3/28 Ivy Amps 342, +2.25 158, +3.10 88, +6 182, +8 344, Pmps 286, +3.5 202 Libre

[Staci & Ivy]

3/27/24
Amps 342
Good morning,
Ivy had a decent green and blue Libre cycle last night with a bounce up to pink this am at amps.
She’s already dropping a bit at +1 with 297.

New carpet being installed today in the basement after our water damage last month. I will have Ivy upstairs to be out of the way today. Hopefully she will be happy with that it shouldn’t impact her in any way.
Still waiting to hear about when her transdermal meds will be ready to begin treating the hyperthyroidism.
Still trying to investigate if the I131 treatment is an option for her in the future.
Another difficulty I found with my primary vet is they don’t like using Chewy for meds so they won’t approve prescriptions with them online or over the phone. (They claim too many issues with wrong meds being sent to clients. That sounds like BS to me)
They will only mail me a prescription in the mail to then send to them if I want to use Chewy. Talk about delay in handling time. Ridiculous.
Does anybody else have a of situation like this and how do you handle it to cut down on delay times and getting meds? I’m so aggravated on so many levels.
Also, unfortunately, they are about 40 minutes away from me so to just drive over there to pick up the prescription is well over an hour of my time and just not convenient.

Safe surfing to all the sweet kitties and a calm day for all of you

 

[Gravy and Vicki]

Ugh. I'm sorry. My old vet charged if I wanted a handwritten prescription but newer vets don't and they are much closer to my house.
I started getting a lot of pet meds thru Costco. To start you do need a regular prescription but I bring it in and shop. They also will do mail order, though I just shop while I'm waiting. The prices are very good, and I usually pick up the insulin syringes there too. Walmart might be another option as well if you don't have a Costco nearby.

 

[Staci & Ivy]

Ugh. I'm sorry. My old vet charged if I wanted a handwritten prescription but newer vets don't and they are much closer to my house.
I started getting a lot of pet meds thru Costco. To start you do need a regular prescription but I bring it in and shop. They also will do mail order, though I just shop while I'm waiting. The prices are very good, and I usually pick up the insulin syringes there too. Walmart might be another option as well if you don't have a Costco nearby.

Good to know, thanks. I’ll have to check if they have basics like Cerenia and such.

 

[Mikanmama (Mikan GA)]

Good morning Staci,

they don’t like using Chewy for meds so they won’t approve prescriptions with them online or over the phone.

That's utterly nonsense!
There are a bunch of online pet pharmacies, like
https://www.allivet.com/
https://www.vetrxdirect.com/
I wonder if they will be amendable to use any of these.

It's not like you have a lot of time doing nothing everyday! The vet office really should respect that!

I'm sure others have used different pharmacies as well. I hope you'll find what works for you.

 

[Gravy and Vicki]

https://www.costco.com/pet-medications.html
You can input your medication and dosage. It doesn't give price on everything, so I sometimes call to double check.

 

[Staci & Ivy]

Good morning Staci,


That's utterly nonsense!
There are a bunch of online pet pharmacies, like
https://www.allivet.com/
https://www.vetrxdirect.com/
I wonder if they will be amendable to use any of these.

It's not like you have a lot of time doing nothing everyday! The vet office really should respect that!

I'm sure others have used different pharmacies as well. I hope you'll find what works for you.

They’re a bit difficult with certain things. I’ll have to ask those questions. Good suggestion, Kit. I’ll call their office this morning to ask about the other pharmacies. It’s utterly stupid.
I even said to the vet “do you really think I would not read the package and put something into her body that wasn’t supposed to be prescribed?” And she gave me some nonsense about “well sometimes packages are marked incorrectly”. I mean it was like she had every excuse in the book, I was so annoyed.
She also agreed “no you’re completely on top of everything so I know you would read packages and you pay attention to everything” but still, their policies are completely stupid. I don’t know if it’s a VCA thing since that’s who their own by now and they just want you to buy everything from them directly. I know everything‘s a money grab and they just want to have as much dispensed from their office as possible and they completely overcharge for everything.

