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What Southern Ontario vet clinics charge for a visit, a prescription and the medication

Telepets Team
Sept. 28, 2026 · 2 min read

Pet parents who send their prescriptions to an online pharmacy pay 34% to 38% less than filling at the clinic, though clinics charge $35 to send them elsewhere.

That’s what we learned when we phoned 35 veterinary clinics as the parent of a dog on three established medications.

A woman in a blue cardigan carries a small dog in a pet carrier and a white pharmacy bag outside a building

All figures are before sales tax.

The short version

  • Shipping medication to your home from an online pharmacy costs 34% to 38% less than filling at the clinic. That was $75 to $135 saved per refill for the medications we surveyed. If you can drive to Costco’s pharmacy, the savings were even bigger.
  • $35 is the typical fee clinics charge to send your prescription elsewhere. Two of the 34 clinics would not send the prescription elsewhere.
  • A vet exam to get a prescription adds $135. Unless the prescription is written at the annual check-up, another exam could be required.
  • Clinics can see you next day, but not always. About half the clinics could see us the next day. A few were two weeks to two months out.

Medication prices

We priced medications for three common treatments. Having the same medication delivered to your door by an online veterinary pharmacy, with the pharmacy’s fees and shipping included, cost 34% to 38% less than the typical clinic price. Even against the cheapest clinic we found, delivery was still 13% less.

If you were willing to drive to pick it up, Costco pharmacy was a cheaper option.

Online pharmacy, delivered Costco pharmacy, pickup Clinic quotes (one dot each)
Simparica Trio, 20–40 kg dog6 chews
$0 $50 $100 $150 $200 $250 $300 $350 cheapest delivered Costco pharmacy Costco pharmacy: $159.57 $160 Rx + $4.49 dispensing, pickup VetScript VetScript: $194.99 $195 Rx + dispensing, free shipping VetMeds VetMeds: $199.54 VetMeds shipping to the GTA: $16.99 $200 Rx + dispensing + $16.99 shipping Pets Drug Mart Pets Drug Mart: $222.20 Pets Drug Mart shipping to the GTA: $16.99 $222 Rx + dispensing + $16.99 shipping (est.) Clinics (25) Lowest clinic quote: $225.00 Clinic quotes: $225 to $370 Clinic quote: $225.00 Clinic quote: $235.40 Clinic quote: $254.00 Clinic quote: $257.40 Clinic quote: $260.00 Clinic quote: $264.00 Clinic quote: $270.00 Clinic quote: $271.71 Clinic quote: $287.50 Clinic quote: $288.00 Clinic quote: $294.69 Clinic quote: $295.00 Clinic quote: $295.40 Clinic quote: $296.00 Clinic quote: $298.54 Clinic quote: $299.40 Clinic quote: $300.00 Clinic quote: $300.38 Clinic quote: $305.31 Clinic quote: $318.00 Clinic quote: $318.00 Clinic quote: $325.33 Clinic quote: $352.95 Clinic quote: $361.00 Clinic quote: $370.00 Lowest clinic quote: $225.00 Highest clinic quote: $370.00 Median clinic quote: $295.40 $225 +15% $370 +90% $295 +51% Telepets · September 2026

Six chews is six months: about $49 a month at the clinic, $32 delivered, $27 at Costco. The clinic bar shows the lowest, median and highest prices of the 25 clinics (the dots) that gave a price by phone. Percentages compare with the cheapest delivered price ($194.99). Pink is shipping to the GTA, estimated for Pets Drug Mart. September 2026, before tax.

Metacam 1.5 mg/mL100 mL bottle
$0 $50 $100 $150 $200 $250 cheapest delivered Costco pharmacy Costco pharmacy: $101.00 $101 Rx + $4.49 dispensing, pickup VetScript VetScript: $124.99 $125 Rx + dispensing, free shipping VetMeds VetMeds: $132.87 VetMeds shipping to the GTA: $16.99 $133 Rx + dispensing + $16.99 shipping Pets Drug Mart Pets Drug Mart: $140.16 Pets Drug Mart shipping to the GTA: $16.99 $140 Rx + dispensing + $16.99 shipping (est.) Clinics (17) Lowest clinic quote: $162.61 Clinic quotes: $163 to $258 Clinic quote: $162.61 Clinic quote: $171.73 Clinic quote: $180.00 Clinic quote: $184.02 Clinic quote: $188.53 Clinic quote: $190.42 Clinic quote: $199.00 Clinic quote: $200.00 Clinic quote: $200.00 Clinic quote: $200.00 Clinic quote: $204.00 Clinic quote: $219.00 Clinic quote: $226.55 Clinic quote: $226.75 Clinic quote: $240.00 Clinic quote: $240.00 Clinic quote: $257.66 Lowest clinic quote: $162.61 Highest clinic quote: $257.66 Median clinic quote: $200.00 $163 +30% $258 +106% $200 +60% Telepets · September 2026

The clinic bar shows the lowest, median and highest prices of the 17 clinics (the dots) that gave a price by phone. Percentages compare with the cheapest delivered price ($124.99). Pink is shipping to the GTA, estimated for Pets Drug Mart. September 2026, before tax.

