Getting your pet’s prescription filled at a pharmacy in Canada can be a real hassle
Dorchester: Anna Mikicinki has three dogs, and their vet bills can pile up fast. To save some cash, she started looking for pet meds online, even finding a manufacturer in Australia. It was a game changer for her wallet.
She discovered that buying directly from Australia could save her nearly 70%. A nine-month supply of NexGard, which costs about $1,170 in Canada, was only $366 from down under. But then the company stopped shipping to Canada, leaving her scrambling for a solution.
Now, she has to send her orders to a friend in Australia, who then ships them to her. It’s a bit of a hassle, but it’s better than paying those high prices.
The Fifth Estate looked into this issue, revealing that the veterinary industry has some exclusive deals that limit where pet meds can be bought. A recent report from the Competition Bureau of Canada pointed out that Canadians need more options for filling their pets’ prescriptions.
In Quebec, pharmacists can dispense pet meds, but in Ontario, the rules are stricter. Vets can’t sell to pharmacists except in special cases. This means many pet owners don’t even know they can ask their vet for a prescription to take to a pharmacy.
In the U.S., it’s a different story. Pet owners have more options, including online pharmacies. There are 41 accredited online pet pharmacies in the U.S., while Canada has just two. This lack of access can be frustrating for pet owners who want to save money.
Veterinarian Dr. Howard Covant has been fighting for better access to pet medications. He believes it’s a conflict of interest for vets to both prescribe and sell the meds. He’s been in a legal battle for years to change this.
Pharmacist Wendy Chui has also been pushing for more access. She started dispensing pet meds in 2010 but faced challenges getting supplies. She teamed up with Covant to help get medications to pet owners, but they’ve faced pushback from the industry.
The Competition Bureau is now recommending that pharmacists be allowed to participate more in the pet medication market. This could lead to more competition and lower prices for pet owners.
Many pet owners, like Mary Guay in Montreal, are feeling the pinch. She’s had to pay four times more for her dog’s antibiotics than for her own. It just doesn’t seem fair.
While some vets argue that they have the specialized knowledge to prescribe pet medications, others believe that pharmacists can play a valuable role too. The conversation is ongoing, and many are hoping for changes that will benefit both pets and their owners.
