When it comes to caring for a pet, there are many things to budget for, such as food, treats, toys, grooming, and vet visits. Whether your pet is sick or they have a condition that requires daily medication, paying for pet medication can get expensive. Many pet owners seek out discount pet medication to make caring for their furry friends more affordable.
What Kind of Medications Do Pets Take?
We humans aren’t the only ones who can get sick. Sometimes our pets need to take medication as well. There are a variety of different pet medications that a veterinarian can prescribe. Some of them can be used on both humans and animals, and others are only meant for pets.
Most Common Pet Medications
Antiparasitic Medication
Antiparasitic medications are used to rid your pet of either internal or external parasites. These could be things like heartworms, intestinal worms, fleas, ticks, or intestinal protozoans like Giardia. Most pet owners will use a preventative antiparasitic medication such as a heartworm chewable to prevent heartworms or preventative flea and tick medication purchased at either a vet office or online with approval from your vet. Some pets, particularly those who are adopted from shelters, may need to be treated for parasites already present in their system and can then be placed on preventative medications.
Pet Antibiotics
Just like humans, pets can get infections that require antibiotic treatment. These types of pet medications are used to kill bacteria, yeast, or an infection from a wound. Pet antibiotics can also be used to treat a bacterial infection caused by a viral infection, though antibiotics don’t treat the viral infection itself. The most commonly prescribed pet antibiotics are penicillin, cephalexin, trimethoprim-sulfa, and enrofloxacin.
Steroids for Pets
There are several different uses for pet steroid prescriptions, but the most common use is to reduce allergic reactions such as anaphylaxis since steroids have strong anti-inflammatory properties. Commonly prescribed steroids for pets include prednisone, dexamethasone, and prednisolone.
Opioids for Pets
Some pets may need to be given strong pain relievers such as opioids. This could be the case if a pet has gone through a surgical procedure and will need pain relief during recovery. Opioids for pets are usually derived from morphine and include things like fentanyl, oxycodone, butorphanol, and hydromorphone. Many of these are controlled substances due to their addictive properties.
Pet Sedatives and Behavior-Modifying Medications
Some pets suffer from debilitating anxiety that causes very destructive behavioral issues, and a veterinarian may prescribe medication such as diazepam, acepromazine, xylazine, or midazolam. These kinds of medications might also be used before a pet goes under anesthesia or before a procedure to help reduce the pet’s movement.
Chemotherapy Drugs for Pets
Unfortunately, sometimes pets do get diagnosed with cancer and will need chemotherapy treatment. Some of the commonly prescribed medications include cisplatin, doxorubicin, vincristine, and cyclophosphamide. These medications can be used to treat both cancer and tumors.
What If I Have Pet Insurance?
Something that has become more popular in the last several years is pet insurance. Pet insurance is similar to health insurance for people in a few ways. For example, pet insurance has a monthly premium and uses deductibles and coinsurance to determine what the out-of-pocket cost will be. There are two common types of pet insurance: comprehensive and accident-only. Unfortunately, just like with insurance for people, some pet insurance doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions and may not cover certain medications. However, you may be able to get discount pet medication with the use of a prescription discount card and pay less than you would with pet insurance.
Get Discount Pet Medication with Easy Drug Card
Rather than purchasing prescription pet medication at the veterinarian’s office and paying full price, you can get discount pet medication with ease by using the free Easy Drug Card discount program for prescription pet medications filled at over 65,000 pharmacies. National drugstore chains such as Walgreens, CVS, Rite-Aid, Walmart, Costco, and others are included. Save up to 80% on your pet medications today with Easy Drug Card!
Resources:
“Your Pet’s Medications” American Veterinary Medical Association, 7 July 2021, https://www.avma.org/resources/pet-owners/petcare/your-pets-medications
“Prescriptions and Pharmacies: For Pet Owners (FAQ)” American Veterinary Medical Association, 7 July 2021, https://www.avma.org/prescriptions-and-pharmacies-pet-owners-faq
