If you’ve ever searched online for prescription pet medications, 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 medicines can be reputable pharmacies. However, other internet sites 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 Illegal online pharmacies may sell medicines that are counterfeit, outdated, mislabeled, incorrectly formulated, or improperly made or stored.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, may contain contaminants or the incorrect amount of drug, 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 pet 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. 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 pet pharmacy is legal. However, you can protect yourself by doing your homework and being online just be online pharmacy A.W.A.R.E.

A.W.A.R.E is an acronym for:

• Ask your Veterinarian
• Watch for Red Flags
• Always check for site Accreditation
• Report problems and suspicious online pet pharmacies
• Educate yourself about online pet pharmacies

Before you purchase online, talk with your veterinarian. Your veterinarian wants what’s best for you and your pet. Ask your veterinarian questions like, “Do you trust the internet pharmacy site?” “Have you ever worked with the pharmacy?” “Have other clients used that site? If so, what were their experiences?”

When buying from online pharmacies, keep an eye out for red flags. Be careful if…

• the site does not require veterinary approval for prescription medications. Websites that sell prescription veterinary medications without valid veterinary prescriptions are breaking the law. Under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, a pharmacy can’t sell you a veterinary prescription medication 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 medications without requiring valid veterinary prescriptions rob you and your pet of the protection provided by a veterinary physical exam.
• the site has no licensed pharmacist available to answer questions.
• the site does not list its physical business address, phone number, or other contact information. If something goes wrong with your order, can you get in contact with them?
• the site is not based in the United States. If an out-of-country site fraudulently takes your money, there’s not much the U.S. government can do to help you get your money back.
• the site is not licensed by the State Board of Pharmacy where the business is based. If the site operates in the United States, check the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) website to see if the pharmacy is properly licensed.  http://www.nabp.net/consumers/board-of-pharmacy-contacts/
• the site does not protect your personal information.
• the site’s prices are dramatically lower than your veterinarian’s or other websites’ prices. If it seems too good to be true, then it probably is.
• the site ships you medications that you didn’t order or that look very different from what your pet normally takes. Don’t give these medications to your pet. Contact the site immediately.

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 pet pharmacies…

• are appropriately licensed in the states from which 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 meet other criteria, including protecting client confidentiality, strict quality assurance, and making sure prescription orders are valid.

If your pet has a problem with a medication purchased online (for example, a reaction to the medication or the medication is not working), first contact the medication’s maker. To report problems directly to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Veterinary Medicine

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

The US Food and Drug Administration

National Association of Boards of Pharmacy

American Veterinary Medical Association