 

[Deb and Tiger]

Hi Staci, we use VCA and have no problems. They call in to pharmacy or give us paper one if we ask for it. So it’s not a VCA thing here. As for Cerenia, it is not available at human pharmacies because it’s an animal only med. We’ve checked numerous online prices for it and it’s exactly the same price everywhere, even at our vet. They told us to check online and if we found it cheaper they would send a prescription for it. What a monopoly the manufacturer has on that!

Hope you have a great day without too much noise from the carpet folks!

 

[Staci & Ivy]

Hi Staci, we use VCA and have no problems. They call in to pharmacy or give us paper one if we ask for it. So it’s not a VCA thing here. As for Cerenia, it is not available at human pharmacies because it’s an animal only med. We’ve checked numerous online prices for it and it’s exactly the same price everywhere, even at our vet. They told us to check online and if we found it cheaper they would send a prescription for it. What a monopoly the manufacturer has on that!

Hope you have a great day without too much noise from the carpet folks!

Hi Deb, I know Cerenia is for pets only. That makes it harder.
It’s just that they make it so difficult for me to get it easily! Their comment is always just stop by and we’ll have it ready for you. Well again, I live 40-ish minutes from their office, they never seem to remember that fact. Probably most of their clients are five minutes away so it’s no big deal, but for me it’s an issue.

Since your VCA office doesn’t mandate it, I suppose it’s just my office that has their own weird policies.
It’s also so much more difficult since my original vet in that office would always with me and find ways for me to get things as easily as possible, she was awesome. I still miss her every day. It’s been 2 years since she left

 

[cecile & bella]

Hello Staci. My previous vet office started doing that too just before I changed. They said they would send paper prescriptions if needed but would not call prescriptions to Chewy anymore. My new one is OK with Chewy. I hope you find an easy way! Both vets would ship, though, and that's nice, you don't have to go anywhere.
have a good day, hopefully your home works will be dione after that? We still have to repair / paint the ceiling and walls, but the whole process of finding somebody and then having the house in a mess for days is blocking me, I got used to the stains and peeling paint, anyway!

 

[Karolina & Nestle]

Good meowning Staci and Ivy!

I hope Ivy is contend today in her upstairs domain and isn't bothered or stressed too much with the workers and all the banging.

And although she and Mikan decided to compete in the trampoline Olympics again this am, she's well on her way to the beach meow.

Stay safe and steady Ivy and have a nice peaceful day at the beach with your furrrrrriends

Happy Thursday

 

[Jason - Kona's Dad]

Another difficulty I found with my primary vet is they don’t like using Chewy for meds so they won’t approve prescriptions with them online or over the phone. (They claim too many issues with wrong meds being sent to clients. That sounds like BS to me)
They will only mail me a prescription in the mail to then send to them if I want to use Chewy. Talk about delay in handling time. Ridiculous.
Does anybody else have a of situation like this and how do you handle it to cut down on delay times and getting meds? I’m so aggravated on so many levels.
Also, unfortunately, they are about 40 minutes away from me so to just drive over there to pick up the prescription is well over an hour of my time and just not convenient.

I think we established before we use the same vet... they said the EXACT same thing to me. Probably some stupid corporate policy or something.

It is absolutely ridiculous. Maybe we should write letters or something.

I'm just dealing with it, I have them fax to Walmart Pharmacy whatever they can. My local Walmart does have some pet meds, just not everything we need.

 

[Fistuk & Shelly]

Hi Staci

I hope the carpet installation will go smoothly and quickly so Ivy can go back to her favourite space without much hustle.

I'm sorry to hear of the troubled you're having with getting meds from the vets. From reading other's responses I realise that in the US it's so much easier to get meds than in Switzerland They are so strict about it here and there are no options besides going to the vet to pick things up and if they don't want to give you what you ask for its a really problem.

