More and more people are going online to buy their pet’s medications every day. While we always hope our clients will choose to support the local small business and buy from their vet, we also respect their right to shop around. In the end it is most important that your pet is taken care of, so this post is dedicated to educating you about online pharmacies, and what to look for when choosing one.
First things first, don’t just assume that an online store has cheaper prices. Usually your vet will have a competitive price for medications. Also drug manufacturers will often have rebates or free doses that you can get through your vet that you can’t get online. Call your vet and see what they have to offer.
Secondly, many manufacturers offer guarantees with their products that they may not provide if you purchase their product through an online pharmacy. Heartworm and flea and tick preventatives often have these guarantees, and considering treatment for heartworm disease can reach $800-1000, you’ll want to make sure you can still get that guarantee if the product doesn’t work. You can look on the pharmacy’s website, or better yet contact the manufacturer themselves and ask.
Most importantly, you’ll want to make sure the online pharmacy you choose to buy from is reputable. Unfortunately, fraud is everywhere, and there are illegal pharmacies that pop up offering “the same product” for sometimes ridiculously low prices. These pharmacies sometimes may offer counterfeit products that may not contain the actual drug, may be incorrectly formulated, stored improperly (drugs that get too hot or cold can become inactivated), contaminated, or simply expired.
To find a reputable online pharmacy, look for its accreditation! The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) offers an optional accreditation process called Vet-VIPPS (Veterinary-Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites). Sites with this accreditation have undergone a thorough review of their policies and procedures, and all locations they use to process and store medications have been inspected. It also means they are licensed by the state Board of Pharmacy in the state they operate from. This accreditation is renewed annually, so you can be sure the medications you ordered from them are legitimate and handled appropriately. Here is a list of accredited online pharmacies.
Here are some red flags to help you avoid an illegal pharmacy:
1. Does the site require a veterinary prescription for prescription medications? If not, they’re not doing you any favors. They are prescription medications for a reason. If your pet receives a medication that was inappropriate for him/her, there could be serious consequences.
2. Do they have a licensed pharmacist on staff to answer your questions?
3. Do they list a physical address, phone number, or other contact information? You need a way to contact them if there is a problem with your order.
4. Is the site based in the United States? If not, there is not much the US government can do to get your money back if things go wrong. If they are, they should be licensed with the state in which they are located.
5. Are the prices comparable to other places, or too good to be true?
6. Does the site protect your information?
7. Did they send you what you ordered?
If you come across a pharmacy which you suspect to be illegal, you can report it to the government at this site: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/ReportaProblem/ucm059315.htm
Happy shopping!
Sources:
http://www.fda.gov/animalveterinary/resourcesforyou/animalhealthliteracy/ucm203000.htm
http://www.nabp.net/programs/consumer-protection/buying-medicine-online
http://www.awarerx.org
