Their commercials would have you believe that you’re just throwing your money away if you buy your prescription medications, heartworm and flea preventatives from your veterinarian. But online pet pharmacies have some drawbacks that you should be aware of. You still need a prescription from your veterinarian in order to get your medications. Some pharmacies use questionable products. If you purchase non-prescription medications from an online pet pharmacy, make sure to talk with your veterinarian first to avoid harmful medication interactions.
An online pet pharmacy is like any other type of pharmacy. You can’t order any medications you want; you still need a prescription from a licensed veterinarian. As explained by the American Veterinary Medical Association, “Veterinary prescription drugs are to be used or prescribed only within the context of a veterinarian-client-patient relationship.” This means that you and your pet must have a valid relationship with a veterinarian in order for them to prescribe medication for you. The exact laws vary slightly from state to state, but most veterinarians require a yearly exam to prescribe medication for a pet.
At the veterinary hospital I work at, we occasionally get faxes for pet pharmacies requesting medication for animals we have never examined, or haven’t examined in five years or more. These requests will be denied, if they are responded to at all.
How online pet pharmacies fill prescriptions
When you place your online order you will be asked for information about your veterinarian. The pet pharmacy will then fax or call (or both) your veterinarian to request approval for the prescription. The veterinarian will approve or deny the request. How long this may take will vary from one veterinary practice to another.
Because of ongoing problems we’ve had in our dealings with pet pharmacies, our hospital has a policy not to deal with them. We will only communicate with the pet’s owner. So we either write a prescription that the pet’s owner can fill wherever they choose, or explain the reason for the refusal. While I don’t know how widespread this practice is, I’d wager that we are not the only hospital to have special policies like this for dealing with these companies.
After they hear back from the prescribing veterinarian, the pharmacy will fill the prescription. If your request is urgent, this process may not be your best course of action unless you already have refills pre-approved.
Beware of foreign and counterfeit products
Some online pet pharmacies are more reliable than others. It’s a good idea to research any return or refund policies. Some may sell foreign or counterfeit products. Items like flea and heartworm preventatives seem to be more common targets for this problem. Luckily this isn’t too widespread anymore, but it does still happen. On more than one occasion we’ve had a client complain about a flea product that didn’t work, and when they show us the package, it was a counterfeit.
Use caution combining prescription and over the counter medications.
This piece of advice doesn’t just apply to online pet pharmacies. If you choose to give your pet any natural, holistic, homeopathic, or other over the counter medications, make sure to inform your veterinarian. It is important to avoid any harmful medication interactions with prescriptions your pet is already taking, or that your veterinarian may prescribe in the future.
Again, a sad real life incident brought this important tip to my attention. A client wanted to buy the prescription non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication that the veterinarian recommended for her dog’s arthritis at an online pharmacy. While online she also bought a ‘natural’ pet joint medication without consulting her veterinarian. The natural product contained aspirin and was unsafe to give with the prescription medication. Fortunately, the small dog began vomiting, and the owner contacted us before any serious damage was done.
Don’t count your veterinarian out
When there is competition, the consumer is at an advantage. One of the benefits of online pet pharmacies is that they create this competition. If your pet is on long-tem prescription medications, it may well be worth researching the prices at pet pharmacies and comparing them to the prices at your veterinary office. Then ask your vet if they’ll match the online price. Many will, but they may not advertise this policy.
Online pet pharmacies are a relatively new phenomenon, and they continue to evolve. If you choose to purchase your pet’s prescription medications from these pharmacies, be aware of these pitfalls to make your experience as positive as possible.
