saving money on vet bills and meds

I’ve been thinking about how to handle the rising costs of keeping Skye healthy. She is ten now, and even though she is just deaf in one ear, the checkups add up fast.

I am not looking for a specific medical advice for a current issue, but rather general strategies. How do you all manage to keep veterinary and pharmaceutical costs down without cutting corners on care? I know the basics, like keeping vaccinations up to date, but the medication side is where I feel most vulnerable.

Hi Mark. I just came from the vet with a new kitten and the bill for the antibiotics was shocking. It’s a mild ear infection, but the brand name drug was $80.

I found a thread where someone explained how to ask for the generic version. It saved me about half the cost. You should read this thread on generic antibiotics. It explains exactly what to say to the vet so they don’t feel like you are questioning their expertise.

As a vet tech, I can say that the "generic" request works for about 60% of our prescriptions. For the rest, the molecule is proprietary or the vet has a specific reason for the brand.

Also, ask about dosing frequency. Sometimes a drug can be given once a day instead of twice. It doesn't save money on the bottle, but it saves on the follow-up appointments if the cat is doing well. I saw a similar discussion in this thread about questions to ask the vet. It lists a few other items, like asking if a blood test is truly necessary before starting treatment.

I am a retired nurse, so I am used to reading labels and doing the math. For Bella, who is 14 and arthritic, the joint supplements are a monthly expense.

I look for the same active ingredient in a different size container. A 100-count bottle is often cheaper per pill than a 30-count one, even if you have to wait a month to finish it. I also check if the local human pharmacy carries the same ingredient. If it does, I buy it there and split the dose. You can find more on this in this thread about using pharmacy coupons. It mentions that some stores will honor coupons on pet meds if you use the same active ingredient name.

omg i just realized i could have saved so much on my cats meds. jasper is hyperactive so we do a lot of behavior consults which are pricey. luna is shy so the vet has to be very gentle which takes longer and costs more lol.

i saw a post in this thread about emergency funds where someone suggested setting up a small auto-transfer each month. its not a fix for the bills but it helps when something pops up. i think i need to do that. also, does anyone else use the "pay over time" options the clinics offer? i feel like that is just interest free loans which is a trap.

My kitten Ginger is 3 and she is a menace. She jumps on the counters all the time and I am afraid she will fall. I need to get her checked for any injuries but I am broke. Is there a way to get a discount on the exam fee itself? Not just the meds? I saw in this thread about questions to ask the vet that some clinics have senior discounts but does that apply to kittens? Or is that just for the cats?

Thank you all. The tip about the 100-count bottles is practical. I will try that for Skye's ear cleaning solution.

I agree with jkelly about the "pay over time" options. I am a pilot, so I know that interest compounds quickly. It is better to have the cash on hand. I think the strategy is to combine the generic medication request with the bulk buying of supplements. It is not a silver bullet, but it helps.

One more thing. If the vet is resistant to the generic, ask for a "therapeutic equivalent" instead of just "generic." It is the same thing, but it sounds more professional. I used that phrase and the vet nodded and wrote it right away. It worked for my kitten's ear infection. You can see the exact script in this thread on generic antibiotics.