You can’t put a price on the joy your pet brings you, but there’s also no disputing the fact that owning a pet is expensive. Visits to the veterinarian, food and medications all add up and can put a strain on your cash flow. The good news is there are ways for pet owners to save money, particularly when buying common pet meds.

Whether we are purchasing medications for ourselves or our pets, our first instinct is not to worry about cost, only about getting the proper treatment. However, it’s possible to save money on frequently recommended over-the-counter pet meds like Frontline Plus for dogs and Dasuquin, as well as prescription medications, without negatively affecting your pet’s health.

Here are a few ways you can save when buying medication for your pets:

* Buying in bulk. If you know you’ll be using a lot of a certain medication, you will likely be able to save money when buying larger quantities.

* Buy the generic version. When receiving a prescription from your doctor, ask if there are generic versions of the drug that are just as effective. As with anything else, you may be paying more for the name than you are for the drug itself if you go with a brand-name medication.

* Shop online. Today, more and more online pharmacies, such as VetDepot, offer low prices on both prescription and over-the-counter pet meds.

While there are many reputable online pharmacies, there are also sites that are out to scam customers with counterfeit or out-of-date medications. Therefore, it’s important to take some precautions, whether you are buying drugs from a bricks-and-mortar pharmacy or online. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends taking the following precautions when buying pet meds online:

* Ask your veterinarian about the site you plan on using to buy the medications to find out if they have had any experience with or direct knowledge of the site.

* Watch for red flags. Avoid sites that don’t require prescriptions for prescription drugs and do not have a licensed pharmacist available to answer any questions you may have. Stick to sites that are based in the United States, as only those sites can be regulated by the U.S. government.

* Report problems and suspicious online pharmacies. In addition to contacting your vet if problems occur after your pet has taken medication you purchased online, you can also call 1-888-FDA-VETS to report any suspicious activity you encountered when working with a pharmacy.

* Educate yourself about online pharmacies. The Center for Veterinary Medicine offers a number of resources on its website that can provide you with information about online pet med providers.

By being an informed and thrifty shopper, you can help your pet stay healthy while saving a few dollars in the process.