Amazon has announced the expansion of its prescription medication services to include pets. In a partnership with Vetsource, unveiled on Thursday, the company will now offer “hundreds of prescription pet medications” for customers across the United States. This includes treatments aimed at issues such as fleas, ticks, and long-term health conditions.
Pet owners can conveniently find prescription medications by entering the specific drug name into Amazon’s search function and providing their prescribing veterinarian’s details at checkout. The Vetsource online pharmacy will handle the dispensing and delivery, with shipments typically arriving within a timeframe of two to six days.
For first-time orders, Vetsource will reach out to the veterinarian for necessary approvals. However, for subsequent refills, Amazon mentions that they can often be processed without needing to consult the veterinarian again, provided there’s an active prescription registered in the customer’s account. All medications offered through the platform are approved by the FDA, and Amazon plans to increase the range of available drugs in the future.
A key attraction of this service is its convenience, similar to the launch of Amazon’s human pharmacy service in 2020. Pet owners will now have the ability to order essential medications alongside their regular shopping needs, which is particularly beneficial for individuals with mobility challenges or those residing in more isolated areas who may find it difficult to travel to veterinary offices or pharmacies. This move positions Amazon more competitively with other online pharmacy providers such as Walmart, which started offering its own pet medication service in 2019.
