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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Can’t afford medicine for myasthenia gravis

16 replies

Autumnsoon · 14/08/2023 07:08

So dog has myasthenia gravis
maxed out pet insurance getting to this point
£160 a month is cost of medication from a chemist ,as there is no dog form of it .
even if pet insurance pays ,I’ve very little left after all the tests took all the insurance money .
plus I’ve not a spare £160 to pay out first and claim back later ,my account is nearly empty
im supposed to go in vets today to pick up prescription,but I’ve no money to buy it with .
if I manage to scrap together £160 today ,that’s for a month ,I simply can’t find £160 every month ..we just don’t have it ..I’m paying £70 a month pet insurance as it is
medicine is tyridostigmine bromide …he’s 4 kg ,so needs liquid as tablets won’t break up as small as he needs
has anyone been in this situation,worried sick

OP posts:
Woeismeitappears · 14/08/2023 07:15

What is the medication?

Overthebow · 14/08/2023 07:17

Have you checked online pharmacies to see if it’s any cheaper?

Lindy2 · 14/08/2023 07:43

Are tablets cheaper? Could you grind them up yourself to make a liquid version?

Shop around online for cheaper suppliers.

cheezncrackers · 14/08/2023 07:47

Tell the vet you can't afford the medicine. This surely must be a very common issue, particularly atm? They may be able to suggest a cheaper alternative.

Afternoonteaandicecream · 14/08/2023 08:19

You might be able to get it cheaper online with a prescription from the vet. The vet will probably charge you a prescription fee - where I work is around £20 every 6 months per medication but this still tends to work out a lot cheaper than buying directly from the vets.

IngGenius · 14/08/2023 08:39

That sounds like a lot of money for that particular medication.

How much does your dog weigh and what strength of I assume Pyridostigmine are they being prescribed.

Original poster
Autumnsoon · 14/08/2023 11:29

Dog weighs 4 kg
vet says I won’t be able to get the tablet in to small enough pieces .
tablets on line are £24.99 for 200 …that I could manage .
however
the side effects of the medication,are feeling sick ,being sick ,the runs ,more wee ing .
with a person ,you can say ,ok this medication will make you feel crap,but long term you may feel better .
with a dog ,not so ,he’s not going to understand why he’s being sick ,feeling sick .
and that is what took us to the vets to start with ,as he was being sick .
he has a diagnosis of megasophagus,and the vet pushed us to find out why he had that ,which came back with MG .
we are treating the megasophagus as required,he’s doing well ,I don’t want to put him on strong meds that will make him feel crap .
at the minute he’s not being sick as we are feeding upright .

OP posts:
Floralnomad · 14/08/2023 12:06

Just be upfront with the vet , tell them that as the dog is doing well at the moment you want to leave things as they are and will review when things change . Just because a vet says something it doesn’t mean you have to do it ,

Madhoney · 14/08/2023 12:36

Are you eligible for PDSA treatment?

uncomfortablydumb53 · 14/08/2023 13:14

There are online vets who can advise and fill a prescription for you i would look into this first
Are you in an area with PDSA?
You are not obliged to take the vet's recommendation either

Original poster
Autumnsoon · 14/08/2023 13:49

Floralnomad · 14/08/2023 12:06

Just be upfront with the vet , tell them that as the dog is doing well at the moment you want to leave things as they are and will review when things change . Just because a vet says something it doesn’t mean you have to do it ,

I’ve just done this
vet did try to Get-me to change my mind ,but couldn’t tell me what benefits the drug would have
theres two types of mg
my dog has the megasophagus type and that damage is permanent,she couldn’t tell me that the throat muscles would start to work.
so for a dog with the back legs problems type of mg the medication may stop it getting worse .
but my dog will always have megasophagus ,so that’s enough for him to deal with without a strong med with a lot of side effects,that I can’t see a benefit to

OP posts:
Bethanbee · 14/08/2023 13:54

Use a mortar and pestle to grind the tablets into dust.

Original poster
Autumnsoon · 14/08/2023 13:55

IngGenius · 14/08/2023 08:39

That sounds like a lot of money for that particular medication.

How much does your dog weigh and what strength of I assume Pyridostigmine are they being prescribed.

Because he’s small
there are tablets at £24,99 for 200 ,that i could of cut up/ crushed
I don’t know if it would of worked as he is 4 kg,but the side effects put me off trying.
he’s been very poorly for 4 and a half months while the vet tried to find out what was wrong ,with constant vet appointments and scans and blood tests and X-rays …only now we have a Bailey chair and feeding mush upright has he stopped being sick ,and gone back a little bit to how he was

OP posts:
Original poster
Autumnsoon · 14/08/2023 13:57

Bethanbee · 14/08/2023 13:54

Use a mortar and pestle to grind the tablets into dust.

If things change and he does get much worse ,I will buy the tablets and crush them up

OP posts:
Floralnomad · 14/08/2023 15:57

I think that’s the best solution @Autumnsoon irrespective of whether the treatment is affordable , if he’s getting better with the current regime . Hope he continues to improve

Original poster
Autumnsoon · 14/08/2023 16:40

Floralnomad · 14/08/2023 15:57

I think that’s the best solution @Autumnsoon irrespective of whether the treatment is affordable , if he’s getting better with the current regime . Hope he continues to improve

I think so too ,for the moment
thanks x

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