I hope you'll find a solution that will make your life easier. You certainly don't need more hustle on your hands

Nice to see Ivy's numbers How is her mood?

Sending you pawsitive energies and warm hugs

 

[Staci & Ivy]

Hi Staci

I hope the carpet installation will go smoothly and quickly so Ivy can go back to her favourite space without much hustle.

I'm sorry to hear of the troubled you're having with getting meds from the vets. From reading other's responses I realise that in the US it's so much easier to get meds than in Switzerland They are so strict about it here and there are no options besides going to the vet to pick things up and if they don't want to give you what you ask for its a really problem.

I hope you'll find a solution that will make your life easier. You certainly don't need more hustle on your hands

Nice to see Ivy's numbers How is her mood?

Sending you pawsitive energies and warm hugs

Hi Shelly. Well, I didn’t realize how difficult it was for you to get meds in Switzerland. I thought in Europe things were so much easier. Is that just for pets or for you as well?
Yes Ivy‘s numbers are definitely better these days than they were in the past.
I just look at her now knowing that she has this additional illness going on and not sure if I’m projecting, but she looks sad and unhappy.
Maybe I’m just projecting it because it’s how I’m feeling who knows?
She still gives me cuddles and kneads on me, so that’s good.

Would you believe I called to check on this stupid prescription and they called it into the wrong pharmacy? I swear it’s been so much aggravation.
I have no idea where they got the wrong pharmacy information from but they got their wires crossed.
Good thing I called. Being the squeaky wheel again today.
The pharmacy had no record of a phone call from my vet’s office. Unreal.
Like I have nothing else to do in my day than to make sure these people do their jobs accurately

If I did my job this way I would surely be fired.
Sorry for my vent and rant, sweet Shelly!! I’m forever thankful for your sweet support and caring.

Sending you back big hugs for Fistuk and Prince and you!!

 

[Jack & Mopem'sMom]

Hi Staci, we use VCA and have no problems. They call in to pharmacy or give us paper one if we ask for it. So it’s not a VCA thing here. As for Cerenia, it is not available at human pharmacies because it’s an animal only med. We’ve checked numerous online prices for it and it’s exactly the same price everywhere, even at our vet. They told us to check online and if we found it cheaper they would send a prescription for it. What a monopoly the manufacturer has on that!

Hope you have a great day without too much noise from the carpet folks!

This is interesting, i get my cerenia script filled at the local Walmart pharmacy all the time. However, there is now a much cheaper generic available, I paid $22 at the vet clinic where I had Abby's teeth removed- it's Maropitant Citrate, it was 4 tablets which for her I cut into fourths.

 

[Jack & Mopem'sMom]

So I call BS on your vet office no Chewy policy. Mine will write the script, but they won't send it to Chewy, so they either mail it to me, and I mail it to the Chewy pharmacy or I drive 50 mins one way and pick it up. My vet is nice and writes refills that are good for a year so I only have this hassle once a year for insulin/syringes/cerenia and most times get all the scripts at our yearly visit. If you have one near you , try the Walmart pharmacy, they are generally the cheapest for meds, and take scripts over the phone from my vet all the time. Not sure where you are, but you cna try Dorneyville pharmacy for compounding- they are in Allentown but will mail scripts to you. My Buddy is on atenolol (heart med) and they make a nice (?) fish flavor liquid and send it in the mail. I pay extra for UPS since my mail carrier leaves a LOT to be desired, but you could have them ship USPS for less. They generally mail the script the day after I call in the renewal- sometimes the same day. I'm soooo sorry for all the added stress! Hoping Ms Ivy enjoys her day away from the carpet guys...I hate workers in my house....you deserve a nice relaxing night...hope you get it!

