As the cost of pet meds soar, N.B. won't allow pharmacies to sell cheaper options to owners

Leslie MacLaren makes a point of giving her one year old Bernese mountain dog, Lola, lots of exercise to keep her pet happy — and healthy. 

But another part of that care includes a monthly vet visit for an oral tick, flea and worm medication. It's a preventative measure that costs about $60 per visit.

"If you look at other countries [those costs are] lower," she said, speaking to CBC News from a dog park in Fredericton. "It seems to be what the market will bear in Canada."

In the United States, and other countries, pet owners can buy pet medications from large companies like Chewy, Walmart and Costco, both online and in a store. 

It's that open market that the Competition Bureau of Canada said needs to move north of the border. It recommends provinces crack down on the exclusive distribution practices of veterinary clinics, and give pet owners the choice to buy more affordable medications at pharmacies instead.

The Competition Bureau's Youssef Zine said there is a patchwork of rules across the country which limits consumers' ability to shop around.   

"We know that competition does work and if you restrict choice, what you're effectively doing is keeping pricing high and you're protecting existing business models at the expense of consumers," he said.

"Now if you do allow other competitors in the market, whether they be pharmacists, online providers or innovators to compete … you are able to get more choice, more convenience and lower prices."

After years of advocacy, Quebec relaxed its rules and allowed pharmacies to dispense pet medications in 2021. An Ontario-based online pharmacy has also successfully obtained access to a supply of many pet medications.

But in New Brunswick, veterinarians are prohibited from reselling medicine, and pharmacists cannot order medications anywhere else. 

Bylaw 21 of the New Brunswick Veterinary Medical Association restricts veterinarians from dispensing medication to anyone other than the animal owner.

Association registrar Mary-Ellen Themens said there have been sporadic conversations over the years about following suit.

"But at this point in time, we have not been approached to change the bylaw," Themens said.

Themens has been a Dalhousie Veterinary Clinic veterinarian for more than four decades, and has seen a lot of change in the industry over the years, including increased costs. But she's not sure more competition would drive prices lower in the long run.