Choosing Generic Heartworm Medicine

By Lec Watkins

Consumers often shy away from generic pet medicines, automatically trusting the big name brands more than the cheaper alternatives. But, there really is no reason to avoid generic heartworm medicine. You just need to learn a little about how the medicines industry work.

The big brands have the research and development budgets and facilities to actually produce new medicinal compounds. Initially they will have the sole rights to market their new inventions. But their monopoly soon ends allowing anyone to utilise their new drug so long as they adhere to a few rules. Firstly the non-branded or generic version of any pet medicine must not look exactly like the branded version. So packaging must be different. Plus, if the actual product has a specific identity (such as being a particular size and shape of meaty chewable treat) the generic version must look dissimilar.

But, the important things within the world of pet meds are the actual quality of the drugs involved, the safety record, instructions for use and so on are all identical whether marketing a branded or generic version. So, while a generic heartworm medicine may have bland packaging and be a less enticing flavour, the product must work and be safe.

Checking out generic pet meds is simple. All you need to do is check out the type and quantity of the active ingredients on the branded product. Then compare this to the generic version. You will immediately see that both products are exactly the same as far as the important points are concerned. Your pet will not care that the packaging is a little bland so neither should you. The drugs contained have to be identical to ensure your pet gets complete protection from heartworm disease, that is all that matters.

The one consideration regarding heartworm medicine or any generic pet meds is that you are paying less because you are not paying for a drug company's research and development, that has already been done by the brand. We do need some consumers to buy branded products so those businesses continue to develop more useful products for all of us. But, in times of financial trouble maybe you should let other consumers pay for the R&D while you benefit from cheap pet meds for your animals!

For more information about generic heartworm medicine and heartworm pills click on the links.