 

[Fistuk & Shelly]

Hi Shelly. Well, I didn’t realize how difficult it was for you to get meds in Switzerland. I thought in Europe things were so much easier. Is that just for pets or for you as well?
Yes Ivy‘s numbers are definitely better these days than they were in the past.
I just look at her now knowing that she has this additional illness going on and not sure if I’m projecting, but she looks sad and unhappy.
Maybe I’m just projecting it because it’s how I’m feeling who knows?
She still gives me cuddles and kneads on me, so that’s good.

Would you believe I called to check on this stupid prescription and they called it into the wrong pharmacy? I swear it’s been so much aggravation.
I have no idea where they got the wrong pharmacy information from but they got their wires crossed.
Good thing I called. Being the squeaky wheel again today.
The pharmacy had no record of a phone call from my vet’s office. Unreal.
Like I have nothing else to do in my day than to make sure these people do their jobs accurately

If I did my job this way I would surely be fired.
Sorry for my vent and rant, sweet Shelly!! I’m forever thankful for your sweet support and caring.

Sending you back big hugs for Fistuk and Prince and you!!

I really understand the frustration. No need to apologies. I'm sorry you have to go through this.
Good that you have sharp instincts and called to check!!
Switzerland is heavily regulated when it comes to meds. It's the Pharma country. A lot of money involved. they can't afford to lose some of it to on the counter meds or other channels of receiving meds
I used to get chinese herbs directly from my acupuncture Therpaist. Few years ago they added a law that I can't take it directly from her but pick it up from a pharmacy. That way they could charge extra 5 bucks on my herbs PB that's not produced in Switzerland is not allowed to be sold in pharmacies.... That's what I call organised crime!

It's not easy to handle so many illnesses. You're such an amazing, dedicated, caring mum. Ivy had a good karma to land with you.
Is much love

 

[Deb and Tiger]

This is interesting, i get my cerenia script filled at the local Walmart pharmacy all the time. However, there is now a much cheaper generic available, I paid $22 at the vet clinic where I had Abby's teeth removed- it's Maropitant Citrate, it was 4 tablets which for her I cut into fourths.

Wow, that’s interesting! We haven’t found it at pharmacies. But I just checked our last bill and that’s what we pay, $22 for a pack of 4 and listed as Maropitant Citrate also. That’s the same price we have found everywhere…..Still expensive at $5.50 a pill.

 

[Staci & Ivy]

Wow, that’s interesting! We haven’t found it at pharmacies. But I just checked our last bill and that’s what we pay, $22 for a pack of 4 and listed as Maropitant Citrate also. That’s the same price we have found everywhere…..Still expensive at $5.50 a pill.

My overpriced vet charges over $35 for 24 mg 4 pack.

 

[JLS12]

Hope the carpet install went well.
I'd say your gut instinct kicked in to check on the new med. And it's a good thing you did!

It gets tiresome having to follow up with people to make sure they are doing their job. I've told hubby more than once that I ought to submit a bill to ball-droppers for my time following up on them.

 

[Staci & Ivy]

Hope the carpet install went well.
I'd say your gut instinct kicked in to check on the new med. And it's a good thing you did!

It gets tiresome having to follow up with people to make sure they are doing their job. I've told hubby more than once that I ought to submit a bill to ball-droppers for my time following up on them.

Omg yes, so true. If we could only charge for our time asking them yo do their job. It’s really not great.
And yes, my gut is on overdrive. But I guess that’s good, just causes me more stress than I really need.

 

[Staci & Ivy]

So I call BS on your vet office no Chewy policy. Mine will write the script, but they won't send it to Chewy, so they either mail it to me, and I mail it to the Chewy pharmacy or I drive 50 mins one way and pick it up. My vet is nice and writes refills that are good for a year so I only have this hassle once a year for insulin/syringes/cerenia and most times get all the scripts at our yearly visit. If you have one near you , try the Walmart pharmacy, they are generally the cheapest for meds, and take scripts over the phone from my vet all the time. Not sure where you are, but you cna try Dorneyville pharmacy for compounding- they are in Allentown but will mail scripts to you. My Buddy is on atenolol (heart med) and they make a nice (?) fish flavor liquid and send it in the mail. I pay extra for UPS since my mail carrier leaves a LOT to be desired, but you could have them ship USPS for less. They generally mail the script the day after I call in the renewal- sometimes the same day. I'm soooo sorry for all the added stress! Hoping Ms Ivy enjoys her day away from the carpet guys...I hate workers in my house....you deserve a nice relaxing night...hope you get it!

