Should I use 1800 PetMeds?

Note: I received store credit from 1-800-PetMeds in exchange for writing about the company here on the blog.

My experience with 1-800-PetMeds was positive. I would recommend the pet pharmacy to other pet owners based on how convenient it was to order through 1800PetMeds.com. It was fast and straightforward.

I was disappointed in the prices, though. I expected 1-800-PetMeds to be more competitive since it calls itself “America’s largest pet pharmacy.”

I was contacted by the company before the holidays and was given some store credit. I ended up ordering a 6-dose box of Frontline Plus for my cats and a 4-dose box of K9 Advantix II for my dog.

As many of you know, the cost of monthly flea prevention can really add up, especially if you have multiple pets. I rarely had to use flea prevention when I lived in North Dakota (those sub-zero temps are good for something!). But these days, I don’t have much choice. We live in a warmer climate, and we quickly learned that if we don’t treat all three pets regularly, we’ll have a bit of a flea problem.

The following is based on my single ordering experience with 1-800-PetMeds:

Will I order from 1-800-PetMeds again?

Yes.

As you all know, the prices for pet medications at most veterinarians’ offices are quite high. One factor is that unlike doctors for humans, veterinarians are allowed to sell prescription medications right at their offices.

So, I do plan to check the prices at 1-800-PetMeds in the future whenever I need medications for my pets. I will likely order heartworm prevention through 1-800-PetMeds. I will also check its prices for any other medications my pets may need such as ear drops or antibiotics.

I probably won’t be ordering flea prevention again through 1-800-PetMeds because I’m still able to find cheaper rates through Amazon. Frontline and K9 Advantix are non-prescription products, so they’re sold pretty much anywhere.

Did 1-800-PetMeds save me money?

Not yet, but it probably will.

Prescription medications through 1-800-PetMeds will likely be cheaper than purchasing any products from my local veterinarian. I plan to compare prices when the time comes, but this is a pretty safe bet in my personal experience. I will also be able to find a greater variety of medications through 1-800-PetMeds than I would at most veterinarians’ offices.

Did 1-800-PetMeds save me time?

Yes. It’s a huge pain to drive Petco to pick up regular pet supplies such as Frontline. It’s also a pain to drive to the vet to pick up Heartgard or other medications. I’m definitely a fan of ordering as much as possible online, whether it’s through 1-800-PetMeds or elsewhere.

What I like about 1-800-PetMeds:

• The company offers free shipping on all orders over $39 that do not require refrigeration. Just plan on a week to get your delivery.

• Once I’ve selected a product on 1-800-PetMeds, it lets me know if there’s a cheaper generic brand available. For example, instead of ordering six months of Heartgard for my 70-pound dog for $52.99, I am able to order the generic brand Inverhart Max for $44.99.

What’s not so good:

• Free shipping is awesome, but you’re going to have to wait about a week to get your delivery. This is not a big deal when you’re ordering flea prevention or heartworm prevention, but it may be an issue if you’re ordering antibiotics. If you need your product sooner, you’ll need to pay for faster shipping or perhaps buy the product from your vet’s office instead.

• 1-800-PetMeds claims it will beat or meet any existing price at the time of order, according to its web site. I did some online searches for a 3-month supply of Frontline Plus for dogs 45 to 88 pounds, and 1-800-PetMeds could not compete with Amazon. However, it did have a cheaper price than Wal-Mart, Petco and PetSmart as of the time of this writing.

Just for comparison, here are the various prices I saw for Frontline Plus on Jan. 16:

This was for a 3-month supply of Frontline Plus for dogs 45 to 88 pounds. Prices include tax and shipping.

Amazon: $39.23
1-800-PetMeds: $41.99
Walmart: $42.95
Petco: $49.49
PetSmart: $51.95

How about you? Have you ordered anything from 1-800-PetMeds? What was your experience?

 

Get That Mutt’s newsletter in your inbox: