Introduction: When we first began to infuse "Scooter" we quickly realized that the cost of prescription medications and other  supplies to treat Scooter's CRF would be major.  But then we found our first mail order vendor and realized "intelligent shopping" could control costs.  This site provides detailed information on the current "low-cost" mail order / Internet vendors selling fluids, IV admin sets, disposable needles and other supplies and prescription drugs useful in treating pets with CRF.  Many local pharmacies now sell fluids so do check the Local Fluids page also!  Please remember that treatment of CRF requires close supervision by a knowledgeable veterinarian including regular visits and appropriate blood, urine and other tests, and that IV fluids require a prescription anywhere in the U.S. - David Jacobson

In Memoriam.  "Scooter Cat" died in early September 2003 at 18 and 1/2.  Infusing and medicating Scooter for CRF gained us 4 additional years with our pal and we treasured every moment.  Scooter made me promise to maintain this site after his death to help folks finance their treatment of CRF and other chronic diseases through intelligent shopping.  This site is dedicated to Scooter's memory. Here's a video of the Scootster.

Price Comparisons Case LRS, 12 IV sets, needles Case LRS, 2 IV  sets, needles Case of LRS 12 IV sets, box needles Case of Normosol-R Tips on Buying Infusion Supplies- Other David Jacobson Pages Recommended Vets Cats-Only Clinics Calcitriol Reference ACE Inhibitors Reference

Vendors  Local Fluids ThrivingPets.com Direct Medical Inc. BRICO Medical Supplies UPCO Valleyvet.com KV Vet & Equine Links and Phones Canadian Vendors Click on the "Concerned Cat"  to get back to this Menu

Other About IV Admin Sets About IV Fluids About Gel Caps About Norvasc (for hypertension) About Needles About Phosphorus Binders About Potassium Supplements About Vitamin B Complex Vet Refuses Prescription!  Legal Survey Internet Pharmacies and Pillbot Veterinary Compounding Pharmacies About This Site

"Scooter" Vansag  . . .  1985 - 2003

Mail Order Price Comparisons

Overview.  The tables below compare common CRF supplies orders. Please note that only vendors that sell all the products shown in a table are listed.
 

1. ThrivingPets.orders of $45 and over ship for free.  Thiving Pets also sells Hospira LRS in VisIV DEHP-free bags for $50 (including shipping)  for a case of 12 liters.
2. BRICO's shipping costs for orders that include a case of fluids are $15.50 to the Eastern US, $19.00 to the Midwest and $28.00 to the West.
3. Direct Medical's shipping costs are estimates plus a $7.50 handling charge.  Direct Medical's web site order application shows the actual shipping costs for each order.  Direct Medical claims that they will match competitor's prices for LRS, Normosol-R, IV Admin Sets and Terumo Needles.  Pricing is based on Direct Medical's announced willingness to match the prices of its competitors.
4. UPCO ahipping is included but UPCO assesses a (minimal) handling charge based on the order total ($) -  $00.00 to $9.99 = $6.50, $10.00 to $39.99 = $5.50, $40.00 to $59.99 = $4.50, $60.00 to $79.99 = $3.00, $80.00 and OVER = NONE.  Prices above includes a quantity discount for IV admin sets (12 or more @$2.35) and LRS  (12 or more @ $2.50) and needles (box of 100 @ $8.95).

1. ThrivingPets.orders of $45 and over ship for free. Thiving Pets also sells Hospira LRS in VisIV DEHP-free bags for $50 (including shipping) for a case of 12 liters.
2. BRICO's shipping costs for orders that include a case of fluids are $15.50 to the Eastern US, $19.00 to the Midwest and $28.00 to the West.
3. Direct Medical's shipping costs are estimates plus a $7.50 handling charge.  Direct Medical's web site order application shows the actual shipping costs for each order.  Direct Medical claims that they will match competitor's prices for LRS, Normosol-R, IV Admin Sets and Terumo Needles.  Pricing is based on Direct Medical's announced willingness to match the prices of its competitors.
4. KV Pet & Equine prices include shipping.  The firm also charges an additional $5 fee for orders under $50.
5. Shipping is included but UPCO assesses a (minimal) handling charge based on the order total ($) -  $00.00 to $9.99 = $6.50, $10.00 to $39.99 = $5.50, $40.00 to $59.99 = $4.50, $60.00 to $79.99 = $3.00, $80.00 and OVER = NONE.  Prices above includes a quantity discount for IV admin sets (12 or more @$2.35) and LRS  (12 or more @ $2.50) and needles (box of 100 @ $8.95).
6. Valley Vet prices include shipping.  Orders of $60 or less pay an additional $5 handling fee.  Valley Vet sells both Hospira and B.Braun fluids.  Hospira is cheaper and shown in the table above -- B.Braun is $64.40 a case including shipping and handling.

