April 13, 2012
Posted in Pet Health, Pet Meds

Owning a cat or dog is pricey – between pet food, veterinary bills and pet products like toys, beds and dog steps, it can cost as much as $700 per year to own either animal. Of course, most pet owners want to provide their pet with the highest quality of care possible, so skipping out on any of these aspects is not usually an option. One way pet owners can save money while keeping the same high standard of care is to buy generic pet drugs instead of the name brand.

Just like you can buy drug store varieties of human medications like ibuprofen, you can buy generic versions of medications your pet needs. All generic drugs go through the same rigorous, multi-step process for approval by the Food and Drug Administration. Not only do these drugs meet the same quality and safety standards as name brand drugs, they have the same strength and effectiveness. The same thing, but cheaper!

You can find generic pet drugs for almost anything your pet needs, whether it is a prescription or not. Heartworm preventatives and flea and tick medications are ones that might save you money. While Frontline is advertised as one of the best flea and tick preventatives, you can save about $8 if you buy Pet Armor, which has the same active ingredient to kill adult fleas and ticks on dogs.

Just like flea and tick medicine, heartworm preventatives need to be given monthly throughout a pet's life, which can get costly. If you normally buy Heartgard Plus Chewables, consider saving $8 by choosing Iverhart Plus Instead. Both prevent heartworm disease and both are tasty chewable tablets your pet will love.

Buying generic "over-the-counter" drugs for your pooch or feline saves plenty of money, but you can save even more when you choose generic for your pet's prescriptions. If you buy prescription medications like Rimadyl for your pet's arthritis, you can save as much as $11 if you get a generic equivalent like Novox.

Even pet shampoos, vitamins and supplements come in generic versions. Saving between $5 and $25 really makes a difference if your dog has chronic conditions or if you will be purchasing the pet products over a long period of time.

With the money you save, you can treat your pooch to a cozy new bed like the Plush Memory Sleeper or new toys. 

Related posts:

1. Pet Drugs: Helping Your Pet Stay Healthy
2. Don’t throw those pet drugs away!
3. Proper Storage of Pet Drugs
4. How to trim down your vet bills
5. How to give your dog or cat pet drugs