Buying Pet Drugs Online

The FDA Warns Against the Buying of Pet Drugs Online

Although it may be tempting and convenient to order your pet’s medications online, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning to pet owners about unregulated online pharmacies that sell expired or counterfeit drugs without a prescription. According to the FDA, foreign and domestic web pharmacies may ask pet parents to fill out an online form and then falsely claim that a veterinarian will evaluate the pet’s condition to prescribe the appropriate treatment. Some of the internet sites that sell pet medications are legitimate, reputable pharmacies, but others are bad businesses that are continuously breaking the law. “All pet drugs should be prescribed by a veterinarian after an in-person physical exam, and should either be purchased from that veterinarian or outsourced to a reputable pharmacy, whether on- or off-line,” says Dr. Camille DeClementi, ASPCA Senior Director of Medical Records. Dr. DeClementi also recommends that pet parents avoid purchasing nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)—one of the most common types of drugs dispensed online without a prescription—to treat their pet’s pain without consulting a veterinarian to determine the underlying cause of the pain. NSAIDs can be dangerous if not dispensed properly, and pets who are taking these drugs should be monitored closely. For more helpful tips and to watch an informational video about purchasing pet drugs online, please visit the FDA’s consumer health information page. http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm227350.htm

If you do decide to purchase your pet’s medications online, please follow these smart practices:

• Bring your pet to a veterinarian for a physical exam and obtain a written prescription for any necessary medications.
• Only purchase medication from websites that are Vet-VIPPS (Veterinary-Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites) accredited.
• Check to see whether the online pharmacy you’re considering is accredited. At www.nabp.net go to Programs, select Vet-VIPPS, then on left side of screen select Find a Vet-VIPPS Pharmacy, or use the exact link is below. http://www.nabp.net/programs/accreditation/vet-vipps/find-a-vet-vipps-online-pharmacy. Mail your veterinarian’s written prescription to a Vet-VIPPS accredited pharmacy.

*The above information was provided courtesy of the ASPCA

Rockville Road Animal Hospital

At Rockville Road Animal Hospital we strive to provide our patients with high-quality service and care. During these difficult economic times, we have lowered our prices on Rimadyl and Metacam to allow our patients better access to the medications they need. It is important to get these medications from a safe and guaranteed source. With our lower prices we are more competitive with the online pharmacies and we offer the safety and high-quality guarantee that most online sites cannot. Please call our clinic at (317) 271-2200. We are happy to answer any additional questions that you may have regarding this issue.