Does CVS Fill Pet Prescriptions in 2024? The Complete Guide
Do you have a four-legged family member in need of medication? With around 63.4 million pet dogs in the United States and over 42.7 million pet cats (APPA), countless furry friends require prescriptions for common conditions like skin allergies, arthritis, anxious behaviors, infections, heart disease, diabetes, and more.
Pet care doesn‘t come cheap though. Spending on medications makes up about 8-12% of total pet care costs per year according to ASPCA estimates, ranging from $206 per dog to $457 per cat on average.
When your veterinarian hands you that prescription slip, you might immediately think to drop it off at your local CVS pharmacy for convenience and potential savings vs. buying directly from the vet clinic. But can you get pet meds at CVS, and should you?
Here‘s my complete guide to answer common questions about filling pet prescriptions at CVS in 2024 and beyond.
What Types of Pet Medications Can You Fill at CVS?
The key thing to understand is that CVS pharmacies carry drugs that have shared human and animal uses. So if the medication your dog, cat, or other furry friend needs is also prescribed to people, CVS will likely have it in stock.
This encompasses a wide variety of common antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, dewormers, antihistamines, antifungals, analgesics, sedatives, antidepressants, heart and blood pressure medications, oral steroids, and supplements.
For example, popular pet meds I have often seen filled at CVS include:
- Amoxicillin/Clavamox – antibiotic
- Tramadol – opioid pain reliever
- Fluconazole – antifungal
- Prednisone – corticosteroid
- Levothyroxine – thyroid hormone
- Metronidazole – GI & antimicrobial
- Diphenhydramine – antihistamine
And many more!
However, CVS does not carry or fill any specialty veterinary medications. So if your pet requires a unique treatment manufactured specifically for animals, you will need to purchase it directly through your vet clinic or find an online pet pharmacy that carries it.
If you‘re unsure if CVS stocks the prescription your pet needs, the best approach is to call ahead to confirm before dropping it off.
How Do You Get Your Pet Medication Filled at CVS?
Follow this simple process to have your pet‘s prescription filled at CVS:
- Take your pet to the veterinarian for diagnosis of the medical issue requiring medication.
- Get the written prescription note from your vet. They may charge a prescription release fee.
- Take the prescription slip to your local CVS pharmacy drop-off counter.
- Provide the pharmacist on duty with your name, your pet‘s name, contact details, and any special instructions.
- The pharmacist will let you know if they stock the medication and can fill the script. If not, ask your vet for an alternative or check other pharmacies.
- Wait for a call when your pet‘s meds are ready! This usually takes no more than 1 day.
- Pick up the prescription at the pharmacy counter, pay the amount due, and you‘re done.
It‘s a simple and familiar process – much like getting your own medications filled. The main catch is that not all pet meds may be available at CVS if they are veterinary-specific formulas.
Why Choose CVS for Your Pet‘s Prescriptions?
There are a few key reasons why pet owners may prefer to have medications filled at CVS rather than purchasing directly through the vet:
Convenience: You probably shop at CVS regularly anyway, so it‘s easy to drop off and pick up when running other errands.
Lower costs: In my experience researching pet care costs (and as a pet parent myself), medications are usually cheaper when filled at pharmacies instead of straight from veterinary clinics.
For example, based on the popular pet medications listed earlier:
| Medication | CVS Price Range | Vet Price Range | $ Savings at CVS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amoxicillin | $15-25 | $25-40 | Up to $20 |
| Tramadol | $15-30 | $30-50 | Up to $35 |
| Fluconazole | $15-35 | $30-55 | Up to $35 |
| Prednisone | $10-15 | $25-40 | Up to $30 |
As you can see, filling at CVS rather than getting meds directly from the prescribing vet can offer substantial cost savings.
Of course, pricing varies not only by medication, but by location, dosage form, quantity dispensed, discounts, and more. But the overall trend holds – CVS offers cheaper pet prescriptions.
Beyond lower prices, CVS also provides:
- Extra Bucks rewards program
- Pharmacy coupons
- Frequent sales and discounts
So pet parents can save even more on medications and care costs when using CVS.
Can You Order Pet Medications Online Through CVS?
No, unfortunately CVS does not fill pet prescriptions through their online pharmacy at this time. You cannot get home delivery of your furry friend‘s medications automatically through CVS either.
The reason is that pet prescriptions require special dosing instructions from your veterinarian. These differ from human use cases.
So CVS policy dictates that you must drop off your pet‘s written prescription slip in-person so the pharmacist can go over all details with you at pickup.
What Are Some Alternatives for Ordering Pet Meds Online?
While CVS retail pharmacies are convenient, sometimes home delivery offers even more flexibility in caring for your pet.
Luckily, thanks the growth of ecommerce and specialized online animal pharmacies, purchasing your pet‘s medications online is easier than ever!
Some top-rated alternatives to CVS for ordering pet prescriptions online include:
- Chewy Pharmacy: Very user-friendly ordering, autoship save option, competitive pricing
- PetCareRx: Wide selection, price matching, excellent customer service reputation
- PetMeds Online Pharmacy: Huge selection of name brand & generic meds, fast shipping
- EntirelyPets Pharmacy: Tends to have lowest prices overall, frequent coupon codes & sales too
The process of getting your pet‘s prescription transferred is fast and simple through these pharmacies:
- Have your vet fax or electronically submit the prescription info directly to the pharmacy after your appointment.
- Set up a pharmacy account. Include your contact details and pet‘s medical history. This is kept confidential.
- Select your pet‘s medications, quantity, dosage, etc.
- Check out through safe payment. Enjoy your meds shipped straight to your door!
It‘s so quick and convenient. No need to make an extra trip to stand in line at the drugstore.
What About Other Local Pharmacy Options for Pet Medications?
In addition to the CVS retail pharmacy chain, many other drugstores and big box stores may also fill pet prescriptions. Good options to check include:
- Walgreens
- RiteAid
- Kroger
- Albertsons
- Costco
- Walmart
- Local independent pharmacies
Most will fill pet meds as long as they are approved for human usage as well. Just call ahead to the location nearest you to see if they have your specific medication available for Fido or Fluffy.
Pricing and availability varies more compared to national chains however. Independent pharmacies also tend to offer excellent customer service.
Quick Tips for Pet Prescriptions
To close out this complete guide to pet medications at CVS in 2024, here are my top tips for saving money and safely administering drugs:
- Ask your vet for generic equivalents which are just as effective at a lower cost
- Compare prices between locations to save the most money
- Consider autoshipping through an online pharmacy for convenience and discounts
- Check side effects and interactions – especially if your pet takes other medications
- Hide pills in tasty pill pocket treats or their favorite wet food for easier dosing
- Always follow prescription label instructions carefully
- Monitor your pet after starting new medications for any worrisome reactions
I hope this guide gives you all the details needed to choose if CVS is the right option for filling your beloved pet‘s prescriptions. Let me know if any other questions come up!