Thanks for this information, Christine. I’ve never used Walmart for pet meds. I called them and they don’t stock it so would have to order it. Same story for Costco, have to order it and they said you don’t need to be a member, you just pay a little more for this med. Some meds can be much more if not a member they told me.

My vet will mail me the script, it’s just all the delays till they get it out the door and then it makes its way through the mail and then till I either mail it off to where it’s going or upload it if they accept it that way. It’s just so many darned delays.
And to add insult to injury, I asked them if they mailed me the Sirenia prescription as the vet said she would and they said they checked her notes and there’s no mention whatsoever about Cerwnia. So there you go, and she’s not in the office today of course. Talk about more delays. It just blows my mind how things just don’t get done unless I nag and it’s terrible. I hate doing it.

 

[Staci & Ivy]

I really understand the frustration. No need to apologies. I'm sorry you have to go through this.
Good that you have sharp instincts and called to check!!
Switzerland is heavily regulated when it comes to meds. It's the Pharma country. A lot of money involved. they can't afford to lose some of it to on the counter meds or other channels of receiving meds
I used to get chinese herbs directly from my acupuncture Therpaist. Few years ago they added a law that I can't take it directly from her but pick it up from a pharmacy. That way they could charge extra 5 bucks on my herbs PB that's not produced in Switzerland is not allowed to be sold in pharmacies.... That's what I call organised crime!

It's not easy to handle so many illnesses. You're such an amazing, dedicated, caring mum. Ivy had a good karma to land with you.
Is much love

Wow. That sure is taking advantage of the consumer with the added fees.
Last here when Ivy broke her leg and I needed some Maritaz because she wasn’t eating after all the anesthetics, I couldn’t get it from 2 more local vets offices so I had to drive almost an hour to the hospital where they charged me around $100 for that tiny little tube, which I then ordered a second one later from chewy and it was somewhere in the $30 range from what I recall. So that was highway robbery and of course I was over a barrel, completely stressed with very little time to be driving two hours just to pick up that little tube, completely overpriced. It was maddening

Thank you about the karma. I’m just so thrilled to be Ivy’s mom. Always have been. I just wish she was better behaved so we could help her in an easier way.

 

[Jack & Mopem'sMom]

Thanks for this information, Christine. I’ve never used Walmart for pet meds. I called them and they don’t stock it so would have to order it. Same story for Costco, have to order it and they said you don’t need to be a member, you just pay a little more for this med. Some meds can be much more if not a member they told me.

My vet will mail me the script, it’s just all the delays till they get it out the door and then it makes its way through the mail and then till I either mail it off to where it’s going or upload it if they accept it that way. It’s just so many darned delays.
And to add insult to injury, I asked them if they mailed me the Sirenia prescription as the vet said she would and they said they checked her notes and there’s no mention whatsoever about Cerwnia. So there you go, and she’s not in the office today of course. Talk about more delays. It just blows my mind how things just don’t get done unless I nag and it’s terrible. I hate doing it.

I 'm so sorry you have to deal with this...it's the same at my vet clinic. How hard is it to just do your job? I mean REALLY! Sending hugs!

 

[Jack & Mopem'sMom]

My overpriced vet charges over $35 for 24 mg 4 pack.

My 4 pack was for 16mg so maybe that's the difference. And is yours the generic? I think I was paying something like $65 for a four pack of 16mg name brand cerenia last year- that was at Walmart- they all have NERVE to charge what they do for meds that cost pennies to make!

