Wow ! Just wow. . .

[Over the Hill]

Just Wow ! Dropped by my vet's office yesterday to get some Bute powder for the mare. Last time, I was given a 2.2 pound container, and charged $48.00. . . yesterday I asked for the same and was told " we can't get that anymore, but this is the same stuff" and handed me this very small plain white jar with a typewritten label on it, can't weigh more than a few ounces, and was charged $48.00 !!! Just checked Valley Vet and they have the 2.2 pound container for $29 and change and free shipping !!!! Called my vet's office and told them, asked them to fax a RX for it for me and they refused! I know the economy sucks right now, but really !!??

[birdsong]

Don't you feel a bit betrayed when your Vet refuses to give you a prescription. I know you think "they" are the ones who should feel that way...it made me miffed when my vet did that for a dog med.

[kellyb]

I thought it was against the law to not write a prescription?? That's BS. My dog vet was not happy that I asked for an Rx so I could buy my stuff through Smartpak. I'd love to buy it at their office, trust me....but NOT for 50% more!!!

[jengersnap]

Be sure to compare the labels carefully. There is bute, and then there is concentrated bute. The latter is more potent and less is fed. This is often what the white unflavored powder is up here. I'm not sure if that's the case in the states, but it's always good to read a label on any changed product.

And yeah, the refusal to write a script is a sad money grab.

[War Admiral]

Sadly, I have only had ONE vet EVER who would write a script. I mean, I know that marking stuff up is how they make their money, but... one practice was charging me $49.00 for a med that was available online (NOT in a generic) for $9.95... :rolleyes:

[RockinHorse]

Be sure to compare the labels carefully. There is bute, and then there is concentrated bute. The latter is more potent and less is fed. This is often what the white unflavored powder is up here. I'm not sure if that's the case in the states, but it's always good to read a label on any changed product.




I agree. The small jar of white powder Bute I have used has a scoop about 1/2 the size of the large jar with the orange flavered Bute I have used so it is about the same number of doses even though the jar size is quite different.

[Sansena]

Vet refuses to write a scrip? Tme for a new vet.. and TELL THEM why you're pulling your business. It's akin to blackmail...

[Equibrit]

My vet has called prescriptions in to the local Kroger for me, and when I picked them up I was asked if they are for the horses, and they charge me less than for people stuff.


From the AVMA website;http://www.avma.org/issues/prescribing/prescribing_faq.asp

Q: A client asked me to write a prescription rather than dispense a prescription drug out of my clinic. What are my rights and responsibilities?
A: The AVMA developed a position statement (http://www.avma.org/issues/policy/internet_pharmacies.asp) to guide your actions. The AVMA encourages veterinarians to honor client requests to prescribe rather than dispense a drug when a veterinarian-client-patient relationship (http://www.avma.org/issues/policy/ethics.asp#III) exists and the veterinarian has determined that the drug is medically necessary. If the veterinarian does not have a veterinarian-client-patient relationship or does not believe the drug is medically indicated, the veterinarian should not write the prescription.
If the veterinarian has determined that dispensing the drug from the clinic may be best for the patient or client, the veterinarian may wish to explain the reasons for this to the client. If, however, the client prefers a prescription to a dispensed drug, veterinarians should honor client requests to prescribe rather than dispense a drug. The client has the option of filling a prescription at any pharmacy.
Some state regulations require a veterinarian to provide a prescription rather than dispense a drug when requested by the client. None of these laws require the veterinarian to write a prescription in the absence of a veterinarian-client-patient relationship or if the drug is not medically indicated. Veterinarians should ascertain state requirements by contacting the Board of Veterinary Medicine (http://www.aavsb.org/DLR/DLR.aspx) in the state(s) in which they are licensed. Also, depending upon the state, Board of Pharmacy (http://www.nabp.net/index.html?target=/whoweare/boards3.asp) regulations may also apply to veterinarians as handlers of prescription drugs. Therefore, veterinarians should make themselves aware of any pertinent Board of Pharmacy regulations in their state. State veterinary medical associations (http://www.avma.org/advocacy/state/vmas.asp) work on your behalf to monitor state issues that affect veterinary medicine and may be a very helpful resource.

[KitKat987]

Wow. I'd be finding a new vet too. My vets always give me an option. Heck, they even only charged me for one float for two horses because the horses were young and had soft teeth still and were so easy to do. My dog's vet, who works out of the same clinic as my equine vets, always tells me to go buy human stuff rather than purchase from them because it is so much cheaper than buying from them. I love my vets.

[Baroque-n-Dreams]

Both of my vets are great on writing scrips if we would prefer them.

We live in a VERY rural area, and both docs have the goal of wanting people to actually get medical care for the animals, and so many people out here just don't for various reasons, so they work with individuals on how they prefer it.

If you don't care about the price and just want the convenience of having them provide it, they will sell it to you. If you want to save money and want the scrip, they provide that.

Either way - they are just glad that you are taking care of things.

[theoldgreymare]

Our main vet actually seems to prefer to write scrips! He also is very willing to write PRN scrips for those horses with ongoing issues (several of our retirees) so I don't have to deal with faxing forms back and forth all the time. What I have purchased from the office has been hugely marked up by both vet clinics we use.

[Secretariat2]

My vet will write scripts but his prices are very reasonable so it is much easier to just buy directly from him. He will leave meds at the State Lab for me too, if I run out of something and don't actually need a vet visit.

[Iron Horse Farm]

My vet wrote me a script and then when I got my next statement, I found that he had charged me $15 to write the script to offset the $$ that he would lose by not filling it. For me it wasn't even about paying him for the medication - his office is an hour each way and the local pharmacy is 10 minutes.

[Bells]

Check your state laws. Some state require that a vet provide a 'script if requested.

[IronwoodFarm]

I would write the vet a letter that says I am terminating my patronage because you will not write me a prescription as requested for bute. I would explain my request to the office and the customer service received. A smart vet would realize that having a paying customer who uses a variety of services over the year is worth more than the mark-up received on a medication. And if your vet doesn't get it, then you really don't want this vet treating your horse.

[2DogsFarm]

Tell your vet: B.S. - then print out Equibrit's post and take it to his office.

My vet not only writes scripts for me, but has called Valley Vet & other pharmaceutical suppliers to phone in his prescription so I could order a generic version of an expensive med.
THAT is customer service.
Anything less is cause to find a new vet.

Any reason your vet is not accountable to AMVA?
Besides greed, I mean...