1. ThrivingPets.orders of $45 and over ship for free.  Thiving Pets also sells Hospira LRS in VisIV DEHP-free bags for $50 (including shipping) for a case of 12 liters.
2. BRICO's shipping costs for orders that include a case of fluids are $15.50 to the Eastern US, $19.00 to the Midwest and $28.00 to the West.
3. Direct Medical's shipping costs are estimates plus a $7.50 handling charge.  Direct Medical's web site order application shows the actual shipping costs for each order.  Direct Medical claims that they will match competitor's prices for LRS, Normosol-R, IV Admin Sets and Terumo Needles.  Pricing is based on Direct Medical's announced willingness to match the prices of its competitors.
4. Shipping is included but UPCO assesses a (minimal) handling charge based on the order total ($) -  $00.00 to $9.99 = $6.50, $10.00 to $39.99 = $5.50, $40.00 to $59.99 = $4.50, $60.00 to $79.99 = $3.00, $80.00 and OVER = NONE.  Prices above includes a quantity discount for IV admin sets (12 or more @$2.35) and LRS  (12 or more @ $2.50) and needles (box of 100 @ $8.95).
5. KV Pet & Equine prices include shipping.  The firm also charges an additional $5 fee for orders under $50.
6. Valley Vet prices include shipping.  Orders of $60 or less pay an additional $6 handling fee.  Valley Vet sells both Hospira and B.Braun fluids.  Hospira is cheaper and shown in the table above -- B.Braun is $64.40 a case including shipping and handling.

1. ThrivingPets.com ships by weight and destination.  Shipping of the items above to Arlington, VA, is currently $8.39.  ThrivingPets.orders of $45 and over ship for free.
2. BRICO charges a minimum $7.25 to ship IV sets and needles sans fluids to the lower 48.  If the order is large, the shpping cost may exceed $7.25.
3. Direct Medical's shipping costs are estimates plus a $7.50 handling charge.  Direct Medical's web site order application shows the actual shipping costs for each order.  Direct Medical claims that they will match competitor's prices for LRS, Normosol-R, IV Admin Sets and Terumo Needles.  Pricing is based on Direct Medical's announced willingness to match the prices of its competitors.

Vendors

 

ThrivingPets.com, (303) 333-1899, is a veterinary pharmacy in Denver, Colorado, that sells a variety of prescription and other medications and supplies supplies directly to animal owners including IV fluids (LRS and Normosol-R), B.Braun IV admin sets, Terumo needles, aluminum hydroxide dried gel powder, norvasc (amlodipine) in capusles, potassium gluconate powder, microcompounded doses of calcitriol.  For a full listing of ThrivingPets.com's CRF formulary, follow the link below to ThrivingPets.com's CRF Supplies page: http://tinyurl.com/4q7w3h Feedback from customers has been excellent. ThrivingPets.com, 950 E. Harvard Ave #170, Denver, CO  80210  Phone: (303) 333-1899, Fax: (303) 379-6390 http://www.ThrivingPets.com

 

Direct Medical of Alabama was one of the first to sell CRF supplies via mail order at reasonable prices.  Direct Medical claims that they will match any other firm's mail order prices for Lactated Ringer's Solution (LRS), Normosol-R, IV admin sets and Terumo Needles -- that's good because their regular prices are on the high side.  Shipping is actual UPS ground plus a $7.50 handling fee.  Please note that the prices quoted are for internet orders only - if you call and order by phone, prices are higher! Direct Medical will ship to Alaska and Hawaii.  Direct Medical usually ships the same or next day.  Feedback from customers has always been excellent. For details, see Direct Medical's Web Site. Direct Medical has a CRF advantage membership program for a $39.95 annual fee that provides lower prices on the most popular items (LRS, Normosol-R, needles, IV sets) and a reduced handling fee - $4.00 rather than $7.50 per order.  My preliminary analysis shows that the Advantage program may be a good buy only for folks who infuse 150 mL or more per day and intend to buy all their fluids, IV sets and needles from Direct Medical. .  Direct Medical Inc., 2035 Oak Mountain Dr, Pelham, AL 35124-1326 (205) 621-5883 or 800-316-4993, Fax: (205) 621-5866 email: mwallace@dmi2.com    Web Site:  http://www.dmi2.com/OnlineCatalog_c120444.html

