Veterinary medicine is feeling the effects of consumers’ growing awareness of generic drugs, especially as the patents expire on key veterinary products. The financial implications for veterinary practices are significant. How a clinic handles generic options can affect revenue, compliance, client service, inventory, its relationship with manufacturers and distributors, and much more. Competition from human pharmacies with their $4 options—not to mention Internet pharmacies such as 1-800-PetMeds and the practice down the street—only makes the issue more complex.

More in this package:
Does your practice prescribe generic veterinary drugs for patients?
Has the availability of new generic and OTC products affected your practice product sales?
What's the top reason you offer (or don't offer) generic drugs?
Key terms explained

More in this package:
Does your practice prescribe generic veterinary drugs for patients?
Has the availability of new generic and OTC products affected your practice product sales?
What's the top reason you offer (or don't offer) generic drugs?
Key terms explained

Veterinarians speak out: What's the top reason you offer generic drugs?
"Lower cost often leads to better compliance."
"If you don't have cheaper alternatives, clients will get them elsewhere."
If a client can't afford what we have, it's more important that our patients get the treatment they need."
"When efficacy is the same and price is the only difference, we prescribe generics. In rare cases where brand names have an advantage, we recommend them."

What's the top reason you don't offer generic drugs?
"Support from the company name brand."
"Name recognition for clients makes them more comfortable."
"To keep the money in the practice."

More in this package:
Does your practice prescribe generic veterinary drugs for patients?
Has the availability of new generic and OTC products affected your practice product sales?
What's the top reason you offer (or don't offer) generic drugs?
Key terms explained