It's Easier Than Ever To Get Pet Prescription Meds Filled Online And Delivered To Your Door (2024)

What to Buy

Dog Products

It's Easier Than Ever To Get Pet Prescription Meds Filled Online And Delivered To Your Door (1)By

Mary Jo DiLonardo

It's Easier Than Ever To Get Pet Prescription Meds Filled Online And Delivered To Your Door (2)

Mary Jo DiLonardo

Mary Jo DiLonardo is a senior writer and editor who covers pets and animals, health and wellness, nature and sustainability, and all things environmental. In her over 25 years on the job, she has contributed to WebMD, CNN.com, and Treehugger. Shehas fostered more than three dozen dogs and puppies.

Learn more about The Spruce Pets'Editorial Process

Updated on 01/25/24

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more.

It's Easier Than Ever To Get Pet Prescription Meds Filled Online And Delivered To Your Door (3)

Whether heartworm prevention or eye drops, you no longer need to pick up medicine at your veterinarian's office, thanks to a wide range of easy online solutions—even for prescription medications.

For many sites, you just upload a photo of your pet’s prescription from your vet. Other places might call your veterinarian after you’ve placed your order. Online pharmacy prices are typically competitive and most often delivery is fast.

Our favorite place to buy pet medication online is Chewy. The company is known for a massive selection of all sorts of pet products, as well as spectacular customer service. Here’s a look at some of our favorite ways to buy medication online, including full-service retailers with supplements and everything else your pet needs to stay healthy.

In This Article

  • Our Picks

  • What to Look for

  • FAQ

  • Why Trust The Spruce Pets?

What We Like

  • Medication and products for all types of pets

  • Compounding pharmacy

  • Speedy shipping

  • Some generic medicines

  • Great customer service

What We Don't Like

  • Need to spend $50 for free shipping

Chewy is known for having a huge selection of all kinds of products for all kinds of pets. The company’s pharmacy is equally all-encompassing. You can find medication, prescription diets, and healthy products for dogs and cats, horses and birds, reptiles and other animals. Chewy also has a compounding pharmacy, which is when medications are tailor-made to the specific needs of a patient. That could mean adding a beefy flavor your dog would like to a liquid medicine or combining several medications into a salve.

You can search by category—like allergies or antibiotics—or by condition, like asthma or anxiety. There are lots of name brands and many generic options. You provide your vet’s name and contact information when you check out and Chewy will contact them to confirm your prescription or you can mail in your prescription.

Chewy offers free shipping for orders over $49 and 50 percent off your first auto-ship order. They ship medications that need to be refrigerated in insulated coolers that will chill for as long as 72 hours. Chewy also has a fantastic reputation for customer service. They are quick to answer questions, replace incorrect or damaged items, and offer support. If there's still any doubt in your mind, maybe Chewy's wide range of early Black Friday Deals can convince you.

Prescription Medications: Yes | Delivery: Free over $49

What We Like

  • Huge selection

  • Competitive prices

  • Free two-day shipping on orders over $35

  • Products for lots of animals

What We Don't Like

  • Fewer categories to search for products

You can shop by pet, brand, or condition at Walmart PetRx which promises more than 3,000 products in stock. There are medications and medically related products for dogs, cats, fish, birds, horses, and other farm animals. There are the usual antibiotics, pain relievers, and allergy medicines but also so many specific drugs like probiotics for cows and aspirin for sore muscles in horses.

Each product has very detailed explanations of what it is, why and how it’s used, active ingredients, potential side effects, and how it works. For prescription products, you add your vet’s name during checkout and Walmart will call to confirm. There’s free two-day shipping on orders over $35 and a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee. There are even more savings if you sign up for autoship and refills are easy with just one click. Prices are very competitive and the selection is huge.

Prescription Medications: Yes | Delivery: Free over $35

What We Like

  • Easy to sort

  • Generic options

  • Price match, rewards program, satisfaction guarantee

What We Don’t Like

  • Items only for dogs, cats, and horses

  • Need to spend $50 for free shipping

PetMeds is a well-known online pet pharmacy. They offer medication and health supplies for dogs, cats, and horses. If you’re not sure exactly what you’re looking for, you can narrow your search by looking at category, health condition, life stage, brand, flavor, or price. The site will also offer generic options when available for a cost-saving pick. When you place an order, you give your vet’s contact information and they’ll call to confirm the prescription. Like other sites, you can also mail in your pet’s prescription.

The company offers free shipping on orders over $49 and a price match service. There’s a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee promise so you can get your money back or a merchandise credit. The rewards program offers 2 percent back on all purchases which builds toward credit in your account.

Prescription Medications: Yes | Delivery: Free over $49

What We Like

  • Prescription products for dogs, cats, and horses

  • Price-match guarantee

  • Earn points for every purchase

What We Don't Like

  • No products for birds, rodents, or other small pets

A well-known physical store and online presence for pets, Petco also has a bustling pharmacy. Currently you can buy medications, prescription food, and health-related products for dogs, cats, and horses. Petco collects prescription information at checkout and will call your vet to confirm.

