FOR YOUR PE TS
BY CHRISTINA GUERRERO
COSTCO MEMBER Patty Lasky’s dog,
Queenie, was diagnosed with irritable
bowel syndrome that needed to be treated
with an expensive prescription. When
her veterinarian was out of the medication, the staff called a Costco Pharmacy
to check on its availability. Not only did
they carry the medication, but the Costco
Pharmacy saved her more than ;;;; on
a two-month prescription.
“You want to do what’s best for your
pet, but it was a fortune,” says Lasky,
who was so pleased with the savings she
also referred her daughter to the Costco
Pharmacy for her cat’s medication. “I’m
just grateful Costco was able to save me so
much on the prescriptions.”
If your veterinarian suggests a treat-
Save on your
pet’s meds
with Costco
Pharmacy
BY DR. MELISSA BROOKSHIRE
EVERYONE
knows how it feels
to have an upset
stomach: misera-
ble! Well, our pets
feel the same way.
Stomach upset
and diarrhea have
numerous causes
and are two of the top seven reasons
for a visit to the veterinarian for both
dogs and cats. While not every episode
of digestive upset can be prevented,
you can manage some aspects of your
pet’s diet to support healthy digestion
and a healthy pet.
The digestive system is home to
about three-fourths of the body’s
immune system. Maintaining a
healthy digestive system is important
not only for feeling good, but also for
supporting a strong immune system.
Pets have an ideal microbiome, or
population of bacteria, in the digestive system. This microbiome is
different in each species and can be
altered when a pet experiences stress
or illness or even when it eats something it shouldn’t. Diet can play a role
in helping to stabilize the microbiome, which lessens symptoms of
digestive upset and protects the
immune system.
You may have heard of probiotics
and prebiotics in relation to your own
digestive health, but they are just as
important to your pet. Probiotics and
prebiotics are not the same thing, but
they work together to create an ideal
environment in the digestive tract.
The digestive system is full of
live bacteria, both good and bad.
Probiotics are good bacteria that suppress the bad bacteria. Prebiotics are
special fibers that create energy or
fuel for the cells in the colon and for
the probiotics as they move through
the intestines.
CONNECTING
Costco pharmacies and Costco.com carry
supplements, pill treats and many prescription items for dogs and cats. For a list of
pet prescription drugs available and their
price, enter “pet medications” in the search
box at Costco.com. If your pet’s medication
is not listed, call or visit your local Costco
Pharmacy for availability and price.
ment for your dog or cat that includes a
prescription, ask him or her to call or fax
the prescription directly to Costco or
write a prescription for you to take to the
Costco Pharmacy, and you can take your
pet’s meds home the same day. Costco
pharmacies carry more than ;;; prescription drugs commonly used for dogs and
cats, including leading name brands and
generics. Some of the most commonly
sold prescription categories include flea
and tick, anti-inflammatory, antibiotics
and heartworm prevention, such as
Heartgard, says Nicole Schmitt, pharmacy manager for the Costco Pharmacy
in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
The Costco Member Prescription
Program (CMPP), a member-only program for Costco members and their
dependents who have no prescription
drug coverage through any insurance plan, will help you save even
more money on your pet’s prescriptions. Ask the Costco Pharmacy team to sign you up for
CMPP, and you will receive the
lowest possible Costco price for
that medication. C
Costco member
Patty Lasky and
her dog, Queenie.
HEALTHY DIGESTION
FOR A HEALTHY PET
CONTINUED ON PAGE 83
© ERMOLAEV ALEXANDER / SHUTTERSTOCK
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