Monday, May 19th
2025 Pet Med Store Reviews
Walmart
- One-time prescription topical costs: around $76.99
- Elderly pet prescriptions cost: $0.15 to $1.61 per tablet
- Rx and over-the-counter products
- Requires proof of prescription
- Serves dogs and cats
- 90-day refund policy
- "A+” rating and accreditation from the BBB
Well-known as a giant in the retail world, Walmart is a local spot to look for budget-friendly everything. Whether you need groceries, clothes, tools, car repair, or any number of daily items, Walmart is a great local spot to grab what you need. Plus, you can shop in-store or online, making it as convenient as you need it to be. Walmart also offers a full online pet pharmacy; however, it only offers pet meds for dogs and cats, so exotic pet owners may need to search elsewhere.
Shopping in the pharmacy is clunky
Shopping with Walmart is usually a breeze, but the pet pharmacy section of the site leaves something to be desired. The main page allows you to search for meds alphabetically or by condition. However, there are some notable conditions not included. For example, Walmart's pharmacy doesn't offer kidney care for pets (which is a common ailment for older cats). You can find just over 100 medicines including those for pet allergies, flea and tick medication, heart health, blood pressure, inflammation, arthritis, skin and coat, thyroid, urinary care, and worm prevention. Notably, you can get things like insulin (Novolin N) for pets. In terms of actually finding what you need, the fastest way to get to a specific prescription is to search the name in the search bar.
Verifies the prescription with your vet
On listings that have Rx authorization requirements, you'll see a warning that says you need to have pre-approval from your vet to get your meds. You'll be asked during the checkout process for the contact information of your vet clinic and details about your pet. Walmart will contact your vet after you pay for your order. A notice states that it could take up to 3 days to verify the prescription. If for some reason it can't be verified, the purchase will be voided and your money returned.
Not as cost-effective as competitors
Comparing prices at Walmart was a bit tricky since the site doesn't carry Rx pet food of any kind. Because of this, we could only compare the costs of the other two products that we usually use to gauge the cost-effectiveness of pet meds. At Walmart, we priced out a single-use flea and tick treatment and the general price range for arthritis relief tablets. Regrettably, the flea and tick medication we usually used for comparisons (Barrier Topical Solution) was not offered at Walmart's pet pharmacy. Instead, we used the Bravecto Topical Solution as an alternative. Here's what we found:
- Bravecto Topical Solution: $76.99
- Arthritis care across all animals: $0.15 to $1.61 per tablet
Notably, the flea and tick medication was far more expensive at Walmart than at other retailers (by about $10) that sold the Bravecto version.
Discounts available with Walmart+ membership
Unlike most pet meds retailers in our review, Walmart does not offer discounts if you subscribe and save, and some items like the Bravecto are not available for a subscribe and save schedule. The only benefit is not worrying about reordering items. If you want to qualify for savings like free shipping, you'll need to get a Walmart+ membership. Anyone with a Walmart+ membership gets free shipping, savings on gas, movies, and no order minimums. You can also get access to free online pet care if you have a membership. You can choose to pay $12.95 per month or $98 per year if you decide to subscribe,
90-day refund policy
Walmart has a 90-day return policy that allows you to return most items either in-store, through curbside pickup, or by mail within the time frame. This excludes any Rx medications per FDA regulations, firearms, ammunition, and custom products. Otherwise, getting your refund from Walmart is reliable.
Terrible customer service at the pharmacy
Walmart has a strong score from the Better Business Bureau with an "A+” rating overall. While Walmart doesn't have as impressive of ratings from third-party review sites, this is pretty standard for large corporations. However, we did find one third-party review site that focused specifically on the Walmart Pharmacy. This part of the store earns just 1.6 stars out of 5. Customers had trouble getting questions answered by the pharmacists. They also complained that their insurance didn't cover the prescriptions at Walmart, even when they were covered when ordered from other retailers. Many customers said when they called in, they waited over 30 minutes on hold. This could change from store to store, but the overall experience is one that most customers don't want to repeat.
Store is better for non-pet needs
While Walmart is a great place to find deals for most things, you may not be in luck with pet meds. You can get some items there, but with zero pet food and only some of the regular medications offered at other retailers, the selection is very limited. Plus, with no discounts or incentives for the autoship feature, it falls behind most pet meds retailers online today. With the added reports of terrible customer service specifically in the pharmacy, Walmart doesn't get our endorsement. You may want to try a retailer more focused on pets.
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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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