By Ezra Ameis, DVM
I’m not going to make many friends in my profession with this article—but pet owners deserve to know the truth.
Veterinary medications are expensive—and your vet hospital may be part of the problem. Many pet owners don’t realize: you have options. In California, your veterinarian is legally required to write a prescription if you request one.
There are two main types of veterinary drugs:
Human meds vets use – Seizure medications, heart drugs, antibiotics, and some anti-inflammatories. Examples: phenobarbital, furosemide, metronidazole, meloxicam, gabapentin, enalapril, prednisone, trazodone.
Veterinary-only products – These aren’t found at human pharmacies. Examples: Vetmedin, Rimadyl, Nexgard, Cerenia, Vetoryl, Vetsulin, Optimmune, Galliprant, Animax.
Many human crossover meds are available at regular pharmacies—often for a fraction of what clinics charge. I always recommend the GoodRx app. You’d be shocked how affordable some of these are at Costco, CVS, or your neighborhood pharmacy. I encourage clients to check the app.
Even veterinary-only meds are often available through reputable online pet pharmacies or Costco at a steep discount. Some clinics charge 40–80% more for the same products, even when they can be shipped right to your door.
When I opened my urgent care clinic, I made a conscious—and, I believe, ethical—choice about the future of this profession: we make money on services, not products. Many clinics still stock large quantities of meds due to outdated habits. Stocking something like a new heartworm preventative requires a $3,000–$4,000 minimum buy-in, just to carry all sizes. That creates pressure to push one brand—even if others are just as good. That’s not how medicine should work. We don’t stock heartworm meds in-house—we help clients buy them at a fair price elsewhere.
So why do meds cost more at many vet clinics?
Independent clinics buy in small quantities from veterinary distributors at high prices. Pharmacies buy in bulk—millions of units—at steep discounts. Clinics also face inventory risk, expiration loss, and have to maintain secure, climate-controlled storage.
That said, in emergencies, in-house medication is crucial. If your pet is vomiting, has an infection, or is in pain, waiting three days—or racing to a pharmacy at 9 p.m.—may not be worth saving $10.
But for long-term refills? I recommend getting them elsewhere. Ask for the script. Compare prices. Good clinics won’t be offended—we’ll help you.
At my hospital, we keep markups modest and only stock what’s truly needed. I’m a veterinarian—not a drug rep. My job is to care, not to upsell.
Dr. Ezra Ameis is an emergency veterinarian and the owner of Paw Priority in West Hollywood, a clinic providing general practice, urgent care, and acupuncture. To suggest a topic or ask a pet-related question, email hello@pp.vet.