 

[Marje and Gracie]

That is so absurd about Chewy. I use them to get Tobey’s levothyroxine. My vet sent it electronically and I had it in two days. I have it on auto refill and I’m running out of refills from the vet, Chewy’s calls them immediately, and there is no delay in getting the prescription.

I buy my cerenia and ondansetron at ThrivingPets.com. Yes, you have to have a prescription which you can upload. The latter is always expensive, I’ve found.

Miss Ivy really lost duration today. I know you’ve had carpet installers there. I’m thinking she needs a dose increase to 4.25u. I’m going to qualify that, though. She’s doing well enough that you can leave her here and see how she does once the thyroid meds are started BUT it really takes about a month for them to build up in the system; that’s why they don’t recheck thyroid values for a month. It might be good to get her to a little better place. Just my thoughts.

 

[Staci & Ivy]

That is so absurd about Chewy. I use them to get Tobey’s levothyroxine. My vet sent it electronically and I had it in two days. I have it on auto refill and I’m running out of refills from the vet, Chewy’s calls them immediately, and there is no delay in getting the prescription.

I buy my cerenia and ondansetron at ThrivingPets.com. Yes, you have to have a prescription which you can upload. The latter is always expensive, I’ve found.

Miss Ivy really lost duration today. I know you’ve had carpet installers there. I’m thinking she needs a dose increase to 4.25u. I’m going to qualify that, though. She’s doing well enough that you can leave her here and see how she does once the thyroid meds are started BUT it really takes about a month for them to build up in the system; that’s why they don’t recheck thyroid values for a month. It might be good to get her to a little better place. Just my thoughts.

Hi Marje, yeah, she really did lose duration today. It was pretty bad. I’m also wondering about an increase but also concerned about starting the thyroid medication in case there’s some kind of interaction especially over Easter weekend when there will not be any vets available if I should run into a problem. So I’m trying to weigh my options of when would be safe to start adding a new medication and give an increase. So those are my concerns in case she decides not to eat. Her appetite seems to be somewhat off. I’m having to hand feed snacks often when the feeder open, she just ignores it, so that’s not great. I think she doesn’t feel great. She’s drinking more than normal.
The whole thing about the vet not using any online pharmacies is crazy to me. It’s not just Chewy but they won’t approve anything online. They will only send you the prescription for you to deal with yourself or they will call it into a pharmacy that is local. So those are my options and dealing with them. Makes it very difficult.

 

[Marje and Gracie]

Hi Marje, yeah, she really did lose duration today. It was pretty bad. I’m also wondering about an increase but also concerned about starting the thyroid medication in case there’s some kind of interaction especially over Easter weekend when there will not be any vets available if I should run into a problem. So I’m trying to weigh my options of when would be safe to start adding a new medication and give an increase. So those are my concerns in case she decides not to eat. Her appetite seems to be somewhat off. I’m having to hand feed snacks often when the feeder open, she just ignores it, so that’s not great. I think she doesn’t feel great. She’s drinking more than normal.
The whole thing about the vet not using any online pharmacies is crazy to me. It’s not just Chewy but they won’t approve anything online. They will only send you the prescription for you to deal with yourself or they will call it into a pharmacy that is local. So those are my options and dealing with them. Makes it very difficult.

Because the med shouldn’t really affect her appetite and she needs it, I think I’d get it started but you can ask the groups.io folks if they know if that low of a dose has ever made a cat in that group not eat; it is a pretty low dose but probably where I would start, too, if it were me.

Then the other part of the equation is increasing the dose and getting her to eat. I just have to leave that up to you.

The whole deal with the vet is absurd!

 

[Staci & Ivy]

Because the med shouldn’t really affect her appetite and she needs it, I think I’d get it started but you can ask the groups.io folks if they know if that low of a dose has ever made a cat in that group not eat; it is a pretty low dose but probably where I would start, too, if it were me.

Then the other part of the equation is increasing the dose and getting her to eat. I just have to leave that up to you.

The whole deal with the vet is absurd!

Ok thanks, Marje.