Human Medicine for Pets: How to Fill Your Dog or Cat’s Prescription
Key takeaways:
Pets can take many of the same medications as humans, including antibiotics, pain medications, and anxiety medications.
Never give your dog or cat a human medication without talking to your veterinarian first. Your vet can calculate a safe dosage for your pet to prevent an overdose.
Human medications prescribed to pets can often be filled at regular pharmacies. They can also be filled at online pet pharmacies or a veterinarian’s office.
Table of contents
Like humans, pets sometimes need prescription medications. And if you didn’t know, many of the medications prescribed to dogs and cats are the same ones prescribed for humans. These prescriptions can often be filled at a regular pharmacy.
Let’s take a closer look at how pets can be prescribed human medications and how to fill your pet’s prescription.
Can dogs and cats take human medications?
Yes, dogs and cats can take human medications. Many of the same medications prescribed for humans also work for pets.
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When a pet is prescribed a human medication, it’s prescribed off-label. This means the medication isn’t FDA approved for use in pets, but there’s evidence it’s safe and effective for cats or dogs.
While your pet may be able to take certain medications made for humans, you can’t just give them your medication. Dogs and cats — most of whom are much smaller than humans — need a different dosage of these medications. Never give your dog or cat a human medication without first talking to your veterinarian. This will help you avoid an overdose and keep your pet safe.
How to fill human medication prescriptions for pets
If your dog or cat is prescribed a human medication, there are a number of places you can get it filled. Here are the most common options.
At your local pharmacy
In many cases, your regular pharmacy can fill a human medication for your pet. This includes pharmacies such as:
CVS Pharmacy
Walmart
Costco Pharmacy
Walgreens
Rite Aid
To fill your dog or cat’s prescription at your regular pharmacy, ask your veterinarian for a paper prescription. The prescription should include your pet’s information, the medication dosage and instructions, and your vet’s license number. In some cases, your vet may be able to call in your pet’s prescription instead.
How to use GoodRx for pets: Looking for ways to save on your pet’s medications? You can use GoodRx to save on your dog or cat’s human medications at your regular pharmacy.
What pet insurance won’t cover: Pet insurance may help with your veterinary costs, but it doesn’t cover everything. Learn common things pet insurance won’t cover.
Need help with vet bills? Here are some ways you can find help to pay for your dog or cat’s care.
Medications for pets aren’t usually covered by insurance, not even pet insurance. But you can save money on your pet’s prescription by using a coupon from GoodRx. You might also consider shopping around at different pharmacies to see who offers the lowest price.
From an online pet pharmacy
You can also fill human medications for pets through an online pet pharmacy. These pharmacies cater specifically to pets and carry both human and pet-only medications.
An online pet pharmacy can deliver your pet’s medication right to your house. You can also get a wider range of pet medications than at a human pharmacy. This can be helpful if your pet has multiple prescriptions. Pet-specific pharmacies also often offer compounding if you need a medication in a different form.
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Examples of online pet pharmacies include GoodRxForPets.com and Chewy Pharmacy.
At your veterinarian’s office
Many veterinary clinics keep common pet medications in stock, including human medications for pets. Ask your vet if they can fill your dog or cat’s prescription for you. This can be helpful if your pet has a condition that requires you to start giving them the medication right away.
Common human medications for cats and dogs
There are many human medications that can be prescribed to pets. Below are some human medications commonly prescribed for cats and dogs.
Human medications for cats
Common human medications prescribed to cats include:
Alprazolam (Xanax)
Fluoxetine (Prozac)
Levetiracetam (Keppra)
Zonisamide
Human medications for dogs
Common human medications prescribed to dogs include:
Alprazolam (Xanax)
Fluoxetine (Prozac)
Levetiracetam (Keppra)
Zonisamide
The bottom line
Pets can take human medications, as long as they’re prescribed by a veterinarian. Dogs and cats are commonly prescribed the same antibiotic, pain, seizure, and anxiety medications as people.
If your dog or cat is prescribed human medicine, you have options on where to fill their prescription. Human medications for pets can be filled at a regular pharmacy, through an online pet pharmacy, or at a vet’s office.
Never give your pet a human medication without talking to your veterinarian. Human medications can be toxic to pets if they aren’t given at the correct dosage.
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References
American Veterinary Medical Association. (n.d.). Compounding FAQ for pet owners.
American Veterinary Medical Association. (n.d.). Prescriptions and pharmacies: FAQs for pet owners.
American Veterinary Medical Association. (n.d.). Prescriptions and pharmacies: FAQs for veterinarians.
American Veterinary Medical Association. (n.d.). Your pet’s medications.
American Veterinary Medical Association. (2019). Prescription choices.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2022). Pain reliever facts for dogs and cats. Veterinary Partner.
