Pet Meds Online – The Online Pharmacy Controversy

Controversy over Internet Pharmacies on Dog Meds

In recent years, a number of online pharmacies have emerged, advertising that they can offer heartworm and flea medication at a lower cost because they have lower overhead.

Consumers should be aware that there have been problems with pet medications ordered through online pharmacies. For this reason, many veterinarians caution their clients to be careful should they decide to buy heartworm and flea medicine online.

When these products are purchased from the animal hospital, the manufacturer guarantees their effectiveness. This means treatment for parasites is covered if the product fails to work (as long as the drug was administered properly). This guarantee cannot be assured when such products are purchased through an online pharmacy.

Furthermore, the veterinary staff knows your pet and can answer any questions or concerns you may have. Your veterinarian is thoroughly familiar with your pet’s medical history; he or she is in the best position to help you maintain your pet’s health and well-being.

The position of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) is that drugs should only be indicated within the veterinary-client-patient relationship. This means your veterinarian should be consulted before purchasing or administering any drug.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and AVMA strongly recommend that people do their homework before purchasing a drug for their pets online. This means ensuring that an online pharmacy is certified by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (vipps@nabp.net).

In addition, you can get more information on online pharmacies by visiting the FDA at www.fda.gov/oc/buyonline/default.htm