You can search by type of medication or by brand, as well as by prize, size, and customer ratings. Petco has a price-match guarantee so you know you can always find the lowest price there. You can earn points for every purchase which can accumulate towards savings and there’s a one-click system for refills. There’s free shipping on orders over $35 and savings when you sign up for repeat delivery.

Prescription Medications: Yes | Delivery: Free over $35

Costco Pet RX

It's Easier Than Ever To Get Pet Prescription Meds Filled Online And Delivered To Your Door (8)

What We Like

  • Can fill prescriptions online or in store

  • Checks prices with partner sites

  • Free shipping

What We Don't Like

  • Cheaper in store than online

You can buy huge jars of peanut butter and massive packs of dog toys at Costco, but your warehouse club membership also helps you save on pet prescription medications. Use the search function to check for your pet’s medication and the site will give you availability and pricing for Costco in-store, Costco prescription home delivery, and then a smattering of other network pharmacies like Walgreens.

It’s typically cheapest to bring your pet’s prescription into a Costco store, but for sometimes only a little bit more, you can have it delivered to your home for free. You’ll need to have your vet call or fax your pet’s prescription or you can mail it in if you’re not in a hurry. Costco offers free standard shipping and suggests discounts of as much as 40 percent versus traditional pharmacies.

Prescription Medications: Yes | Delivery: free standard shipping

The 10 Best Home Flea Treatments for Carpets, Yards, and More

Amazon Pet Health

It's Easier Than Ever To Get Pet Prescription Meds Filled Online And Delivered To Your Door (9)

What We Like

  • Health-related supplies for all types of animals

  • Huge selection

  • Free delivery over $25 or with Prime membership

What We Don't Like

  • No prescription meds

Amazon doesn’t offer prescription medications for pets—yet— but there are loads of other health-related pet products you can buy. There’s a huge selection of vitamins and supplements, dewormers and flea and tick medications, and lots of items like recovery cones (for dogs, cats, and even birds), as well as ear cleansers and wipes, thermometers, and first aid supplies.

There are the most products for dogs and cats, but there are also items for horses, reptiles, birds, fish and other small animals. You can find wound ointment, mite spray, and deodorizing wipes. There are drops to ease digestive upset in birds, eye drops for turtles, and medication to treat aquarium water for parasites. Most everything ships relatively quickly and it’s free if you spend $25 or are a Prime member.

Prescription Medications: No | Delivery: Free over $25 or with Prime membership

What We Like

  • Lots of information about each medication

  • Daily deals and coupons, free shipping over $48

  • Subscription plan has more savings and free shipping on everything

What We Don't Like

  • Dogs and cats only

This online pet pharmacy has prescription medications and health and wellness products for dogs and cats. Use the “pet meds” dropdown at the top to find prescription medications and then sort by pet or condition. Each medication has lots of helpful information including FAQs and info on dosage and possible side effects. There’s a robust wellness library where you can learn more about various conditions and treatments.

You can find name brands but also plenty of generic, less expensive medications. There are daily deals and coupons on a rotating selection of products.Shipping is free on orders over $48. Like other sites, they’ll contact your vet to confirm your prescription or you can mail in a hard copy. An extra PetPlus membership program costs $139.99 a year and includes additional savings, free shipping, pickup at local pharmacies, and access to a virtual veterinarian.

Prescription Medications: Yes | Delivery: Free over $48

GoodRx for Pets

It's Easier Than Ever To Get Pet Prescription Meds Filled Online And Delivered To Your Door (11)

What We Like

  • Price comparison at many pharmacies

  • Coupons for discounts

  • Search by name or condition

What We Don't Like

  • Lowest costs are subscription-only

Maybe you’ve used GoodRx when shopping around for your own medications. The site tracks prescription drug prices, showing the cost at nearby pharmacies and online so you can choose the least expensive option. There are often also coupons for discounts. GoodRx for Pets does the same thing for pet meds. Pop in the name, quantity, dosage, and form (pills, capsules, liquid) and the site will compare prices. You can search by drug name or by condition.

There’s also a premium membership program where you can save and buy directly from the company. GoodRx Gold costs $9.99/month for one person or $19.99/month for a family, including pets. The paid plan offers even more of a bargain with up to 90% savings and free home delivery for all your medication.

Prescription Medications: Yes | Delivery: Free with paid plan

What We Like

  • Helpful Q&As

  • Good selection

  • Many generic options

What We Don't Like

  • Only for dogs and cats

  • Not as easy to search as some sites

  • Need to spend over $59 for free shipping

Another pet-specific online pharmacy, VetRxDirect offers a strong selection of prescription medications and wellness items for dogs and cats. Searching isn’t quite as easy as some other sites. The main page has a list of popular pet categories, but you can also maneuver to the dropdown menu to sort by pet or specific condition. There are lots of generic options and prices are competitive.

