Monday, May 19th
2025 Pet Med Store Reviews
PetSmart
- Ongoing prescription food costs: $65.99
- One-time prescription topical costs: around $54.99
- Elderly pet prescription costs: $0.09 to $4.19 per tablet
- Rx and over-the-counter products
- Requires proof of prescription
- Discounts offered with autoship
- Serves dogs, cats, and horses
- 60-day refund policy
- "A-” rating and accreditation from the BBB
PetSmart is a well-known brick-and-mortar store that is popular for its all-in-one approach to pet supplies. On top of offering products for almost any pet need (food, litter, toys, treats, and even items for exotic pets like lizards and fish), PetSmart also offers a full online pharmacy. However, if you're expecting the same range of pets in the pharmacy as you can find at the regular PetSmart shopping experience, you may be disappointed since PetSmart only offers meds for dogs, cats, and farm animals.
Harder to browse than dedicated pharmacies
Like some other brick-and-mortar stores that also offer an online pharmacy, PetSmart's pharmacy page is a sub-page of the entire website. So, once you get to the pharmacy, you'll see a long scrolling list of all the medications offered through PetSmart. While there are some filters to help you narrow the field by brand, price, and rating, the only real way to find Rx medications on PetSmart quickly is to use the search bar at the top of the screen. On the bright side, there are plenty of medications to look through, as PetSmart promises over 1,000 different Rx prescriptions.
Get prescription with authorization card
Since PetSmart sells both Rx and over-the-counter items, you'll be able to tell the difference by the blue notice on the listing that says "vet info required”. To check out with a prescribed item, you'll need to sign up for an account with PetSmart. To complete your purchase, you can upload your purchase authorization which is issued by your vet (you can upload a photo file) and it must include the vet clinic name, address, vet name, pet parent name, pet parent address, pet name, item prescribed, and an authorization number. If you don't have this, you can move on and select your pet, and add the vet info manually. Then, PetSmart will check in with your vet for you.
More meds here than at other retailers
To do our cost comparison between the different retailers in our review, we checked the prices of the same products on each website. We specifically looked at three important items: a prescription diet (Purina Pro Plan Kidney Function for adult cats) that requires frequent repurchasing, a one-time treatment (Barrier Topical Solution flea medication for dogs), and a general pricing range for tablets designed to help senior pets manage arthritis symptoms. Here's what we found at PetSmart:
- Purina Pro Plan Kidney: $65.99 (small bag not offered)
- Barrier Topical Solution: $54.99
- Arthritis care across all animals: $0.09 to $4.19 per tablet
Notably, PetSmart has a wider array of meds than many other retailers. However, it is missing some size options for the medicated food.
35% off with the first autoship
There are plenty of opportunities for discounts at PetSmart. Your first autoship will offer a 35% off discount with 5% off every future shipment. At the time of our review, PetSmart also offered a $10 rebate of store points when you spend $50+. Shipping is free on "select orders” of $49 or more, but you have to be a Treats Rewards member for this deal to apply. If you can't score free shipping, standard shipping at PetSmart is $5.99.
In-person services include veterinary
On top of offering the online pharmacy, PetSmart has a range of in-person services you can take advantage of. The stores offer grooming, pet training, pet hotel/boarding, doggie day camp, and on-site veterinary care. So, if you're looking for a place you can drive to locally that will be a 100% one-stop shop, PetSmart is worth a look.
60-day returns with limitations
The return policy if you want to return an online purchase is a little disappointing. If you purchased your pet supplies online, you will get a free return in-store, but you won't be reimbursed for the shipping, delivery fees, gift wrap, or other extra charges that went along with your purchase. Your items must be in the original packaging to qualify for a refund. On the other hand, you can return something you bought in-store without losing out on all the fees for your refund. Your receipt will be valid for 60 days from the day of purchase. So, if you got your item shipped, your return period starts from the day you get your receipt in your email, not the day your item actually arrives.
