Vets, In It Because They Care, Or To Just Make Money?
Understand, this is not a jab at all veterinarians. I believe there are a lot that do care, but I also believe there are some that are just in it for the money.
Here is a little letter that I had to write to the Pennsylvania Veterinary Assocation, in regards to the local vet refusing me to be able to order my pet’s prescription online, for a lot less money:
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To whom it may concern,
I am writing with a very agitating situation..
Recently one of my dogs, was seen at the local vet in Elizabethville Pa, and was
diagnosed with having a joint disorder and arthritis. They then proceeded to
prescribe Rimadyl. That was all well and fine, and it seems to be working.
Herein lies the problem. I use the internet to make a lot of purchases.
Especially sites like, Petco, 1800 Petmeds, and Petsmart. I recently found the
Rimadyl for a fraction of the cost that the vet is charging me, by going thru
1800 Petmeds. When trying to make the purchase, I was informed by 1800Petmeds
that they would need to see the prescription in order to fulfill it.
After we contacted the vet for the info, the vet refused to release the
prescription details to 1800 Petmeds, saying that there meds must be illegal
because you can’t possibly get them cheaper than what the vet sells them for.
I think this is a bunch of crap, especially being that this could be a lifelong
prescription, we cannot afford to keep paying the vets prices, when we can get
it for about 30% cheaper.
I need to know my rights as far as being able to get MY DOG’s precription
filled wherever I wish to get it.
This has to be illegal. I see this as being the same as a Dr, trying to tell me
I can’t use Walmart to get my prescriptions filled, just because their prices
are more affordable.
Please help!
—————————–
It seems to me, these guys are looking to drag us thru the coals. Why would they care where we get the meds, as long as our dog is getting them.
All of our reader’s comments would be greatly appeciated.
Posted: February 25th, 2008 under Articles, Health.
Tags: 1800 Petmeds, Pet Meds, Petco, Petsmart, Rimadyl, Veterinarians, Vets
Comments: 2
2 Responses to “Vets, In It Because They Care, Or To Just Make Money?”
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March 6th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
It is professionally unethical for a veterinarian to deny you a prescription for medicine he would sell you there at his clinic or has prescribed for your pet. I am sorry that your vet somehow feels it is within his rights to do so. In the state of Pennsylvania, the Veterinary regulations only state the following concerning prescriptions:
Principle 7 (c) - “In the choice of drugs, biologics or other treatments, veterinarians should use their professional judgment in the interests of the animal, based upon their knowledge of the condition, the probable effects of the treatment and the available scientific evidence which may affect these decisions.” -
So the law doesn’t make it illegal for a vet to deny a script request and certainly adds more questions. I must stress though, ethically and morally a vet should write a prescription. They are, after all, the DR. and you can and should get the meds filled at the pharmacy of your choice, not theirs. Just as you decide with your own medicines.
March 7th, 2008 at 9:44 pm
Exactly Right Trever! Thank you for the comment. I wonder if it is okay to get the prescription somewhere else if you have the bottle with the details on it?