The cost of veterinary prescription medication seems to be rising just as fast (if not faster) than the cost of human prescriptions. But there are ways you can ease the burden on your pet care budget while getting your pet the medication he or she needs. Here are three of them…

Frugal Tip #1: Ask Your Veterinarian To Match The Price Of Your Favorite Online Pharmacy

The relationship between veterinarians and online pharmacies has been tenuous at best. At the core of this tension are questions regarding product quality. For example, foreign manufactured product, short dating, selling product approaching its expiration date, and badmouthing veterinarians who are reluctant to utilize the services of online pharmacies have made many veterinarians wary of these companies.  It has also created tension between veterinarians and their clients, for obvious reasons.

There is a simple solution, though, assuming your veterinarian is equipped to deal with online pharmacies and is able to track the prescriptions properly.  Simply ask him or her to match the pharmacy's price. Bring a computer printout with you that shows the product price PLUS shipping costs. The price gap is often so negligible that many veterinarians will be happy to lower the price in order to keep your business.

Frugal Tip #2: Ask For Generic Equivalents

Many commonly-prescribed veterinary drugs now have generic equivalents. Heartworm medication is just one example. Antibiotics and arthritis medications are two others.  Oftentimes you can save anywhere from 20% to 60% by requesting the generic equivalent. Just ask for it.

Frugal Tip #3: Does The Medication Your Pet Is Taking Have A Human Equivalent?

If it does, ask your veterinarian for a written prescription that you can take to a pharmacy or a discount store such as Wal-Mart. Most veterinarians have no problem with a licensed human pharmacist filling your pet's prescription. And because you can shop around for the best price, the savings could be significant.