Apoquel 16 mg84 tablets
$0 $50 $100 $150 $200 $250 $300 $350 $400 cheapest delivered Costco pharmacy Costco pharmacy: $180.89 $181 Rx + $4.49 dispensing, pickup VetScript VetScript: $219.99 $220 Rx + dispensing, free shipping VetMeds VetMeds: $225.06 VetMeds shipping to the GTA: $16.99 $225 Rx + dispensing + $16.99 shipping Pets Drug Mart Pets Drug Mart: $245.06 Pets Drug Mart shipping to the GTA: $16.99 $245 Rx + dispensing + $16.99 shipping (est.) Clinics (28) Lowest clinic quote: $260.00 Clinic quotes: $260 to $432 Clinic quote: $260.00 Clinic quote: $269.64 (scaled from a pack of 100) Clinic quote: $276.74 Clinic quote: $277.20 (scaled from a pack of 100) Clinic quote: $278.00 Clinic quote: $285.00 Clinic quote: $300.00 Clinic quote: $312.60 Clinic quote: $317.52 Clinic quote: $334.00 Clinic quote: $338.73 Clinic quote: $344.00 Clinic quote: $345.16 Clinic quote: $356.00 Clinic quote: $358.68 Clinic quote: $364.60 Clinic quote: $365.22 Clinic quote: $370.00 Clinic quote: $378.00 Clinic quote: $378.00 Clinic quote: $379.00 Clinic quote: $380.00 Clinic quote: $390.30 Clinic quote: $394.80 (scaled from a pack of 60) Clinic quote: $396.00 Clinic quote: $415.08 Clinic quote: $425.66 Clinic quote: $432.00 Lowest clinic quote: $260.00 Highest clinic quote: $432.00 Median clinic quote: $357.34 $260 +18% $432 +96% $357 +62% Telepets · September 2026

The clinic bar shows the lowest, median and highest prices of the 28 clinics (the dots) that gave a price by phone. Percentages compare with the cheapest delivered price ($219.99). Pink is shipping to the GTA, estimated for Pets Drug Mart. September 2026, before tax.

Clinic fees

Each dot is one clinic. The dispensing fee is what a clinic adds when it fills a prescription in-house; some clinics fold it into the medication price instead. Every clinic is listed at the foot of this article.

First visit 34 of 35 clinics $0 $50 $100 $150 $200 $250 L6S, Brampton: $64.26 M9B, Etobicoke: $69.00 M5A, Toronto: $75.00 L6S, Brampton: $85.00 M2M, North York: $89.00 M1R, Scarborough: $98.00 K9K, Peterborough: $104.00 N9A, Windsor: $111.00 N6K, London: $118.00 N8W, Windsor: $121.00 N6P, London: $124.00 M5R, Toronto: $125.00 M2N, Toronto: $125.00 M6J, Toronto: $129.00 L4C, Richmond Hill: $131.88 L9C, Hamilton: $132.74 L8S, Hamilton: $132.74 L8T, Hamilton: $134.00 N4K, Owen Sound: $135.00 M9C, Etobicoke: $138.00 K2J, Ottawa: $138.25 L6X, Brampton: $140.00 N2R, Kitchener: $140.00 K8P, Belleville: $140.00 K7K, Kingston: $141.00 L6L, Oakville: $144.00 L6K, Oakville: $148.00 L3P, Markham: $150.00 L5J, Mississauga: $150.00 K9J, Peterborough: $150.00 K7K, Kingston: $152.00 M5B, Toronto: $155.00 M1C, Scarborough: $159.08 K7P, Kingston: $173.00 median $133 Annual check-up 27 of 35 $0 $50 $100 $150 $200 $250 M9B, Etobicoke: $69.00 L6S, Brampton: $85.00 M1R, Scarborough: $98.00 K8P, Belleville: $110.00 N8W, Windsor: $121.00 K2J, Ottawa: $121.25 M5A, Toronto: $125.00 M2N, Toronto: $125.00 M6J, Toronto: $129.00 L9C, Hamilton: $132.74 L8S, Hamilton: $132.74 L8T, Hamilton: $134.00 N4K, Owen Sound: $135.00 N6P, London: $135.00 M9C, Etobicoke: $138.00 L6X, Brampton: $140.00 N2R, Kitchener: $140.00 K7K, Kingston: $141.00 L6L, Oakville: $144.00 L3P, Markham: $150.00 K9J, Peterborough: $150.00 M5B, Toronto: $155.00 M1C, Scarborough: $159.08 K7P, Kingston: $173.00 N6K, London: $180.00 M5R, Toronto: $220.00 L6K, Oakville: $235.00 median $135 Fee to write a prescription 31 of 35 · 2 free · 2 clinic-only $0 $50 $100 $150 $200 $250 L6X, Brampton: $0.00 M5R, Toronto: $0.00 M1C, Scarborough: $17.70 L6L, Oakville: $25.00 M5B, Toronto: $28.00 N8W, Windsor: $29.00 L6S, Brampton: $30.00 K7K, Kingston: $30.00 N6K, London: $30.00 M9B, Etobicoke: $30.00 K8P, Belleville: $30.00 N9A, Windsor: $30.00 M2M, North York: $30.09 L9C, Hamilton: $30.97 K9K, Peterborough: $32.00 N2R, Kitchener: $35.00 L8S, Hamilton: $37.00 M6J, Toronto: $37.00 L3P, Markham: $38.00 N6P, London: $38.30 K2J, Ottawa: $39.55 N4K, Owen Sound: $40.00 M9C, Etobicoke: $41.00 L6S, Brampton: $45.00 K7P, Kingston: $45.00 L5J, Mississauga: $48.00 M1R, Scarborough: $48.00 M2N, Toronto: $50.00 K7K, Kingston: $50.85 M5A, Toronto: $54.00 K9J, Peterborough: $55.00 median $35 Dispensing fee 21 of 35 $0 $50 $100 $150 $200 $250 M1C, Scarborough: $17.70 N4K, Owen Sound: $20.00 K9J, Peterborough: $20.00 L6S, Brampton: $22.00 L8S, Hamilton: $22.00 L9C, Hamilton: $22.50 K7K, Kingston: $23.00 L6S, Brampton: $25.00 L6L, Oakville: $25.00 N8W, Windsor: $28.00 N6K, London: $30.00 M2M, North York: $30.00 N9A, Windsor: $30.00 L4C, Richmond Hill: $32.00 K2J, Ottawa: $32.00 K9K, Peterborough: $35.00 L3P, Markham: $38.00 L6X, Brampton: $38.30 M1R, Scarborough: $42.48 M5R, Toronto: $43.70 K7K, Kingston: $50.85 median $30

