CVS pharmacies to offer prescriptions for cats, dogs

Cat and dog owners can now fulfill many prescriptions for their pets at their local CVS Pharmacy, the retailer said Tuesday.

The pharmacy chain of approximately 9,000 locations can now fulfill "common" prescriptions from veterinarians for felines and canines, the Woonsocket, Rhode Island-based company said in a news release.

The medications CVS now carries for pets include those that manage allergies, anxiety, behavior, cardiovascular issues, diabetes, inflammation and seizures, according to the retailer’s website. The chain can also fulfill scripts for antibiotics and medications that combat or prevent fleas, ticks, heartworm and parasites.

Pet owners can either provide their local CVS with a vet’s written prescription or have their vet contact the pharmacy directly to fulfill an order. Customers can manage pet prescriptions with "many of the same pharmacy services as their owners’, including automatic refills and prescription syncing," the pharmacy chain said in the release. Some meds might also be eligible for delivery.

"Pet owners can add their pets to their CVS.com profile and manage eligible pet prescriptions through the CVS Health app," the retailer said. "Additional enhancements to help make the new service even more convenient for pet owners and veterinarians, including electronic prescription capabilities, will be added in the coming months."

Peggy Hickey, of Oyster Bay, typically picks up her two dogs' prescriptions at her nearby veterinarian’s office. She is unlikely to begin sending prescriptions to CVS, she said, but thinks it may make picking up medication more of a "one stop shop" for some families.

"Does it make some people’s lives easier? I guess ... For me, in particular, it doesn’t change my life," Hickey, 66, said.

Kristin Rueb, of Ronkonkoma, uses a third-party company that delivers her rescue dog Luna’s prescriptions, and she said she could see herself getting them sent to CVS in the future.

"It will make it easier, 100%, because we have to wait for it to come from our vet’s office, and then they ship it to us. It goes to a third party company that they go through," Rueb, 34, said.

For Hickey, the announcement symbolizes greater recognition of the important roles pets play in families’ lives.

"This is another example of how dogs, and pets in general, ... are viewed as ... an extension of your family," Hickey said.