A question on vets

[Terri and Harley]

So here is the situation, when I first got Harley he went to vet #1 whom I used with my Schnoodle who has passed. My other dog had diabetes for the last 3 years of his life and while I received some good instructions on administering insulin 2X a day, I wasn't given instruction on protocols for food, snacks, exercise etc with a diabetic dog.

Any info/knowledge I got was by finding a site like this specific to diabetic schnauzer breeds. Those people, like everyone here, were very smart and generous in sharing their journeys and information. Because of them, those last three years, my dog had a great quality of life. We lost him to cancer.

In thinking back, I realized that it was my being pro-active and not the vet's guidance that really saved my dog and I wondered if Harley should go there.

I did bring him initially. We were struggling with recurrent Giardia and, of course, they put him on Metronidazole. It didn't help and luckily I found this site and learned about Panacur and the protocol to clean, clean, clean.

I switched to a different vet based on several good word-of-mouth reports. This time, when Harley became reinfected, I was proactive, got the Panacur, did the protocol and flatly rejected the Metronidazole they tried pushing on me. So, honestly, I have not been bowled over with this vet's competence either.

Another recurrence, they trotted out the Metronidazole =again.= Ugh! I turned it down. Again.

Last week, I needed refills for Harley's Heartgard and Nexgard. I asked for scripts since the Sam's club can fill them cheaper than what my vet offers. They only gave me a script for a three month supply stating that in 3 months, Harley is due for blood work. I had to sign a release saying that I would not hold them responsible for inferior drugs from a pharmacy.

When I brought this script to Sam's they can't fill it because they do not break open packages like the vet. They only sell in 6 month supplies. When my pharmacist called, they refused to rewrite it for the larger quantity.

This has nothing to do with Harley's weight, IMO. He is over a year old and 65 lbs. I don't see him suddenly gaining 30 lbs in 3 months. Heartgard's weight reference is 51-100 lbs getting the same dose.

So why is my vet doing this? Is there a case where you would NOT want your animal on these preventatives in order to do bloodwork? And if so, wouldn't you =tell= the dogmom?

Why would any vet, risk a dog owner =not= getting this filled because of pricing?

I obviously bring my dog to you. I have you do the fecals at the first sign of any soft stool. I pay my bills. So what exactly is the thinking here?

I'm ready to search for vet #3.

Opinions?

Terri (and Harley) 

[Becka]

I would be frustrated enough to look for a new vet also. I don't know if this will help you, but I order Nexgard from 1800petmeds and they sell it in a three-month supply. My own vet doesn't carry it, but has never had a problem with confirming the prescription when the people at 1800petmeds call. So you might want to try that while you look for a new vet. 

[Terri and Harley]

Thanks for that info! I think I'll look into it!

Terri & Harley

[Amy and Annabelle]

If you would prefer to get your meds from somewhere, else he should work with you. I think it is pretty safe to say Harley most likely won't gain 30lbs in the next 3 months, at his age. I doubt this is a case of the vet just wanting to cover his own skin in case Sams messed up. I would bet it is purely for financial reasons. 

Doesn't sound like you are all that happy with him anyway. I would probably still keep looking.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

According to Merial, they do not sell their products to anyone other than veterinarians. They also will not warranty product purchased thru warehouse clubs, etc. We have had discussions about this here, and the fact that there is a lot of counterfeit product out there. So I cannot blame your vet for not wanting to give you a prescription to get your heartworm prevents at Sam's Club. My vet wouldn't either, but he did recently give me one for PetRX Direct, for the unflavored Heartgard, because he doesn't carry that. If your vet had refused to give you one for one of the online companies with vets on staff, that would be different. 

Also according to the manufacturer, dogs must be tested for HW yearly in order for them to warranty the product. It can also be dangerous to give the prevents to a dog who tests positive. So again, I can't blame your vet for not wanting to give more than a three month prescription if it has been 9 months since your dog was tested. My vet wouldn't either, and I've been with him for something like 20 years. :)

The metronidazole stuff is a different story. 

[Amy and Annabelle]

Really? I thought if you had a script and got it directly through the pharmacist, it would be the real deal if they had it. Good to know. I have always gotten Annabelle's through the vet because I want everything to stay conveniently in one place. They know she gets her meds every month, because they sell them to me. I would never get them from the shelf. I guess I never really thought about a pharmacy until now.

In Terri's case, I thought her vet saying her dog could gain 30lbs in 3 months sounded like a lame excuse. If he had brought up a voided warranty and knock off meds by going through those places, then that would have made more sense.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I don't think her vet said the dog could gain 30 lbs in three months. 

"They only gave me a script for a three month supply stating that in 3 months, Harley is due for blood work."

I take that to mean that he's due for HW testing in three months. 

[Terri and Harley]

Thanks for the info. I am going to look into the online companies. I suppose what frustrates me is the lack of communication too. 

Thanks so much for this info. Now at least I don't feel so defensive.

Terri & Harley

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'll tell you the honest truth, I prefer to buy the HW and flea/tick prevents from the vet anyway. I feel sure of what I'm getting and I don't find the prices to be significantly higher. They usually have specials where you get one or two months free with purchase, and I like having the extra safety. I used to buy them from Foster and Smith, and I had a very bad experience with a Heartgard shipment: Doses from different lots with no manufacturer's packaging, some expired. Not worth it to save a dollar or two a month. I sent it all back and started only buying from the vet. I just wish my vet carried the unflavored Heartgard tablets. 

[Amy and Annabelle]

If you have been going with him for 20 years, I think it is the least he could do for you.

My vet happens to be cheaper than 1800petmeds and I know I am getting the vet grade meds. She gets Nexgard and Interceptor Plus and I pay $24 for a months worth for the 2.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Good info in this past discussion about buying prevents from the vet versus elsewhere. 

http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/frontline-ugggg?xg_source=...

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

My Vet would do the same thing.  She always does the blood test for Heartworm (at their annual) before prescribing the refills.  I did buy my preventatives online once.  When they arrived the packaging looked suspicious and I was too concerned to use it.  Since them I'm back to purchasing them from my Vet.

[charlotte bednarsh]

As many of you know, my beloved Paz has lymphoma, and is being treated  by a renowned oncologist at a state of the art treatment facility in NYC; Paz has achieved remission and will finish chemo within the next few months.  Recently, I had a discussion with his oncologist, and primary vet about vitamins and routine items such as heartworm meds and so forth, and both the vets urged me to purchase meds, vitamins and so forth from a vet because of their concern about the lack of quality controls on items purchased from vendors on the internet.  I can honestly say their concern is not motivated by their profits on the meds, but concerns about the lack of quality controls for veterinary medications purchased on the internet.  I believe their concerns are valid, therefore, I will only purchase heartworm meds, etc, from the vet.