Generic Alternatives for Popular Pet Medications

BY | April 05 | COMMENTS PUBLISHED BY
Generic Alternatives for Popular Pet Medications
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pharmacist verified Ernest Ezue PetCareRx Pharmacy Director

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Heartgard Plus Chewables for Dogs

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Here is a list of generic alternatives for some of the most popular pet medicines used by pet parents today. Use it to keep your pet healthy and happy.

Name brand pet medications like Rimadyl or Heartgard are great ways to keep your pet healthy. But what you may not know is that many of these name brand medications have generic equivalents. Generic pet meds have the same active ingredients as their name brand equivalent, and they are almost always less expensive. You can choose to fill your name brand prescription with the generic alternative as long as the prescription does not say "Dispense as written."

Below are some of the top generic alternatives to the most popular pet medications on the market today. 

1. Heartgard Plus for Dogs

Heartgard Plus for Dogs is a chewable tablet that protects your dog against heartworms and treats for roundworms and hookworms.

Key ingredients:

  • Ivermectin
  • Pyrantel pamoate

Generic Alternatives to Heartgard Plus for Dogs:

2. Rimadyl

Rimadyl is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that treats your dog for arthritic pain and inflammation.

Key Ingredients:

  • Carprofen

Generic Alternatives to Rimadyl:

3. Thyro-Tabs (L-Thyroxine)

Thyro-Tabs (L-Thyroxine) are a veterinary medication used to treat hypothyroidism in dogs and cats.

Key Ingredients:

  • Levothyroxine

4. Enacard

Enacard can lower your pet’s blood pressure and help reduce the symptoms of congestive heart failures.

Key Ingredients:

  • Enalapril

Generic Alternatives to Enacard:

5. Salix

Salix is a diuretic that can be used to treat pulmonary edema, kidney disease, congestive heart failure, high blood pressure and edema.

Key Ingredients:

  • Furosemide

Generic Alternatives to Salix:

6. Atopica

Atopica is a non-steroidal medication that treats your pet for dermatitis.

Key Ingredients:

  • Cyclosporine Modified

Generic Alternatives to Atopica:

This information is for informational purposes only and is not meant as a substitute for the professional advice of, or diagnosis or treatment by,your veterinarian with respect to your pet. It has, however, been verified by a licensed pharmacist for accuracy.

What experts have to say about homeopathy treatment for pets

A warning against "unscientific" homeopathic treatments have been issued by Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS). They said that animals continue to die from a few preventable diseases as veterinarians administer homeopathic treatment to those animals. These veterinarians harm livestock and pets when they put their trust on mythical claims and not standard, traditional methods. The situation is now so dire that thousands of veterinarians have lent their signature to a petition where they expressed their reservations concerning the efficacy of homeopathic treatments for animals.

Homeopathy and uselessness

Homeopathic practitioners believe in the efficacy of non-standard treatments. These are based on the use of extremely diluted substances. According to them, the result will be that the body can heal itself. A popular practice in this regard is nosodes use and not proper vaccinations. This practice involves providing pets pills coated with sugar. These pills are made from the bodily fluids and tissues from a diseased animal. The list of sources includes saliva, feces, discharges, blood, and pus. According to the RCVS, administering such kind of medicines leave the pets in extreme and "unacceptable" pain.The bedrock of homeopathy is "like cures like". It means that if a substance causes a few certain symptoms, then the same substance can be used to remove the same symptoms. Such treatments can be promoted by celebrities, but endorsement by famous people does not mean the drugs are an effective one. Multiple clinical trials have proven that no real benefits can be enjoyed by animals post homeopathic treatment. Users generally enjoy a "placebo" effect. It means that they feel less pain as they want their medicines to work. The statement by the RCVS comes after a petition where the organization has asked the college to prohibit veterinary surgeons from actively prescribing homeopathic treatments.

Not for any living being

Chris Tufnell, the senior vice-president of RCVS, said that dogs treated with homeopathic medicines die from preventable conditions like parvovirus. The condition of the pet is extremely painful and it can be wholly preventable. The RCVS has advised that homeopathic treatments if done, should be carried out alongside standard veterinary treatment procedures and not replace the latter. This must be done to protect animals. Such treatments must be regarded as complementary practices and not as an alternative to the treatments for which there is a certain recognized evidence base. The treatments are based on sound scientific principles.As per the RVCS, it is important to protect animals' welfare as veterinarians have a commitment to their profession. The public should observe and understand that any kind of treatment which have no scientific base must not impede treatments which are effective and observable by science.

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