There are loads of customer reviews and helpful Q&As for many medications. For example, you may be able to find out if certain tablets are chewable or scored in half for easy dosing. After you order, VetRxDirect will fax your veterinarian for approval or you can mail a copy of your prescription. Shipping is free for orders over $59.

Prescription Medications: Yes | Delivery: Free over $59

Final Verdict

Our favorite place to buy pet medication online is Chewy. The company is known for a massive selection of all sorts of pet products, as well as spectacular customer service. Another great option is Walmart PetRx which promises more than 3,000 items in stock for dogs, cats, fish, birds, horses, and other farm animals.

What to Look for When Buying Pet Medication Online

Prescription Medication / Veterinary Verification

To order medications for your pet online, your vet will need to verify the prescription. One of the easiest ways this is done starts at checkout. You’ll supply your vet’s name and contact information and many sites will reach out to verify before they ship. You can also mail (not email) a hard copy of your prescription, which isn’t always convenient if you need the meds quickly. Some sites will also fax your vet and require them to fax in a prescription.

Pharmacy Verification

There are loads of places online in and out of the country that sell prescription medications. But if the business isn’t legitimate, you could receive counterfeit or incorrect drugs for your pet. The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy has a site that allows you to check if a pharmacy website is verified (the page also includes a link to download the full spreadsheet of verified pharmacies). To be part of the program, pharmacies must be regulated—both where they’re located and where the patient is located—must accept only valid prescriptions, and comply with drug and privacy laws.

Delivery

All sites offer free delivery in certain situations. Most offer free shipping once you’ve spent a certain amount, which ranges from $25 to $59. Costco offers free delivery on all orders, as does Amazon if you’re a Prime member. The same is true for some of the online pharmacies if you join their paid membership program.

Keep in mind that before prescriptions can be shipped, your vet has to respond to verify it. That can add a few additional days to the process depending on how quickly they answer. Most sites will make several attempts to contact your vet and then will let you know if they couldn’t be reached.

Packaging

If your pet’s medication needs to be refrigerated, it will be shipped in an insulated cooler to keep it safe or it will be shipped overnight. Prescriptions are often shipped in boxes to avoid crushing the contents. Examine your medication once it arrives to make sure pills aren’t crushed or liquid isn’t spilled. Be sure to check the expiration date.

Veterinary Insurance

Most pet insurance plans cover at least some medication. Comprehensive coverage may pay all or part of medications, while accident-only coverage may only cover medication linked with a covered illness or accident. You can also buy a rider to your policy that includes medication such as monthlyheartworm preventatives.

FAQ

  • Can you buy pet medication with a Health Savings Account (HSA)?

    In general, you cannot use your health savings account (HSA) funds to purchase medication for your pet. If you, however, have a medically necessary service animal, you may be able to use HAS funds to pay for the costs associated with the health of that service animal.

  • Where can I buy pet medication without a prescription?

    Some pet medications require a prescription and others can be purchased over the counter (OTC). OTC pet medications can be purchased through online pet pharmacies, pet-supply stores, and big-box retail stores. It is not safe to attempt to purchase prescription pet medications without a valid prescription from a veterinarian who has seen your pet. Companies that offer prescription medications without a prescription are breaking the law. Often, products sold this way are counterfeit or expired. Additionally, it is not safe to give your pet medications that were not prescribed by your veterinarian.

  • Is it cheaper to buy pet prescriptions online?

    It depends on the prescription you are filling, but generally online pet pharmacies pass on savings to consumers and offer competitive pricing.

  • Are prescription flea and tick preventatives better for pets?

    In general, prescription flea and tick preventatives are more potent and reliable. Your budget and your vet's recommendation for your pet should determine which preventative (non-prescription or prescription) you give to your pet to keep them healthy.

Why Trust The Spruce Pets?

To find the best places to buy pet medications online, we researched numerous sites, looking for everything from selection and shipping price to customer reviews and how the prescription process works. We considered recommendations from pet owners and relied on our own experiences as well.

This article was researched and written by Mary Jo DiLonardo who has covered animals and pets for several decades. Mary Jo has fostered more than 60 dogs and puppies. She has shopped online for products for her own rescue dog and her foster puppies. She is always searching for the healthiest and most effective products to use with them such as best dog toys and best dog treats.

Updated byJackie Brown

Advertisem*nt

It's Easier Than Ever To Get Pet Prescription Meds Filled Online And Delivered To Your Door (2024)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Frankie Dare

Last Updated:

Views: 6046

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (73 voted)

Reviews: 88% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Frankie Dare

Birthday: 2000-01-27

Address: Suite 313 45115 Caridad Freeway, Port Barabaraville, MS 66713

Phone: +3769542039359

Job: Sales Manager

Hobby: Baton twirling, Stand-up comedy, Leather crafting, Rugby, tabletop games, Jigsaw puzzles, Air sports

Introduction: My name is Frankie Dare, I am a funny, beautiful, proud, fair, pleasant, cheerful, enthusiastic person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.