Really frustrated- Frontline and Interceptor

I'm really frustrated... I'm so broke but I HAVE to get Frontline and Interceptor for Bamm... especially since we just moved to an area where ticks are more common.

So... I tried to order some through 1-800 pet meds right? I can't hardly afford the frontline and interceptor, but I needed to buy some. Well, they have to authorize it through your vet. My vet called me and said no to me getting the meds because Bamm is due for a heartworm and lyme test... so I asked them how much the test is. The test is $63 and I have to pay for a visit fee which is an additional $49.50. There's no way I can afford both THAT AND the meds...

I don't know what to do

I'll send you some of mine. I have several months supply. PM me your address.

really? you are so awesome! truly! That will give me plenty of time to set aside some money to get him into the vets for the test so that I can order more when I need to.

You can also try your local humane society, they usually sell at very reduced rates!

even the interceptor?

Yup! I was doing that until I found a new vet that is super awesome and very cheap (and I have an "in"). BTW, I've had better luck using Vector 3D over Frontline for fleas and ticks lately.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I thought that it was dangerous to just give the heartworm preventative without actually checking the dog first?

As for the Frontline, they sell it at all our local farm stores for very decent prices. You may want to shop around locally.

I'd have to look into it. I'm not sure... all I know is I definitely cannot afford both the test, visit and the interceptor if I have to go that route. Unfortunately this Economy has finally been kicking me in the butt and I'm barely able to afford food for myself or anything... it's temporary and I know I'm going to get out of this rutt... but right now it's awful. And with mosquito season coming... alas... I dunno...

Another option for others reading is Petsmart vets. I know people don't like them, but for a heartworm test or something easy like that, they're nice because they usually have a couple hours on a certain day of each week that they offer free vet visits, so you only pay for the test or shot or whatever you got

i don't understand how the shelter is getting around the whole legality issue of dispensing prescription products without a doctor-patient relationship.

i'm not a banfield fan either but when i was short on cash in college, their vaccine clinics helped me out with my cats. my biggest concern about banfield is that they HUGELY overvaccinate and the average pet owner does not know any better.

Yeah, I had some shots done there on a dog before and I turned down a couple of the vaccines but most people wouldnt realize that probably. I pretty much just use them for rabies and heartworm tests now

Ya I don't mind using them for the tests if that will save me some money... but definitely wont let them vaccinate Bamm. I do limited vaccines anyhow and I monitor what he does and does not get pretty heavily.

Ivermectin and other meds in that family are not dangerous to give to a dog that has heartworm. In fact, they are used to treat heartworm in patients where it is better to slowly eliminate the worms instead of all at once. It was some of the older heartworm meds that were dangerous to give if the dog was HW+.

I went through the same a couple of months ago. I found it at a local feed store for a bit cheaper. On a side note Bamm is too cute

This.

Amber, if I had any of the frontline, I'd give you some, but I'm out of it. All I have are the kitty meds. I'm sorry, hon.

you can find frontline on ebay, just be VERY aware of the expiration date.
frontline is not perscritpion, your problem is probably comming in with the inteceptor/heart worm prevent.

personally it annoys me that vets feel the need to test the dog EVERY year for heartworm when the dog was tested negative last time and is on yr round preventativs.

it's the standard of care put forth by the american heartworm society.

the vets i work for only test every 3-4 years if that if the dog is on meds yearround. but there is always the question of compliance.

the last hw+ dog we had only missed two months. when we tested her six months later, she came up positive and she's been treated twice and is still positive. i live in PA- not exactly a hotbed for heartworm disease- and the dog had not traveled out of the area.

I almost offered to send you a vial of Advantage, but then realized the one for dogs under 10lbs wouldn't work too well.

i understand that if the dog even misses a month it can cause issues...
and i understand not everyone is as honest about whether they have been or not..
but for the likes of us...
we have 6 dogs between me and my parents, heartworm prevent yr round...but all vets in the area insit that in order for us to get more than 6 month supply we HAVE to bring each of the dogs in to the vet, pay for the test for each of them...and they will "be nice" as one vet put it and only charge us 3 office visit fees instead of 6...because the 3 chis will only count as one visit, the 2 cresties as a second and the cocker would be a single visit. *blinks* it would cost us $50 per dog for the test, plus another $150 in office visits...PLUS the cost of the medication, of the 3 vets in town, 2 refuse to write perscriptions for plasces like 1800 pet meds because "its unsafe" and "you cant check the expiration" and "you dont know if your getting the medication or just some look alike"
(and of course the vet charges double what petmeds and the likes charge)

we have to travel 4 towns over for a vet i like...and even they are now being pains about the heart worm tests...
i mean honestly if we order 12 months then 11months later give you a call saying we need a perscription, intime for next month isnt it obvious that were dosing every month?!
but yeah. sry just ranting.