Ordering Heartgard online?

[bustermom]

Buster and Maggie both take Heartgard every month and I have to say that over time it can get expensive. Up till now, I've been buying it from our regular vet. I know that they don't "approve" of online pet pharmacies as they have signs in the office subtly detailing the problems that can arise with such places.

However - if the dogs have a valid prescription and are under a vet's care, what is wrong with purchasing medication from the least expensive place possible? It comes factory sealed in original packaging and is guaranteed to be well within its expiration date. Heck, I shop around for my thyroid medication - why not for the dogs' medicine?

This has just recently become an issue with me as I priced out Heartgard with several of the larger online pet pharmacies. I asked our vet if they would price match in order to keep the business, and they were reluctant to do that so I went ahead and placed an order online.

The online place called the vet to verify the prescription (as they're legally obligated to do) and were told that my vet doesn't verify prescriptions over the phone, so the online place sent a fax. Then the vet said that one of the doctor's would need to sign off on it. This was a few days ago. The online place just called me (via an "electronic courtesy call" on my voice mail) to let me know they still haven't heard from the vet's office so I may want to contact the vet and speed up the process.

I'd like to think that it's more than the loss of revenue from a year's supply of Heartgard that makes them seemingly reluctant to verify the prescription... I need to call or stop by and speak to our favorite doctor and see what the deal is.

Has anyone else run into this kind of issue or experienced such pushback from their vet?

 

[ljnash]

I wish I could help you, but I haven't ordered heartworm meds online because I would have to have a prescription. I just didn't want to go to all that trouble. But, if it is a big savings to do so I'd go for it.

I don't think my vet would give me a problem about it if I asked her, but I could be wrong!

I do buy Frontline online, but I don't need a prescription for that.

Good luck, and keep us posted!

Lenore

 

[Monica156]

I ordered online without any problems. They didn't need to verify the perscription either. Sorry, I don't remember which vendor I used, it was 6 months ago (Yikes, time to buy again!).

Monica

 

[SammynDqtz]

Monica156...

Heart Gard is by perscription only... so who ever you got the heart gard from is doing it the wrong way.
BusterMom: I haven't tried getting heart gard online because the one time I was looking I found the heart gard to be cheaper but once you add the shipping and handling charges, it it close to the same price as the vets.

 

[kjames7148]

Yup, had the same problem.

My vet said that they don't store the product properly which can cause it to be ineffective.

Let me add that when I say "my vet", I mean the closest vet to me. I'm not particularly crazy about this guy, but luckily my kids are very healthy and we haven't had to go to the vet since we've moved to that area.

I really don't know what to tell you; who knows what's true or not.

Karen

 

[Elyse]

My vet told me that she worries about how long these
products have been sitting on the shelf as well as how
they are stored.

I would stick with the vet... a few $$ more is worth the peace
of mind.

 

[VTbxrFan]

I've never tried ordering online, but I do sometimes get frustrated with the cost difference. The way I look it at, though, is one way or another the vet is going to get the money s/he needs to keep the practice running. If they lose income off of retail products, they will have to raise the prices on medical care. Maybe I'd feel differently if my vet was living a super extravagent lifestyle, but that's typically not the case of the vets I know. They work hard and deal with lots of stress but typically make a lot less money than people in the medical field for humans.

I've also noticed a sign in my vets office that the heartworm medication is "guaranteed" only if purchased by them. I'm not exactly sure what they means and I've never asked, but I wonder if it's something about the cost is your dog happens to get heartworms while taking the preventative.

 

[kelbel1]

We use revolution, it is by Rx, and was approved by my vet before they would ship it. It is alot less expensive online, I would recommend it! As long as your vet will approve the Rx of course.

 

[bustermom]

Thanks for all the input! Based on it, I've done a bit more research.

Heartgard is guaranteed by the manufacturer (Merial) when used as directed and prescribed by a licensed vet. I'd say that we fall under that description. Heaven forbid either of the dogs contracts heartworms while taking Heartgard, but I'd feel comfortable insisting that Merial stand by that guarantee and pay any resulting vet bills. Of course this is a speculative legal issue and always open to interpretation - hopefully nothing we'll ever have to worry about.

The online pharmacy states that they store all prescription medication in climate controlled facilities which meet the requirements on the medication's label. Expiration dates are monitored and they won't ship medication that will expire before it's intended "end of use" date (so if you order 6 months of Heartgard, it won't expire in the next 7-8 months). Okay, I'm willing to accept that.

No tax and no shipping charge if you order a minimum $$ amount (which I did), so the overall cost is close to 60% less than at the vet's office.

The only potential problem I see (unless the company isn't being truthful regarding storage) is during shipping when the medication can get exposed to temperature extremes. But our vet receives Heartgard in via UPS (I've been there when it's been delivered) so I guess this shouldn't be a point of contention.

Whatever the case, I'm going to stick with the online ordering and use the money saved to buy something else for the dogs - maybe some nice marrow bones...

 

[KAZ77]

I use 1800petmeds.com , all I had to do is give them my vets name and number. They called and verified the perscription, i did not have to do anything, execpt pay.