Direct excerpt from The Federal Drug Administration website:
Online Pet Pharmacies (click to see full article and handout)
Protect Yourself and Your Pet:
Be Online Pet Pharmacy
A.W.A.R.E.
"Affordable pet prescriptions!"
"Pet meds at discount prices!"
"No prescription required!"
"Your best source for pet meds!"
If
you've ever searched online for prescription pet medicines, you've no
doubt seen eye-catching, attention-grabbing claims. They sound
convincing in their promises of convenience and lower prices.
But are
these claims really true?
Internet sites that sell pet drugs can
be reputable pharmacies. However, others are fronts for businesses
breaking Federal, State, and sometimes, International laws. Illegal
online pharmacies may sell medicines that are counterfeit, outdated,
mislabeled, incorrectly formulated, or improperly made or stored. These
medicines may not contain the actual drug, or the correct amount of
drug, may contain contaminants, may not work as well due to age or being
stored in conditions that were too hot, cold, or humid, and may not
have the proper directions for use. If you are unhappy with ordered
products, illegal online pharmacies may fraudulently leave you with no
way to get your money back. In the end, you may find buying prescription
pet medicines online costly to your pet's health and your wallet.
If
you find a cheaper medicine online, ask your veterinarian to consider
matching the price. Many veterinarians are willing to competitively
charge based on the online price you've found (and can show proof of).
You should also know that neither the drug maker nor your veterinarian
will stand behind a product's guarantee if you purchase the product
online.
If you still want to purchase your pet's prescription
medicines online, remember there is no fool-proof way to tell if an
online pharmacy is legal. However, you can protect yourself by doing
your homework and being online pharmacy A.W.A.R.E.
A- Ask Your Veterinarian
Before you purchase
online, talk with your veterinarian! Your veterinarian supports you and
wants what's best for both you and your pet. Ask your veterinarian
questions, like: "Do you trust the internet pharmacy site?", "Have you
ever worked with the company?", and "Have other clients used that site?"
If any of the answers are "yes," what were your veterinarian's
experiences?
W-Watch for Red Flags
When buying from online pharmacies, keep an eye out for red flags. Be careful if the…
• Site does not require veterinary prescriptions for prescription drug orders.
Websites
that sell prescription veterinary medicines without valid veterinary
prescriptions for them are breaking the law. Under the Federal Food Drug
and Cosmetic Act, a pharmacy can't sell you a veterinary prescription
drug without a valid prescription or other type of order from a licensed
veterinarian. Online questionnaires or consults don't take the place of
valid veterinary prescriptions. Sites that sell drugs without requiring
valid veterinary prescriptions rob both you and your pet of the
protection provided by a veterinary physical exam.
• Site has no licensed pharmacist available to answer questions.
Can someone answer your questions about your pet's medicines?
• Site does not list physical business address, phone number, or other contact information.
If something goes wrong with your order, can you get in contact with them?
• Site is not based in the US.
If
an out-of-country site fraudulently takes your money, there's not much
the US government can do to help you get your money back.
• Site is not licensed by the State Board of Pharmacy where the business is based.
If
the business is based in the US, check to see if it is properly
licensed in the State where it is based by contacting that State's Board
of Pharmacy. Contact information for each State Board of Pharmacy is
available on the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP)
website: http://www.nabp.net/ftpfiles/N... Disclaimer
• Site does not protect your personal information.
Keep yourself safe from identity theft! Make sure the site you use is secure.
• Site's prices are dramatically lower than your veterinarian's or other website's prices.
If it seems too good to be true, then it probably is.
• Site ships you medicine that you didn't order or that looks very different from what your pet normally takes.
Don't give these medicines to your pet! Contact the site immediately!
A-Always Check for Site Accreditation
In addition
to following Federal and State licensing and inspection requirements, in
2009, the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) created a
voluntary accreditation program called Vet-VIPPS (Veterinary-Verified
Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites). Vet-VIPPS accredited online
pharmacies:
• are appropriately licensed in each state where they ship drugs
• have successfully completed a 19-point review and online survey
• undergo yearly VIPPS review and re-accreditation
• undergo NABP on-site surveys every three years
Vet-VIPPS
accredited pharmacies must also meet other strict criteria, including
protecting patient confidentiality, quality assurance, and validity of
prescription orders.
R-Report Problems and Suspicious Online Pharmacies
If
your pet has a problem with a medicine purchased online (for example, a
reaction to the medicine or the medicine not working), first contact
the medicine's maker. To report adverse drug events directly to the
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM)
call 1-888-FDA-VETS. For a copy of the reporting form (FDA Form 1932a)
and for more information on how to report problems, visit the following
website:
http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/SafetyHealth/ReportaProblem/ucm055305.htm.
Protect
yourself, your pets, and others! Don't fall victim to illegal online
pharmacies. Report suspicious online pharmacy sites to FDA and NABP at:
FDA: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/ReportaProblem/ucm059315.htm
NABP: http://www.nabp.net/Exit Disclaimer
E-Educate Yourself about Online Pharmacies
The
best defense you have against illegal online pharmacies is education. Do
your homework and be online pharmacy A.W.A.R.E. before you purchase
your pet's medicines online. An informed consumer is an empowered
consumer.
For more information about purchasing pet medicines from online pharmacies, visit CVM's website at:
http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary, or call CVM at 1-240-276-9300.
Whenever your pet needs prescription medicines, your veterinarian is your best,
most reliable source, because your veterinarian:
• physically examined your pet and knows your pet's medical and treatment history,
• knows which medicines are safest for your pet,
• educates you about potential side effects associated with your pet's medicines,
• shows you how to properly use the medicines prescribed for your pet,
• stores prescription medicines in the clinic according to label directions, and
• uses current, unexpired medicines.
A- Ask your veterinarian
W-Watch for red flags
A-Always check for site accreditation
R-Report suspicious online pet pharmacies
E-Educate yourself about online pharmacies