs more highly regulated than people drugs, where
you can fill your prescription in the pharmacy of
your choice? And is the dr. under any obligation
(legal) to give you your prescription as I hear that
optomotrists are with contact lens prescriptions?
I'd appreciate any feedback/experiences, and ideas
on approaching my vet, or switching vets...I just
don't agree with paying double for something just
because I'm getting it there.
Thanks!
******************************************************************
* Emily Smith * Bell-Northern Research, Inc. * Opinions *
* emi...@bnr.ca * Research Triangle Park, NC * are mine. *
******************************************************************
r hardin
There's no reason to pay the vet for ordinary things like heartworm
medication, as sort of a tax on dog ownership. Let him earn his
living like everybody else, by supplying what customers want.
Switch vets.
I'd be willing to pay the vet's overhead ungrudgingly to maintain his
emergency pharmacy and so forth, but there's nothing so unusual about
heartworm medication that he sould take a cut as middleman.
Let the market set the price, order by mail.
r hardin
Incidentally, if you just walk into any vets office and say you need
more hearworm medication, they'll ask if the dog's been checked for
heartworm but they'll happily sell you the stuff without seeing
a prescription from your vet.
So you may be able to find another source locally that's much cheaper
without any hassle at all, and no postage and handling charge.
The vets around here range over a factor of 2 on heartworm prices;
with the cheapest only a couple of dollars over the mail order price.
Kathy Vineyard
|> figured I was pretty trustworthy. The vet was not
|> in at the time, but the assistant told me that
|> "the dr. does not give out prescriptions". I
|> reminded her that both my dogs had just had negative
|> heartworm checks, so what was the problem. But no
|> go. She just kept repeating that the dr. does not
|> give out prescriptions.
First, ask to talk to the vet himself, it's not the assistant that
gives the prescriptions, it's the vet. He may offer to sell you the
heartworm medicine at the cost the catalog sells it for (maybe plus 10
percent to cover shipping), this will still save you money. If he
still refuses to give you a prescription or sell the medicine at a
discount, go see another vet who WILL give prescription (after having
another test done most likely) and make it very clear to your vet that
this is why you've done so. There's no excuse for vets not to give
prescription, especially for things like heartworm medicine.
I get prescriptions for my heartworm medicine, AND my vet also offered
to sell it to me at the catalog price plus 10% (still much cheaper than
his regular price). I refused his offer as I get my heartworm from
Omaha who does not charge shipping with a minimum order, so I saved
money -- my vet completely understood.
Kathy
pgt...@ac.dal.ca
Randy Torres
Heart Guard anyways, and you do not need a a Doctor to get this. You can
mail order this. Just give 1cc for every 50 pounds. I have been doing this
for my dogs for many many years and never had a problem. I live in Texas which
is the Heart worm capital of thw world. It is amazing how vets love to make
their money.
Robert Brady Jr.
My experience with vets in North Carolina is
that they require a valid, current heart
worm test before they will perscribe heart
worm medicine. If you are not a client of
that vet, they will call your regular vet
to confirm the test is current. I have
never been able to buy the medication
without either a test or confirmation
phone call. Two vets told me the FDA
requires a patient-doctor relationship
prior to dispensing heart worm medication.
It is important that giving preventative
medication to an infected dog can kill
it just as not treating infection can
kill it.
Robert Brady Jr.
617-333-4982 or 617-527-8842, has just released their 1994 grehound
calendar. I just got mine yesterday. The profits from this great
calendar with color photos of greyhounds goes to support this groups
rescue and adoption program.
The calendar is $10.00. Shipping is as follows: 1 for $2.00, 2-4 for
$3.50, 5-8 for $4.50, 8-10 for $5.00, 11-20 for $6.00, 21-30 for $7.00,
31-50 for $10.00 and 51-100 for $12.00.
THE GREYHOUND PROJECT, INC. is a non-profit, volunteer organization
providing information about and promoting the adoption of Greyhounds
and has no affiliation with any greyhound adoption organization. The
1994 Celebrating Greyhounds Calendar is provided by The Greyhound
Project, Inc. to greyhound adoption organizations without profit.
Proceeds from direct sales on the 1994 Celebrating Greyhounds Calendar
will be sent to the Greyhound adoption organization specified by the
purchaser.
James Prescott Ruffner
vaccines, except rabies (the state requires a vet's
certificate), and avoided the high vet price and shipping
fees. My vet gave me a prescription when the boys got their
3yr. rabies shots, and the vet set up the prescription for
enough refills to go for the same period. I bought the first
package from her, but took the prescription and sent it to
Omaha for the subsequent packages. I got the same story about
prescriptions over the phone, and how the vet doesn't give them
out. It ticked me off since the vet gets all of our business
(9 cats, and 2 dogs), and she actively encouraged me to
continue to do my own vaccines (except rabies, which she said
was good for 3yrs. anyway, and would keep office visit costs
down.) This only came up becuase one of the boys, Truman, is
now 124 lbs. and as a result needs one large dog pill, and one
small dog pill with it to get the correct dose. When the
original prescription was given this was not the case. In order
to supplement it, we needed to get the additional package and
an additional prescription. The vet wouldn't do it.
