asking the vet for the generic name instead of the brand

I am trying to be more budget-conscious with my vet bills, but I feel awkward asking for the generic version of medications. I have two cats, Shadow (a shy black cat) and Sunny (a bold orange cat), both 7 years old. They often get prescribed the same things for minor issues.

Is there a polite way to ask the vet to write the prescription with the generic name so I can shop around, or should I just ask them to fill it for me? I don't want to seem like I'm questioning their expertise, just the price.

Hey! I totally get this. My cat Shadow is a 3 year old black dsh and he has skin allergies that cost a fortune to treat. I write down the generic name on the prescription pad myself if the vet is distracted, or just ask "Is there a generic option for this?" before they ring it up.

I actually wrote a whole thread about the specific scripts I use because I was so stressed about it at first. You can check it out here: What I say when the vet tries to upsell brand name meds. It helped me a lot to have the exact words ready.

Hello RiverPrairie, I am glad you asked this question. I have a 12-year-old exotic shorthair named Cleo who has asthma, and the inhalers are quite expensive.

I find that asking the vet to write the prescription on the paper with the generic name allows me to take it to a local pharmacy. I compared prices in a thread I started a while back: Local pharmacy vs online pricing for cat meds. It saved me quite a bit of money. You might find the details there helpful for your situation.

Hi RiverPrairie, I understand your concern. I have an 8-year-old Siamese named Whiskers with stage 1 CKD and a 4-year-old calico named Daisy who is healthy. Whiskers requires regular medication which adds up quickly.

The reason vets charge so much for meds is often the markup on the drug itself, not just the administration. I wrote a post explaining this breakdown so people understand why asking for a generic or filling it elsewhere can save money: Why does the vet charge so much for antibiotics?. It’s not about the vet being greedy, it’s just how they price inventory. Knowing this makes it easier to ask for the generic name on the script.