Buying Pet Medications Online – Being A.W.A.R.E.

Posted by Lu

Have you ever considered buying your pet’s medications online?  There are many things you should consider first.

The first step, the “A” is for ask. Ask your veterinarian.  Your veterinarian knows you and wants what is best for both you and your pet.  Questions that you should ask your veterinarian are:

Have you ever worked with this particular internet pharmacy site?

Do you trust them?

Have other clients used this particular site?

What are your experiences with this site?

The second step, the “W” is for watching for red flags. Some common red flags are:

• The site does not require a veterinary prescription for prescription medication orders.  A website that does not require a prescription from a licensed veterinarian is breaking the law.  Online questionnaires and consults cannot take the place of a valid veterinary prescription. A website that sells medications without requiring a valid veterinary prescription robs both you and your dog of the protection provided by a veterinary physical exam.
• The site has no licensed pharmacist or veterinarian to address your concerns or answer your questions.
• The site does not provide a physical business address, phone number, or any other contact information.  You need this information in case anything goes wrong with the order?
• The website is not based in the United States.  Any site based outside this country can fraudulently take your money, and there is not much the United States government do to help you.
• The website sells the medications dramatically lower than your veterinarian.  They may be selling counterfeit drugs.
• The site sends you medications that look different that what your dog normally takes.  Do not give your dog this medication.  Check out the website’s return policy for the drugs.

The third step is the second “A” which is for always. Be sure to always check the website accreditation.  The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy formed a voluntary accreditation program named the Vet-VIPPS (Veterinary-Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites) in 2009.  Vet-VIPPS accredited online pharmacies:

• Have successfully completed a lengthy review and online survey
• Are appropriately licensed in every state where they send drugs
• Undergo an annual VIPPS review and re-accreditation

The fourth step is the “R” which is for reporting problems and suspicious online pharmacies. As a responsible pet parent, if you have any problems with your online medication order, you must report it.  You need to report problems to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) by calling 1-888-FDA-VETS or by visiting this website:

http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/SafetyHealth/ReportaProblem/ucm055305.htm.

Protect your dog! Do not fall victim to dishonest and illegal online pharmacies.  Report all suspicious online pharmacy sites to FDA and NABP at:

FDA: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/ReportaProblem/ucm059315.htm

NABP: http://www.nabp.net/

The fifth step is the “E” which is for educate.  If you are going to purchase prescription medications from an online pharmacy, you must educate yourself.  Education is the best defense against online illegal pharmacies.  Knowledge is power.  For more information about purchasing pet medicines from online pharmacies call the CVM at 1-240-276-9300 or visit their website at: http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary.

The most reliable source for prescription medications is your veterinarian.  They have:

• Completed a recent physical examination of your dog and know your dog’s medical and treatment history.
• Looked over all the medication options and know which medications are safest for your dog.
• The ability to education you in person about the potential side effects of any prescribed medications.  This allows a face to face exchange of questions and answers.  Immediate clarification of any unclear areas is also possible.
• Shown you how to properly store and administer any medications
• Discussed all interactions with other prescribed medications.
• Provided your dog with current, unexpired medications that have been stored properly.  Some medications will lose potency when stored at higher temperatures or at increased humidity.

In conclusion, it is up to you to provide your dog with the best medications that you can.  Following the guidelines provided in this guide can help save the life of your dog and may even save you money.