My puppy has strangles. Are there cheaper or OTC medicine options?

Poor puppy. I would highly recommend asking your vet for prescription ointment for him as well, becuase nothing over the counter is going to help with this unfortunately. I would recommmend asking for either topical Mupirocin (prefered) or Resortin ointment. You can also apply a cold compress on the area for a few minutes, if tolerated, to help with some of the inflammation and pain. If he seems particularly painful, then a pain medication (Tramadol) can also be prescribed by your vet. I hope that your puppy feels better soon and is able to make a full and speedy recovery from Puppy Strangles. Best wishes and take care!

Unfortunately there are no over the counter pain medications that are safe for dogs. I would recommend discussing with your veterinarian if there is something you can switch him to that is more cost effective and still approved for use in dogs. You can also check into online pharmacies or box stores (such as Costco) that offer pet medications at a lower price.

There are a couple medications that can help dogs with allergies - prednisone (which is a steroid and low cost but high on side effects), cytopoint and apoquel (which work in a more controlled way, so less side effects, but much higher cost). Allergies are definitely an expensive, but the allergy meds above may not be more than the antibiotics you've been doing, so I'd recommend talking to your vet about those options. Good luck!

You can get her an OTC deworming treatment called Panacur. Keep in mind that it doesn't kill tapeworms, which requires a prescription medication called prazaquantel. You will have to get that medication (I recommend Drontal) from a vet, but you can give Penelope Panacur.

I am so sorry to hear that your puppy Soturi has mange. This can be common in puppies. I understand the cost of veterinary care can be difficult at times, can I suggest exploring this resource to help find affordable pet care? http://m.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_pet.html Puppy is itchy and uncomfortable for Soturi and does need medications which are prescribed by a veterinarian to help. An oatmeal bath may help make him temporarily more comfortable. However, the infection will only go away with medicated shampoo from the vet. Best of luck to you both.

I would call your local shelter to see if they can treat her for a lower price. Unfortunately, some will help but others will only treat animals that are up for adoption. If they can't, they may be able to direct you to a clinic that is lower in cost or has a free first exam. You could also talk to your vet about prescribing some antibiotics. I would ask if they are any antibiotics that can be prescribed at a human pharmacy that might be cheaper. I hope this helps!

Hi there. Unfortunately, there are no heartworm preventatives that are available over-the-counter - by definition, these are prescription products. But, you can certainly choose to order them through an online pharmacy like 1-800-PetMeds or Chewy.com if you like, as these may be less expensive than purchasing through your vet's office. Your veterinarian should be able to give you a prescription to have filled at any pharmacy you choose, as long as your pet has had an exam within the past year. :)