Buying meds online?

flailinggypsy · Apr 24, 2012

I've seen quite a few members on the rat forums mention ordering antibiotics and such online and treating certain health issues and emergencies themselves... how does that work? Is there any trustworthy sources out there? What is the process? It seems like it would be so much easier to have some on hand for emergencies or times when I know more about what's going on with my ratty than my vet does (my vet is great but she doesn't now much about rats...). Koby is developing an URI, and of course I'm bringing him to the vet but it's frustrating that I'm going to be spending $60 just to walk through the door and we told what I already know, and sent off with a script for a round of antibiotics that costs another 60, 70 bucks. My boys are worth it, of course, but saving money from being unnecessarily spent would be nice...

victoria · Apr 24, 2012

You have to be really careful buying meds online. For starters, it's illegal so there's always the chance you could get into trouble or get ripped off without recourse. You also have no way of knowing if the drugs are real, the right drugs (maybe they were inadvertently switched at some point), or if they were properly stored before you received them.

I think a lot of people that have meds on hand for emergencies are people that have larger colonies where they frequently have one rat or another on meds. I often have Baytril on hand not so much for emergencies but because it's rare I go long periods without an animal on meds. I'm lucky as well because my vet will usually dispense meds if they've seen a patient for the same issue (e.g. a respiratory infection) within the last 12 months.

Bundyrats · Apr 24, 2012

flailinggypsy said:
and of course I'm bringing him to the vet but it's frustrating that I'm going to be spending $60 just to walk through the door and we told what I already know, and sent off with a script for a round of antibiotics that costs another 60, 70 bucks. My boys are worth it, of course, but saving money from being unnecessarily spent would be nice...

I know what you are saying but I also know that my vet usually comes up with additional valuable information when I go to see him. Also, if you establish a good relationship, you may be able to avoid the consult if you just need to pick up abs. My vet is great like that, if he's seen one of my girls and knows the situation he will release meds for me without a consult.

jorats · Apr 24, 2012

I don't really like buying meds online. There was a frenzy once where everyone were buying what they thought was baytril but it wasn't. It was cipro, not as effective. You have to be careful with online meds like Victoria said.

ratkin412 · Apr 24, 2012

I saw one rat lover buy fish doxycycline (antibiotic) for her ratties. Here is a cached version of the site, since the site is now defunct:
http://webcache.googleusercontent.c...om/rat-antibiotics/+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

I personally have purchased and used ivermectin for mites that I purchased online. It is sold as 'horse wormer'. Here is a site that says dosages & info:
http://ratguide.com/meds/anti-infectives/ivermectin.php

I agree that a vet's advice & scriptwriting ability is useful, but I also have found that I need to bring my own printed-out internet research to my vet and basically tell her what to prescribe. The internet has a lot more knowledge about rats than most vets do, but it depends on your vet's attitude whether or not your info will be welcomed or not.

I have had problems with insufficient amounts of medication prescribed by the time my rat gets done refusing medications that I mixed in food, etc. Next time I am going to explain this issue to the vet and ask for extra.

Petunia · Apr 24, 2012

ratkin412 said:
I saw one rat lover buy fish doxycycline (antibiotic) for her ratties. Here is a cached version of the site, since the site is now defunct:
http://webcache.googleusercontent.c...om/rat-antibiotics/+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

I personally have purchased and used ivermectin for mites that I purchased online. It is sold as 'horse wormer'. Here is a site that says dosages & info:
http://ratguide.com/meds/anti-infectives/ivermectin.php

I agree that a vet's advice & scriptwriting ability is useful, but I also have found that I need to bring my own printed-out internet research to my vet and basically tell her what to prescribe. The internet has a lot more knowledge about rats than most vets do, but it depends on your vet's attitude whether or not your info will be welcomed or not.

I have had problems with insufficient amounts of medication prescribed by the time my rat gets done refusing medications that I mixed in food, etc. Next time I am going to explain this issue to the vet and ask for extra.