Ursodiol for Dogs Cost: Generic Actigall & Gallbladder Guide (2026)
Essential Pricing Takeaways
- • Ursodiol (ursodeoxycholic acid) is a naturally occurring hydrophilic bile acid prescribed to treat canine gallbladder sludge, mucoceles, and chronic hepatitis.
- • Veterinary clinic dispensaries charge $95 to $135 for a 60-capsule supply of generic 250mg ursodiol, compared to retail pharmacy pricing.
- • Accredited online pet dispensaries (Walmart PetRx, Chewy) fulfill generic ursodiol 250mg for $44.80 to $49.50 ($0.75 to $0.83 per capsule).
- • Because ursodiol is an identical human generic pharmaceutical, pet parents can request a written prescription to fill at retail pharmacies using discount coupons for $28 to $38.
- • Prices below were checked on retailer sites in November 2026 and change often.
Canine hepatobiliary diseases—including gallbladder sludge, biliary mucocele formation, and chronic inflammatory hepatitis—are among the most serious gastrointestinal disorders treated in veterinary medicine. Left unmanaged, inspissated bile and cystic mucosal hyperplasia can cause complete biliary obstruction, gallbladder necrosis, and life-threatening rupture requiring emergency surgical cholecystectomy costing upwards of $4,000 to $6,500.
Ursodiol (brand name Actigall) is the clinical gold standard medical therapy for non-surgical gallbladder disease. As a hydrophilic bile acid, ursodiol replaces toxic hydrophobic endogenous bile acids in the enterohepatic circulation, decreases hepatic cholesterol synthesis, promotes choleresis (bile flow), and exerts cytoprotective effects on canine hepatocytes.
Because dogs with gallbladder sludge or chronic hepatitis typically require continuous daily ursodiol administration for months or years, veterinary hospital pharmacy markups create significant financial strain. Sourcing generic ursodiol through accredited digital pet pharmacies or human generic crossover dispensaries reduces annual medication expenses.
This clinical and pricing guide reviews canine ursodiol dosing, examines the risk of gallbladder rupture, compares prices across accredited retailers, and outlines how to safely fill veterinary prescriptions at human commercial pharmacies.
Ursodiol (Actigall Generic 250mg x60) Price Comparison Across Dispensaries
| Dispensary / Pharmacy Channel | Medication Formulation | Average Supply Cost | Per Capsule Cost | Prescription Verification | Value Assessment | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walmart PetRx | Generic Ursodiol 250mg Capsules | 60 Capsules (30-60 Day Supply) | $44.80 ($0.75/cap) | $0.75 / capsule | Lowest Online Pharmacy Price | Check Price → |
| Chewy Pharmacy | Generic Ursodiol 250mg Capsules | 60 Capsules (30-60 Day Supply) | $49.50 ($0.83/cap) | $0.83 / capsule | Fastest Vet Verification Sync | Check Price → |
| Human Retail Crossover (GoodRx / Costco) | Human Generic Ursodiol 250mg | 60 Capsules (Human Label) | $28.00 - $38.00 | $0.47 - $0.63 / capsule | Lowest Out-of-Pocket Cash Price | Check Price → |
| Veterinary Hospital Dispensary | In-Clinic Dispensed Actigall Generic | 60 Capsules (Clinic Counter) | $98.00 ($1.63/cap) | $1.63 / capsule | Immediate Pickup; High Markup | Check Price → |
*Prices below were checked on retailer sites in November 2026 and change often.
Top Recommended Options & Discounts
Generic Ursodiol 250mg Capsules (Walmart PetRx)
Best For: Dogs with gallbladder sludge or chronic hepatitis requiring long-term daily bile acid therapy at national warehouse rates
- ✓ Authentic FDA-approved generic ursodiol bioequivalent to brand-name Actigall
- ✓ Direct digital prescription transfer from your veterinary hospital
- ✓ Free express delivery on orders meeting the standard pharmacy shipping minimum
Ursodiol Generic 250mg Capsules (Chewy Pharmacy)
Best For: Pet parents wanting automated 30-day or 60-day recurring AutoShip deliveries with seamless clinic outreach
- ✓ Automated clinic outreach for initial prescription authorization and renewals
- ✓ Available in standard 250mg, 300mg, and 500mg commercial capsule strengths
- ✓ Convenient recurring monthly AutoShip orders
Calculate Exact Dose & Cost-Per-Day by Pet Weight
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Example comparison based on listed retail estimates.
Clinical Indications: Gallbladder Mucoceles, Sludge & Liver Disease
In healthy canines, the gallbladder stores and concentrates bile produced by hepatic parenchymal cells. Bile acids facilitate intestinal fat digestion and microbial regulation. However, in dogs with biliary dyskinesia, hyperadrenocorticism, or dyslipidemia, bile becomes abnormally viscous and inspissated, forming biliary sludge and predisposing the animal to gallbladder mucoceles.
A gallbladder mucocele occurs when excessive mucus secretion creates a gelatinous mass that distends the gallbladder wall, compressing microvascular circulation and potentially leading to ischemic rupture and fatal bile peritonitis. The American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) notes that medical management using ursodiol is suitable for incidental, non-obstructive mucoceles showing patent cystic and common bile ducts.
Ursodiol functions by altering bile pool composition. By displacing cytotoxic hydrophobic deoxycholic and lithocholic acids with hydrophilic ursodeoxycholic acid, ursodiol reduces membrane injury to cholangiocytes, enhances bicarbonate-rich bile secretion, and reduces hepatic inflammation.
Critical Contraindication Notice: Ursodiol must never be administered to an animal with complete extrahepatic biliary duct obstruction or an active gallbladder rupture. Increased biliary pressure against a mechanical stone or mucus plug can trigger immediate wall perforation. Abdominal ultrasound is mandatory prior to initiating therapy.
Dosing Protocols & Filling Human Generic Crossover Scripts
Standard veterinary clinical dosing for canine ursodiol ranges between 10 mg/kg to 15 mg/kg administered once daily or divided into two daily doses with meals. Dietary fat significantly enhances gastrointestinal absorption and stimulates gallbladder contraction, maximizing therapeutic delivery.
For a 40- to 55-pound dog, a standard 250mg capsule provides exact target dosing. For small dogs under 15 pounds or cats requiring lower concentrations (e.g., 20mg to 50mg), commercial 250mg capsules cannot be accurately fractionated. In these cases, veterinary compounding pharmacies prepare custom flavored oral liquids or micro-tablets.
Because ursodiol is an exact crossover human pharmaceutical (marketed generically and under brand names Actigall and Urso 250), pet owners can legally request a written prescription from their veterinarian under state practice acts. Submitting this script to human retail pharmacies (such as Costco, Walmart, or Kroger) with consumer discount coupons often lowers the price of 60 capsules of 250mg ursodiol to $28 to $38—lowering recurring medication expenses.
Authoritative Clinical & Regulatory Sources
Review the primary pharmacology monographs and veterinary consensus statements governing canine hepatobiliary therapy:
1. DailyMed: ursodiol capsules (human label).
2. Merck Veterinary Manual: Hepatic Diseases of Small Animals (Veterinary professional guidance on diagnosing gallbladder mucoceles, monitoring liver panels, and dosing ursodiol).