Taking care of your pet includes looking after their health. Our furry friends often find themselves facing as many health challenges as we humans. It’s a good thing that the veterinary medicine industry had a market size of about $44.59 billion as of last year, according to Grand View Research.
None of us want our pets to be sick and need to take medicines, but when the need arises, we, as human caretakers, dutifully answer the call.
From medicines targeting deworming to car sickness, there are countless times that a pet owner will need to purchase or refill prescriptions. If your pet has been diagnosed with a chronic condition, the need becomes even more urgent.
The pet medicine market has been booming, especially after the coronavirus pandemic. Statistics show the pet medicine market grew by 13% in 2020. This tells us that the market is only poised to keep growing.
This has thankfully given people several options that make the process of buying medication quick and easy. Read on to learn about the different options available.
Table of Contents
1. Through Your Veterinarian
This is probably the most straightforward way to fill your pet’s prescriptions. Most vets usually have common medicines in stock, but you may find their prices to be a bit higher than other options.
The benefits of buying directly from your vet are that you usually trust them. They can also offer you information and advice, making you confident about what goes into your pet.
On the other hand, in case the medicines you need are a bit niche, you might find that they don’t have them in stock. In such cases, you would need to visit a dedicated pharmacy for pets.
2. Through an Online Pharmacy
If you have ever been in a situation where you had to ask yourself
“Where on earth can I find a pet medication pharmacy near me?” then this option is the right fit. Online pet pharmacies are now one of the easiest and most convenient methods to top up prescriptions.
Depending on your location, delivery times can be as short as a single day. You also have the added benefit of finding a vast variety of drugs available. This reduces so much of the stress that comes with going to brick-and-mortar pharmacies and checking if they have a rare brand.
Another benefit of buying from an online pet pharmacy is the number of discounts and offers that you will rarely find in a traditional pharmacy.
The costs of taking care of your furry friend do add up, and taking advantage of any offers is one of the best ways to make pet care costs a little more affordable.
3. From a Brick and Mortar Store
Similar to the first option, this method does give you the opportunity to speak with a person (usually the pharmacist but sometimes also an in-house vet) and receive advice on the proper use and dosage of the medication.
The most attractive reason to go this route is that prescriptions can be filled on-site, which can be more important if time is of the essence. Sure, they may not have all the offers and deals that online stores do, but the trade-off is the fact that you can instantly top up your pet’s prescriptions.
Lastly, some online stores may not be licensed to sell certain medications, so brick-and-mortar pharmacies can make more sense in this regard.
4. Regular Pharmacies for Humans
No, you didn’t read that wrong. A lot of medications prescribed for humans can also be safe for animals.
Just to be clear, don’t ever make the mistake of deciding what medication your dog needs. Leave that job to your vet.
Using medicines made for humans on animals can work in a pinch when you don’t have any other option. The next time you are at the vet, try asking if there are any human medicines that would work well with your pet.
Pay careful attention to their advice if you are considering human medicines, as the dosage instructions would need to be customized for your pet’s breed, age, weight, and other factors.
Conclusion
Purchasing medicines for your dogs is a process that should preferably be affordable, quick, and convenient. Thankfully several options exist, such as getting them directly from your vet, online pharmacies, and brick-and-mortar pharmacies.
A lot of large supermarkets also have sections for pets and sell common over-the-counter medicines.
Remember to check with a vet before using any medicine. Even if the label is straightforward and tells you exactly what it’s supposed to do, you never know what the side effects may be.
Prudence and caution will go a long way in reducing unnecessary risks when treating your furry friend.
