<html><head><style type="text/css"><!-- DIV {margin:0px;} --></style></head><body><div style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:12pt"><DIV>I was just skimming through and pick up when vets are mentioned. My, and many vets', concerns are that if people start buying medications elsewhere that it will significantly cut out income to the hospital. Although many people seem to think that veterinary hospitals make alot of money they generally work on a very close budget with a small margin of profit. To defray the costs of the electricity, equipment, people cost etc medications are more expensive then they are from a large pharamacy. A human pharmacy or PetMeds type place can buy a larger quantity of medications and therefore pay less themselves to stock the meds. So the price you pay is less. </DIV>
<DIV>The problem I have with PetMeds is they seem to send 10 faxes for each Rx, using paper, fax ink(which is actually quite expensive), not to mention employee time sending and resending faxes as well as calling these pharamcies. I perfer to work with human pharamcies when we can actually use human meds as they are trustworthy, safe places to get meds. Having said that they have sent home the wrong insulin before and the dog almost died. PetMeds and those places scare me more as they are not held to the same standards. There have been issues with medications that weren't brand name (Iverhart) being recalled for problems. They have sold the wrong or expired medications before as well. I think for rescues or people who are fostering patients I'm all for filling rx's. I know things are expensive. I personally would go to the least expensive locations for medications as well. I write Rx's for clients
when asked but will not write them if there is some reason not to (due for exam, due for bloodwork, etc). I let owners know that any medication that is filled at my hospital is backed by my hospital. If medications are given from PetMeds and there is a problem they will not be there for you. </DIV>
<DIV>Veterinary hospitals don't do alot of things that human doctor's offices do: We don't charge to send faxes, we don't charge to fill out paperwork, we don't charge when the owner keeps talking and the appointment goes longer, we don't turn clients away when they are late or walk in or charge them more. Well at least my practice doesn't! ;) So although I don't charge for writing rx's I can appreciate why someone would. AHHHH! Don't attack me with nasty emails! $10-20 to write an Rx is a little expensive. But I guess that is their choice and it's your choice to not go there. I would hope that more hospitals are supporting their locations on more important things like a proper workup of each case, but I know the reality of running a veterinary hospital and how they can cut cost too much and go out of business. Thus why I will never own one! </DIV>
<DIV>So just trying to give a glimpse of the other side of the coin. Hope this helps! </DIV>
<DIV>Laura </DIV>
<DIV>Flash </DIV>
<DIV>and Ryu</DIV></div><br>
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