Struggling with high pet med costs? Canada’s competition watchdog calls for more choice and affordable options
As a pet owner and emergency veterinary technician, Denise Angus understands the struggles that come with providing affordable care for pets. Her first pet, Mattie, required expensive medication for Cushing’s disease, costing $400 a month. After losing Mattie in 2017, Angus established Mattie’s Place, a pet rescue and shelter in Toronto that helps 150 animals each year.
Angus supports the recent efforts by Canada’s Competition Bureau to make pet medications more affordable for owners. She emphasizes the importance of cost-efficient medication for pet owners, especially for rescued animals with medical needs. Angus works with veterinarians who offer rescue discounts and are willing to write prescriptions for medications that can be filled at human pharmacies, leading to cost savings for pet owners.
The Competition Bureau’s report highlights the financial strain of pet ownership, with the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association estimating an annual cost of $4,000 for dog care and a similar amount for cat care. Routine medications make up a significant portion of these costs. Despite the high number of pet-owning households in Canada, many owners struggle to afford preventative care for their animals.
The report also addresses the restrictions on pet medication distribution across different provinces in Canada. While Quebec allows pharmacists to dispense pet medications, other provinces like Ontario, British Columbia, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia prohibit veterinarians from reselling medicine. The Competition Bureau criticizes pharmaceutical companies for exclusive distribution deals with veterinarians, limiting access to affordable pet medications.
Wendy Chui, a Toronto pharmacist, has been advocating for fair competition in the pet medication market for over a decade. She owns Pets Drug Mart, an online pet pharmacy offering lower prices than veterinary offices. Chui has faced challenges in obtaining a supply of veterinary medications and filed a complaint with the Competition Bureau in 2023. She supports the bureau’s call for regulatory changes to mandate the supply of pet medications to pet pharmacies.
Pet medication costs can vary significantly between veterinarians and human or online pharmacies. The Competition Bureau’s recommendations aim to increase access to affordable pet medications for Canadian pet owners. Dr. Tim Arthur, president of the Canadian Veterinary Medicine Association, acknowledges the benefits of broader access to pet medications, especially for patients in remote areas. He also emphasizes that veterinarians are mindful of rising costs and strive to provide affordable care.
The Competition Bureau’s report could pave the way for Canadians to access pet medications from a wider range of sources, similar to other countries like the United States. Provinces and territories are urged to mandate the supply of pet medications to pharmacists, promoting competition and affordability in the pet medication market. If you have a story about accessing affordable pet medications or veterinary care, CBC encourages you to share your experience by emailing lisa.ellenwood@cbc.ca.