I'm going to wait until next year, and try to get another 3yrs.
prescription for the higher dose when they go in for their
rabies. I suspect the vet will be willing to do this in person.
I may try the ivermectin thing though...good luck.
Scott Ruffner
Truman
Zack
dmmc...@vmsmail.gov.bc.ca
Congratulations! You just passed on information on the illegal use of a drug.
"Ivermectin" (IVOMEC) is not licenced for use in dogs only livestock. It is
very difficult to get an accurate dosage of Ivermectin because you require such a
small amount for a dog.
This is how people managed to overdose Collies and Collie-type dogs because they
are more sensitive to the dosage level of Ivermectin.
I hope that people do not follow your advise.
Denise & the Northern Weims
G.E.Brookhart
>Congratulations! You just passed on information on the illegal use of a drug.
>"Ivermectin" (IVOMEC) is not licenced for use in dogs only livestock. It is
>very difficult to get an accurate dosage of Ivermectin because you require such a
>small amount for a dog.
>
dogs took Ivermectin given to them by my vet and poackaged in the little
booklet style jobbies that Interceptor comes in with doggies all over the
packaging. It was czlled "HeartGard" and was indeed for dog use. Someone
else chime in here with an accuracy check on things for me.
Is there a chance that since your are in Canada that it is not allowed in
Canada and is allowed in the USA? Just curious about this and want to clear
it up for folks.
Of course, since my dogs are on INterceptor now, I have managed to erase
as much from my memory banks about HeartGard as the next poerson so I
could be as wrong as the day is long.
Anne Cotton
heartworm medication used by VERY many US vets tells that
its brand name is Heartguard and its active ingredient is
Ivermectin. Nothing else.
As for dosage, that is indeed based on the weight of the dog;
but the pill my upper-60's pound dog takes is for anything
over 50 and under 100 pounds, so the fine-tuning must not
have to be that accurate.
It sounds like someone is just getting the raw medicine and
giving it, instead of paying a drug company to package it in
pill form. Risky for many of us, but for those who know what
they're doing -- well, why not? Though I find the little package
itself very convenient -- and those neat little red hearts they
give you to put on the calendar to remind you it's time for
the next pill.
_____________________________________________________________
| One advantage of a black Flat-Coated Retriever is that |
| you can easily see the hairs while you're picking them |
| out of the butter. |
| -- Pet Partners Anne Cotton, and Flattie |
| Cinderbin Neg's Molly Malone ("Molly") |
|___________________________________________________________|
Jennifer R. Moore
my vet not only won't write one, when I went to a different clinic and they
called to verify Drin's heartworm test (taken in June), he refused to let them
do the prescription for me! So now Drin has to have *another* heartworm test,
only two months after his last one. However, the combined cost of the new
test, the (small) fee for the prescription, and 6 months worth of Heartgard
Plus from KV Vet Supply ($18.89 for 51-100lb dogs) is slightly less than 6
months of medicine from my vet - plus I'll be able to get his refill more
cheaply after this. Still, it is *very* annoying to be forced to go to so much
trouble to save money!
BTW, has anyone used KV Vet supply? This is my first order with them.
Jennifer (& Drinian the Dobie)
jrm...@oduvm.cc.odu.edu
jrm...@oduvm.bitnet
Eric S. Boltz
> I have been trying to get a written prescription for heartworm medicine, but
> my vet not only won't write one, when I went to a different clinic and they
> called to verify Drin's heartworm test (taken in June), he refused to let
them
> do the prescription for me! So now Drin has to have *another* heartworm
test,
> only two months after his last one.
What a greedy little bastard!
I'd love to see what an informative letter in your local newspaper's editorial
section would do for his practice.
Eric
--
Eric S. Boltz
My views, opinions and statements in no way reflect those of the U.S. Gov't,
the U.S. Department of Commerce or NIST.
Kristin J. Thommes
out that some people may not know*
rto...@convex.com (Randy Torres) writes:
>The easy way around this is to just use ivomectin. This is the ingredient in
>Heart Guard anyways, and you do not need a a Doctor to get this. You can
>mail order this. Just give 1cc for every 50 pounds. I have been doing this
>for my dogs for many many years and never had a problem.
The amount of ivermectin in Ivomec is 10mg per ml (or cc). The dosage of
Ivermectin in Heartgard is 272 mcg per tablet that will treat up to a
100-lb dog. If you were to try and give the same correct dosage of
Iveremectin to your dog using Ivomec, you would use * .0272 ml (cc).