BRICO Medical Supplies of New Jersey sells to more than 650 customers treating CRF animals.  Orders that includes a case of fluids ship for $15.50 to the East, $19 to the Central US and $28 to the West.  For needles and/or IV sets ordered sans fluids, there's a miminum $6.75 shipping charge. BRICO will ship to Alaska and Hawaii at actual shipping charges.  BRICO ships most orders the same or next day.  Feedback from customers has been excellent.  BRICO is a small business and owner Bryan Young is personally involved in their CRF program and anxious to please.  BRICO's pricing has consistently been very good.  For a complete listing of BRICO's CRF Inventory, see BRICO's web site. BRICO Medical Supplies, Inc., P.O. Box 141, Metuchen, NJ 08840-0141 Phone - 866-589-0971   Fax 732-321-1542,  email - sales@bricomedicalsupplies.com web site - http://www.bricomedicalsupplies.com/CRFpage.html

 

UPCO of Missouri is a pet supply mail order firm that sells Baxter fluids and IV sets and Monoject needles.     Shipping/handling charges are based on the total price of each order - $6.50 for orders less than $10, $5.00 for orders from $10-$39.99, $4.00 for order from $40.00 to $59.99, $2 for orders from $60 to $74.99 and none for orders of $75 and over.  All orders are usually shipped within 6 hours - orders placed before 3:30 p.m. (Central Time) will ship the same day.  Per item prices on the web site may not reflect quantity discounts (12 or more bags of LRS @ $2.50, 12 or more IV admin sets @ $2.35, and 1 box of 100 needles at $8.95) that will show up when you're finalizing your order.  The $8.95 price for a case of needles, however, may be available only if you call.  In the past, the  web site order system was incapable of applying more than one discount (12 or more is first quantity discount, 100 or more is second).  UPCO's website is at http://www.upco.comand they also publish an extensive catalog that can be had for the asking.  Feedback from the few customers that have bought from UPCO has been excellent. UPCO, P.O.Box 969, St. Joseph, MO 64502-0969, 1-800-254-8726, fax 1-816-233-9696, email UPCO2@aol.com Web Site: http://www.upco.com

 

Valleyvet.com is a major online supplier of animal health care products.  They sell Hospira LRS and IV admin sets and Monoject needles.  A prescription is required for the LRS - "Your veterinarian may call the script in, fax it from their office, or give you an original to mail in. The entire order will be held pending the veterinarian's authorization."  Valleyvet.com also sells  250 mL bottles of AgriLabs Fortified Vitamin B Complex injectable and thousands of other pet products.  Prices include shipping anywhere in the lower-48  but there's a $6 "handling charge" for orders under $60.  Orders can be submitted by phone at 800-419-9524 or by fax at 800-446-5597 or online at http://www.valleyvet.com/. Valleyvet.com also has an extensive catalog of pet care products. Valley Vet Supply. 1118 Pony Express Hwy . Marysville, Kansas 66508 Phone Orders or Questions: 800-419-9524 Fax Orders: 800-446-5597 e-mail service@Valleyvet.com Web Site: http://www.valleyvet.com/

 

KV Vet & Equine is a major online supplier of pet products and supplies.  Their price on most items includes shipping to the lower 48. They sell fluids (including LRS, saline and Normosol-R), IV admin sets, needles and a vast catalog of products including prescription medications. Prescriptions may be phoned or faxed by your vet, or they can be mailed to a post office box. See KV Vet's prescription orders page for more details.  Feedback from customers has been excellent. KV Pet & Equine / KV HealthLinks 3190 N Road, David City, NE  68632 800-423-8211 (phone) 800-269-0093 (fax) http://www.kvvet.com

Links and Phones
 
 
 

Vendor	Link	Phone
BRICO Medical Supplies	http://bricomedicalsupplies.net/	1-866-589-0971
Direct Medical	http://www.dmi2.com/OnlineCatalog_c120444.html	1-800-316-4993
ThrivingPets.com	http://www.thrivingpets.com	1 - 303-320-6034
UPCO	http://www.upco.com/	1-800-254-8726
Valley Vet Supply	http://www.valleyvet.com/	1-800-419-9524

This page is the product of me, David Jacobson. The information presented here is not guaranteed.  Contact the vendors listed directly for their current prices and policies.  Feel free to link this page to other pages and web sites dealing with the medical treatment of cats and dogs.  And please contact me with any updated information or additional vendors, or your comments, criticisms and suggestions.  I appreciate your help. This web site went online in August 2000.  It was renamed for Scooter in September 2003.

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