Ontario pharmacies filling pet prescriptions, sparks debate among veterinarians

Some vet clinics are speaking out as Ontario pharmacies are set to dispense medications for animals, CTV London's Reta Ismail has the story.

A shift in how pet prescriptions are filled is opening the door for community pharmacies to dispense medications for animals, a change some pharmacists say could lower rising costs for pet owners.

Veterinarians, however, warn the move could come with risks.

According to the College of Veterinarians of Ontario, both veterinarians and pharmacists in Canada are legally allowed to dispense medications prescribed for animals.

Historically, pet owners often had little choice about where to fill those prescriptions.

Manufacturers had long included exclusivity clauses in contracts that limited distribution of veterinary medications to veterinarians. While many of those clauses have recently been removed, distributors have continued to sell primarily to veterinary clinics.

As a result, pet owners were often required to purchase medications directly from their veterinarian, limiting consumer choice and potentially increasing prices.

In fall 2024, the Competition Bureau Canada said Canadians’ options for filling pet prescriptions were often restricted to veterinary offices, which could lead to fewer choices and higher costs. The agency recommended increasing competition in the sale of veterinary medications.

Recently, some veterinary drug suppliers began allowing community pharmacies to open accounts and order medications labelled for veterinary use.

Marina Barcham, pharmacist and owner of Forest City Pharmacy, began filling pet prescriptions this past January and says the drugs are handled the same way as those for people. “They’re stored according to manufacturer guidelines, entered into our dispensing software, labelled and dispensed exactly as written by the vet,” Barcham said. “No changes are made unless clarified directly with the prescriber.”

Barcham says costs at pharmacies are often lower because dispensing fees are standardized and drug markups are generally smaller.

“I believe the public should be aware that there is no cap on drug pricing when it comes to animals - for humans there are - and give them options on other ways to get their prescription,” she said.

The change has drawn pushback from some veterinarians, who argue pharmacies may lack specialized training in animal medications.

Trina Hancock, a veterinarian and owner of Sana Adelaide Animal Hospital, says filling pet prescriptions outside veterinary clinics could pose risks if pharmacists are unfamiliar with veterinary-specific treatments.

“A pharmacist trained with human medicine doesn’t have the comparative animal training that a veterinarian would. And certainly animals metabolize medications different,” explained Hancock. “There are very specific species differences that again a dispensing pharmacist without the veterinary training wouldn’t have that knowledge to be able to address any concerns, or to provide advice about, you know, proper substitutions, potential adverse reactions.”

Hancock also acknowledges that medication sales represent a significant portion of revenue for many veterinary practices. She says clinics may have to raise prices for appointments if they lose that income.

Unlike human health care, veterinary drug markups and prescription-writing fees are not capped, and veterinarians often both prescribe and sell medications. New regulations now require veterinarians to inform pet owners of their right to request a written prescription that can be filled elsewhere, including at a pharmacy.

Meanwhile, education efforts are expanding as the change takes hold. Barcham says the Ontario College of Pharmacists is developing training to help pharmacists better understand animal medications, and pharmacy groups are preparing additional educational materials.

Pet spending has also increased significantly in recent years. A report from the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association found Canadian households spent about $9.3 billion on veterinary and related pet services, up from nearly $4 billion in 2019.

As more pharmacies begin dispensing veterinary medications, the shift is expected to give pet owners more options, while continuing to raise questions within the veterinary community about safety, training and the future of clinic revenues.

Both Barcham and Hancock maintain their priority is the safety and care of the animals.