Ivermectin is *not* exactly a "safe" drug, and overdosing may cause problems
(like the early studies done on Collies....now they know that some
breeds are more sensitive to overdosing than others, and the amount in
Heartgared is so small that only the most sensitive individuals have
problems with it).
**DISCLAIMER: I am only a second-year vet student and have only just begun
Pharmacology. I am not providing this information in order for people to
try and give Ivomec (which by the way is not approved for use in dogs) to
their pets. I only wanted to let you all know that giving 1 ml per 50lbs
could result in an overdose and subsequent problems. Veterinarians can
use ivomec to treat mites and such, but they know what dosage to use (and
I do not yet). I think that Randy is very lucky that he has not had any
problems giving this dosage to his own dogs, however I would suggest that
anyone wanting to give their dogs this medication to CONSULT YOUR VET!! Also,
my math is NOT perfect and I do NOT know the toxic dose. Please please please
do not go home and dose your pet with .0272 ml of ivomec!!!**
Any hate mail sent to my address will be happily ignored :)
--
In memory of Friendly, 1978-1993
"You gave me love, and trust, and joy, and though you are no longer by my
side your gifts remain and I have you ever in my heart." -Elizabeth Yates
Ebeth Jones
Well, I just shelled out fifty bucks for 6 months of heartworm medicine.
I had considered ordering it, but of course you need the prescription,
and I was in a hurry so I went ahead and got it from my vet, but I did
ask about it and my vet said that she would give me the prescription
next time. I guess I'll find out in 6 months!
Ebeth
--
Elizabeth Jones
Night Vision & Electronic Sensors Directorate
AMSEL-RD-NV-ASID (Jones)
Ft. Belvoir, VA 22060-5677 E-MAIL: baj...@nvl.army.mil
Ebeth Jones
prescriptions
A friend of mine and I both got new dogs at about the same time, one a
brittany pup and one an elderly golden. The dogs went to the same vet,
who prescribed two different types of heartworm medication. When we
noticed the difference, I asked the vet about it, and she told me that
some dogs absolutely cannot tolerate ivermectin, and that she is very
careful about what types of prescriptions she gives to certain breeds. I
saw another post referring to problems collies have with ivermectin, and
my vet mentioned collies did have a very poor track record with this
stuff.
ebeth
S. Mudgett aka little gator
>I have been trying to get a written prescription for heartworm medicine, but
>my vet not only won't write one, when I went to a different clinic and they
>called to verify Drin's heartworm test (taken in June), he refused to let them
>do the prescription for me!
the only way i can think of for him to stop you is for him to refuse to release
the information about your dog's testing. this is withholding medical
records, which is illegal in some places. you may want to investigate this.
--
-- little gator aka s. mudgett email: s...@harvee.billerica.ma.us
-- friend of a gator is a friend of mine
Guenther Krueger
years. It comes in two sizes and dosages are calculated according to body
weight.
--
__@
_`\<,_
(*)/ (*)--------------------->Guenther...@mindlink.bc.ca
Kathleen Brewer
Newsgroup: rec.pets.dogs
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
KJ>**DISCLAIMER: I am only a second-year vet student and have only just begun
KJ>Pharmacology. I am not providing this information in order for people to
KJ>try and give Ivomec (which by the way is not approved for use in dogs) to
KJ>their pets. I only wanted to let you all know that giving 1 ml per 50lbs
KJ>could result in an overdose and subsequent problems. Veterinarians can
KJ>use ivomec to treat mites and such, but they know what dosage to use (and
KJ>I do not yet). I think that Randy is very lucky that he has not had any
KJ>problems giving this dosage to his own dogs, however I would suggest that
KJ>anyone wanting to give their dogs this medication to CONSULT YOUR VET!! Als
KJ>my math is NOT perfect and I do NOT know the toxic dose. Please please plea
KJ>do not go home and dose your pet with .0272 ml of ivomec!!!**
You are right is saying that giving Ivomec for cattle can be a problem
when giving it to dogs. This is not the way for everyone. I have been
doing it for years without a problem and yes my vet knows and approves.
He is the one who gave me the breakdown for it and general worming, ear
mites etc...I have 12 dogs so giving traditional heartworm medicine is
cost prohibited. However, if you are not very very careful you can kill
your dog very quickly...no collie, shelties, aussies etc..should be
given this type of ivormec as they have been know to have reactions to
it. By the way an easier breakdown for people with small dogs is .10 of
1 cc per 10 pounds for heartworm, given once a month. If you are going
to use this always weigh your dog proir to giving as the wieght of your
dog can very by a pound or 2 every month.
Kathlee...@cutting.hou.tx
---
* OLX 2.1 * 50 states and I had to pick this one.....