Everyone knows pet medicine is expensive, but instead of paying out the ears to fill your prescription try these tips next time:
1. Ask your vet if there is an alternative “human” version of the drug that will work for the cat. Many safe human drugs are not used on cats, but a limited number are, and it’s always worth checking, before shelling out a bunch of money on some chewable pet medicine, whether the same thing can be found at walmart for a fraction of the price. Your vet will usually be straight with you. A few human medicines that are effective and safe for cats are diphenhydramine, pectin, chlorpheniramine, and dextromethorphan.
Diphenhydramine, also known as Benadryl, can be safely administered in doses of 1-2mg/lb every eight hours for allergies. Pectin is very safe for treating diarrhea in cats, but some pectin formulations have recently been reformulated to contain salicylates, which are poisonous to cats. If you are going to give your cat pectin, make sure the only active ingredient is pectin. If you are not sure, consult the pharmacist or vet. Pectin can be given in doses of .5-1mg/lb every 4-6 hours.
Chlorpheniramine, also known as Chlor-trimeton, is effective for treating sneezing in cats. It comes in 4mg tablets, and should be given in doses of .5-1 tablet every 12 hours. Dextromethorphan with Guaifenesin, or Robitussin DM, can be given to cats as an effective treatment for coughing. It comes in a syrup form, and it can be given in doses of .5 ml/lb every 8 hours. Make sure there are no active ingredients besides Dextromethorphan and Guaifenesin.
Acetaminophen is sometimes present in human cough syrups, and that can be deadly to cats. Following these guidelines can save you a lot of money, but be sure to consult your veterinarian first. When it comes down to it, saving a little money is not worth gambling your cat’s health, so make absolutely sure of anything you do before you do it.
2. Buy discount medicine online. There are numerous online pet pharmacies, some located in other countries, that will ship your cat medicine at a far lower price than you could find at your local pharmacy. You need to be careful though. Some of these websites are scams, so it’s important to study reviews of the site before buying anything. There are most certainly great deals on cat medicine out there, but buying online is a little riskier than buying in a pharmacy, so you need to be extra cautious about who you’re ordering from. Ask your vet–he or she might be able to recommend you an online pharmacy. Good luck, to you and your cat.