Concerningly rude customer service
According to the Better Business Bureau, PetSmart is doing a bit better than its brick-and-mortar competitors. PetSmart currently holds an "A-” rating from the BBB. However, on third-party review sites like Trustpilot, the ratings are similar to other "big brands” that have brick-and-mortar locations. PetSmart holds a concerning 1.5-star average out of 5 stars. In general, the complaints seem to be related to the staff and customer service at PetSmart. Customers have complained about the staff being unreliable (canceling or rescheduling in-person appointments) and rude and condescending behavior from staff. However, the reviews from shoppers who bought from PetSmart online were almost all 5 stars. Keep in mind there are different ratings for different PetSmart locations, so you may find that your local PetSmart is much better than the general reviews suggest.
Competitive costs for Rx
PetSmart has a solid Rx inventory and competitive prices for pet meds. If we consider only the pet meds side of the store, it's a solid choice. However, if you're hoping to use your pet meds shop as a one-stop shop for all your pet supplies, you might be disappointed in PetSmart. Given that your refunds are more limited if you order online, you may want to go shop in person, and then you might run into problems with rude customer service. While your local branch might still be worth checking out, if you want a true one-stop shop, check out our top-rated pet meds retailer instead,
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Where is the Best Place to Buy Pet Meds?
Everyone wants their furry family members to be happy, healthy, and comfortable. But sometimes your cat will eat something he shouldn't, or your new pup will get an ear infection, and pet meds are the next step for taking care of your furbabies. Whether your furry friend is older or a playful baby, you'll want the best place to grab pet meds without breaking the bank.
Pet meds can be anything from prescription kibble to ear creams to insulin for a diabetic pet. According to medical studies, the most common illnesses in dogs and cats are diabetes, cancer, and viral infections. Most illnesses like these can be treated with prescription foods, painkillers, and mix-ins to support your pet's health.
Pet Med Store FAQ
Continued from above...
Your pet may also develop age-related concerns like kidney troubles that can also be treated and supported with specialized foods and supplements. Researchers note that, on average, 75% of dogs who were studied in a veterinarian clinic were reported to have at least one condition treatable with pet meds. Now, this doesn't mean it will happen to every pet, but whether you have a furry family member who needs support now, or you're worried about the future, you'll want to know where you can get the best care.
There are tons of places you can grab pet meds in person and online. Whether you're looking for a local pet superstore to pick out your pet meds in person or an online site where you can put your long-term prescriptions on an autoship, there's a place that serves pets of every shape, size, and species (Yep, we checked, there are even prescription medications for wild animals). Whether you have a cat, dog, bird, chicken, or hamster, there's a vet out there who knows what you need, and a retailer who can help you get it. Fun fact: some places that sell online pet meds even offer extras like online vet appointments for quick check-ins,
Finding out that your pet isn't doing well is one of the worst feelings, but with the right pet meds, you can help them feel more like themselves again. With so many sites and brick-and-mortar stores that sell pet supplies that now offer vet-approved pet meds as well as over-the-counter selections like flea and tick medication and dewormers, it can be hard to know which place to choose.
To make sure you find the best retailer to get your pet meds (or prescription food), we've put together some factors to help you make the best decision for your four-legged family members:
- Price. Pet meds can be pricey, so make sure you find a retailer that offers reasonable prices or discounts to help make caring for your furry friend less costly. Check for comparative costs of the same item or see if your chosen retailer offers autoship discounts for items you need to buy over and over.
- Ease of use. How quick is it to find what you need? In this day and age, there's no excuse for any website to be difficult to navigate, but it still happens from time to time. Make sure that the pet meds store offers the shopping experience you want to make getting the products as simple as possible.
- Rx Support. Does your chosen retailer offer a full pharmacy or work with a pharmacy to offer FDA-approved prescription medications? A solid retailer should require you to show proof of a prescription (or talk directly to your vet) before you can purchase your pet meds.
- Reviews. What are other pet owners saying about your chosen retailer? Are there solid refund policies? Is the quality of the medication or customer service at the level you (and your pet) deserve?
To help you find the right place to support your pet's health, Top Consumer Reviews has reviewed and ranked the most popular retailers for pet meds out there today. This way you can focus on playing with your four-legged friend rather than stressing about where to buy what you need to keep them healthy!
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