Does the vet have the right to do this?

Question

Recently, my dog ran out of Heartguard Plus monthly medication. We decided to buy from a different brand (1800petmeds) because the vet charges outrageous prices and they are always ripping us off.

When I was ordering on the phone, the person said that they would need to call the vet to confirm the dog, medication, ect.

We got a call today from one of the secretaries that they could not aprove the medication because my puppy was not tested for heartworms.

Usually this wouldn't be a big deal, and I would just get him tested, BUT, several months ago at a check up, the vet asked us if we wanted to do the test now or in the spring. We decided to do it in the spring. When I told the secratary that, she said she would ask the vet and then call back.

No call yet. Should I just order from a company that doesn't need confirmation or should I go to the vets and explain again?

Also, what I mean for ripping us off is:

We have a check up, all his shots, ect. It all amounts to something like $50. We pay with a credit card, get the receipt and everything. At the next check up, they say they need our credit card because they didn't charge for the last check up! So we get 2 bills!

Also, we got the heartguard medication the first time from the vet. After a check up, they confirmed he was the right age to start it and they gave it to us, but when we realized they charge 2x as other brands!

Yes, he has had the test. But this test was taken a while ago, I am thinking the first few weeks after we got him. The thing is the vet already GAVE IT TO US once, but the prices were so extreme, we decided to order from somewhere else.

Answer 1

First, if you don't like/don't trust your current vet - get a new one.

Second, the vet is not obligated to provide you a prescription to the cheaper outlets. Some vets - I have heard - refuse to do it because some of these outlets use fake drugs.

Lastly, if you give your dog heartworm preventative and he has adult heartworms already lodged in his heart, the sudden death of lots of worms will cause him to have a stroke or heart attack - killing your dog. That is why the vet is hesitating to prescribe without the test - they just don't want to see your dog die.

Answer 2

Well technically has the dog been tested? If no then they are right and cant prescribe it with out them being tested. If they have heartworms and arent tested and take the prevention it could possibly make your dog very sick or even kill it, so thats why they need to confirm the test was done and negative. Also dont be upset if they dont okay your presciption anyway. The vet I use to work for almost lost her license because of the 1800petmeds. They called to confirm a script and she okayed it, well there was a mix up in the meds they sent to the people and the animal died and then owners tried to sue her for prescribing the wrong meds, when it was the 1800petmeds company's fault in the end for the mix up. She refuses to okay anything through them now. It makes clients mad but why would she risk losing her license (and shes been in the practice for 30+ years) if they can come in and get it for almost the same price. And i'm sure they would be even madder if she lost her license for something that wasn her fault and was the company they ordered meds from's fault. Then they would have to find a new vet. The price of Heartgard is expensive no matter where you buy it because it is some of the best stuff out there.
Give them time to call back or call yourself and ask how its going on the authorization . Good luck

Even if you have them on prevention all year (which is highly recommended) owner error (like forgetting to give it now and then) can cause them to have heartworms. If you dont have them on year round prevention they can still get hworms. All it takes is one mosquito in August and no prevention from July on and your dog ends up with hworms in Jan. (it takes 6 months for them to develop. Also no medicine is 100% effective so the test helps make sure the product is working. Heartgard has a guarantee that if you have proof of year round prevention and yearly tests, and your dog comes down with heartworms, they will pay for the treatment (there are some other stipulations to the guarantee but I cant remember them right now-ask your vet about it) Trust me the treatment is very expensive and painful for the dogs, but heartworms CAN be treated.

Answer 3

A blood test is needed. My vet faxes to the petsupply. Yes he knows if he refuses I will take my dog elsewhere. He gives our dogs rabies and shot yearly.plus any surgeries. You have good reason to try and save a buck. Ask petmeds to fax your vet but first get the blood test. Take the dog for the test I do not how if a dog did have heartworm the medication would affect him. Better to be safe than sorry. You can even get a script from the vet and mail it in or scan on the computer and email. Cheaper than 1800petmeds is petmedstore.com Both my dogs tested negative and are on Revolution.

Answer 4

the vet will just tell you the same thing. annoying, i know. i used to work for a vet. basically, they just want you to come in and spend money with them instead of saving yourself money. also, if they approve the order and your dog hasn't been tested recently, and the dog does have heartworm...then technically the vet can get into some legal trouble for approving the medication. sooooo, that being said, that's why they turned you down. really, it is best to have your dog tested once a year for heartworm because if they do have it and you give them a heartworm pill, it could potentially kill the dog. if the dog has been tested within the past year, then go ahead and save yourself the money! hell, that stuff can get really expensive.

Answer 5

Actually your vet should not have given you heartworm pills at all until after the heartworm test. If you are ordering elsewhere there would need to be a test done when they fill the order not four months from now.
There is no place that would sell you heartguard without confirmation or a prescription.

Answer 6

Unfortunately, your vet probably does have the right to do this, although the laws on this do vary by state and you can try to find out what the law is for your state.

I'm very fortunate that my vet doesn't pull this nonsense, but they instead do price matching, which means they'll sell to me for the same price as anything I can find online or in catalog plus any shipping cost I'd have to pay. I'm glad for this, because many vets give the run-around that you're experiencing and I would feel very betrayed by that.

Answer 7

I've never heard of having to get tested before starting on heartworm prevention. It's strongly recommended, but I've never seen it forced. I also found petmeds very expensive. Have you tried other vet clinics?

But...what are you asking that the vet has the right to do? Not lying about your dog having the test? I would say that they definately have the right to not lie about their patient.

Answer 8

if you have the animal on heartworm medication all year round you dont need the test.

they just dont want the animal to take it if the test is positive. it can hurt the dog.

many vets will let you buy the heartworm someplace else. its not a problem. just make sure you get the dog tested before starting the heartworm. thats all the company is concerned about.

Answer 9

You have to have the vets approval because heart worms kills dogs alive a slow and hurting death and all states now have heart worm from just getting bite by a bug who carries it. Please get your dog tested today and keep it on heart worm pills year round. It is worth the dogs life. Cathy

Answer 10

I would go back to the vet, or find another one. I get 6 mo`s supply of Tri-Heart Plus for about $ 9.00.