About Telepets

Sending your prescription to any pharmacy you choose, or to one that ships to your home, is included in our $49 online consultation (Ontario only).

Veterinary consultation
$49 + tax
Veterinarian’s review
included
Written plan
included
Prescription to your pharmacy
included
Medication
pharmacy’s price
Telepets markup
$0
Paid to
the pharmacy you pick
Connect with a veterinarian

How we did this

We phoned 35 clinics across Southern Ontario in September 2026 and asked each the same questions about its fees, whether it would write a prescription to be filled elsewhere, its next available appointment, and its price for three common medications.

The medication charts show a clinic only where it gave us a price on the call. Some clinics do not carry a medication, and some would not quote one by phone.

Clinic-by-clinic data (35 clinics)
ClinicFirst visitFee to write a pre­scrip­tionDis­pens­ing feeNext ap­point­mentSimp­ar­ica Trio6 chewsMeta­cam 1.5 mg/mL100 mLApo­quel 16 mg84 tablets
L6XBrampton$140No charge$382–4 days$361—$356
L6SBrampton$85$30$222–4 days$288——
L3PMarkham$150$38$38About a week$235—$270‡
L5JMississauga$150$48In the price2–4 days$296—$344
L6KOakville$148——————
L9CHamilton$133$31$22Next day$295—$365
K7KKingston$141$30$23Next day$352†—$396
N2RKitchener$140$35In the priceNext day$288—$260
N6KLondon$118$30$30Next day$299—$277‡
N4KOwen Sound$135$40$202–4 days$264—$300
K9KPeterborough$104$32$353 weeks——$379
M9BEtobicoke$69$25–35—Next day$225—$359
M9CEtobicoke$138$41In the priceNext day$295$200$380
M2MNorth York$89$30$30Next day$295$190$395‡
M1RScarborough$98$48$42About a week—$240$370
M1CScarborough$159$18$18Next day$300$258$345
M5BToronto$155$28In the price2–4 days$254$172$334
M5AToronto$75$54In the priceNext day$260$200$285
L4CRichmond Hill$132Clinic only$322–4 days———
K7KKingston$152$51$512 months$353$189$415
L8SHamilton$133$37$22Next day$299—$365
M6JToronto$129$37In the priceNext day$318$240—
L8THamilton$134Clinic only—Next day—$163$390
K9JPeterborough$150$55$20Next day$305$227$426
L6SBrampton$64$45$252 weeks$318$204$378
K8PBelleville$140$30—3 weeks———
M5RToronto$125No charge$44Next day$318†$219$378
L6LOakville$144$25$25Next day$257$227$277
K9JOtonabeeNot taking new clients
K7PKingston$173$45In the priceAbout a week$370$199$432
M2NToronto$125$50In the priceAbout a week$270$180$318
N9AWindsor$111$30$30Next day$300$200$278
N8WWindsor$121$29$28Next day$325$184$339
K2JOttawa$138$40$32Next day———
N6PLondon$124$38—2–4 days$272—$313

Medication prices are before tax and for the count in the column heading. A dash means we did not get that figure from the clinic. † is a quote the charts leave out: a different brand, or a price we could not reconcile. ‡ is scaled from the pack size the clinic quoted.

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