Chart of the month: Convenience is key for pet medications

Pet owners now have more options than ever for buying medications for their pets. Understanding what drives their decisions can help position veterinary practices as trusted partners and the preferred source for clients’ pet care needs.

What the data show

As this month’s chart shows, veterinary practices take top spot when it comes to pet medication purchases, chosen by more than 45% of surveyed dog and cat owners in 2024. 
 
What motivates pet owners in choosing a source? For both dog and cat owners, it’s convenience first, followed by product availability and affordability.

What does this mean?

These findings from the 2024 AVMA Pet Ownership and Demographics Sourcebook align with those from other recent research, and underscore the trusted position veterinary practices hold. They also highlight opportunities for practices to strengthen this position by meeting clients’ desire for convenience, product availability, and affordability. 

While purchasing medication during a pet’s visit to the veterinarian is often convenient for clients, there are ways to enhance the experience even further and establish your practice as the preferred provider. One effective approach is to offer online purchasing options and home delivery.

How to act on this information

By offering convenience—along with the assurance and trust that comes through veterinarian oversight—we can ensure pet owners are able to access the medications their pets need, while strengthening our relationships with them. Here’s how to make your practice the go-to source for pet medications: 

• Make a medication plan: Incorporate a personalized medication plan into every consultation. Ensure clients leave routine checkups with enough preventive medications to last until their pet’s next scheduled visit—whether that means dispensing a year’s supply or leveraging autorefill and autoship options. For pets with chronic conditions, create a plan that maintains continuity of care, including the right dose and schedule, until the next scheduled checkup. 
• Offer an online store: Provide a simple way for clients to order medications online and have them delivered. Features like reminders and autoship make it easier for clients to follow your recommendations, helping to ensure pets receive their medications when needed.
• Get the word out: Use every touchpoint—consultations, email campaigns, in-clinic flyers, and social media—to highlight the convenience of purchasing medications directly from your practice. Make sure clients know about your online store and its benefits! 

Learn more about the benefits of online ordering and home delivery in this AVMA Tech Talk. The webinar is free to AVMA members and can be purchased for $15 by other veterinary professionals.