Like our children, when our pets get sick, we want the best for them. Sometimes we find that many of the pet medications needed to get our furry friends well are outrageously priced, especially if purchased from your veterinarian. Even online pet drug pharmacies are expensive. What most people do not know is that Costco Pharmacy carries pet medications.
Many medications given to dogs and cats are human drugs. These include Cephalexin and Amoxicillin. When I had a diabetic cat on insulin, my veterinarian and I decided to switch the cat from specially formulated insulin for pets to human insulin, which I purchased at Costco Pet Pharmacy. At the time, the cost difference was about $30. I went from spending over $100 on the formulation to about $70. That is quite a decrease when you think of the frequency with which insulin needs to be administered.
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Costco Pet Pharmacy
Costco Pharmacy has over 150 prescriptions for cats and dogs. On a recent visit, I noticed some of the pet drugs, including Rimadyl, Tramadol, Clavomox, Heartguard, Vetoryl, and Felmazole.
Not only does one save on the drugs, but Costco also has a program that provides additional member savings when you do not have insurance. It is called the Costco Member Prescription Program (CMPP). Since most pets are not insured, they fall into this program.
Fellow writer Beth Helms Graham has a Labrador named Bella, who is 10 years old and has a mass on her shoulder that causes her to limp. The mass seems to be slow-growing but causes Bella pain when she goes about her daily dog routines. After trying several combinations of medications, Beth and her vet found a mixture that seems to make Bella feel better. This drug regimen requires three different pain meds given three times a day.
Beth was complaining about the new costs, and I suggested she look into Costco. Here is what she found. Before I recommended Costco, an online pet pharmacy that Beth had used in the past wanted $80 for 30 days’ worth of Tramadol and Gabapentin. Once I told Beth about Costco, these same prescriptions were only $24. That is quite a savings and does not feel like you are breaking the bank.
Pet Medications
Over the years, several of my dogs have been put on medication after surgery. Here is a comparison of the drugs I purchased at Costco Pharmacy to those of a veterinarian. These medications include the non-member discount and the Costco member discount, which saves an additional $5 to $30, depending on the medication.
Tramadol 50 mg Tablets: Twenty tablets at Costco, non-member cost, $25.42, member cost $8.99, and at my vet, I paid $48.60.
Clavamox 250 MG Tablets: 28 Tablets at Costco for non-members is $60.25, and the member pricing is $55.12, compared to the vet’s $141.
Clavamox 375 Mg Tablets: 28 Tablets cost $82.42 at Costco for a non-member and $54.99 for a member, while they cost $170 at my vet.
Cephalexin 500 Mg Capsules: Twenty capsules cost $29.57 for non-members and $9.99 for members at Costco, while at my vet, the cost is $35.
Rimadyl 75 Mg Chewable: Five chewable tablets cost $18.10 for non-members and $11.74 for members at Costco and $32 at my vet.
Amox-Clav 500-125 Mg Tablets: Twenty tablets cost $25.98 for non-members versus $5.79 for members at Costco, while my vet cost $48.
Amoxicillin 500 Mg Capsules: 20 Capsules at Costco for non-members run $26.44, which translates to $7.79 for members. They were $40.00 at the vet.
The above drug prices were updated in June 2025.
As you can see, this is quite a savings. In addition, Costco’s pet prescription benefit comes in handy if you reside in regions where heartworms are prevalent, and you must give your dog Heartgard or Tri-Heart all year long.
This is just one of the lesser-known savings you get as a Costco member. If you have pets and are not a Costco member, you may want to consider joining, especially if you have older pets that may require continuous medications.
For a list of many pet medications carried at Costco Pharmacy, click here.