Beware of Internet Pharmacies

When obtaining medication for your pet, you may think that since you can purchase almost anything on the internet, the same goes for medication. This is a dangerous idea! Medication can come from anywhere, even a  dark basement thousands of miles from your home. Please allow us to share the dangers of internet pharmacies.

Online pharmacies may provide a convenient and cheap way to purchase medications, but they are risky. There is no way to track where a majority of these medications come from. We have heard of instances where medications available online were developed oversees and contained harmful materials. Be advised that products not purchased through your veterinarian do not carry the manufacturer's promise to be held accountable if your pet has adverse reactions or dies by using the products. This means that all medications you purchase through your veterinarian are backed up by the manufacturer and if something happens, they take full responsibility.

According to the FDA, only 3% of internet pharmacies follow state and federal guidelines.

Most internet pharmacies:

• Are fraudulent
• Sell contaminated drugs
• Sell drugs past their expiration date
• Sell drugs that contain no active ingredients
• Sell drugs with ingredients such as arsenic and/or rat poison
• Sell drugs that contain ingredients that may interact with current medications
• Purchase drugs from counterfeiters or gray market wholesalers
• Have computer viruses
• Sell your personal and financial information to other rogue websites or internet scammers

Never purchase from an online pharmacy if they don't require a written prescription from a doctor or claim they have an onsite doctor who can write a prescription after a brief survey.

Only purchase medications if the pharmacy is a member of NABP (National Association of Boards of Pharmacies).

If you decide to purchase medications online, only order from a site that is VIPPS-accredited pharmacy (Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites).

Honestly, the safest and surest way to get what your pet needs is to purchase medications from your veterinarian. You save yourself the hassle of finding an internet pharmacy that follows FDA guidelines and is accredited.

For more information, visit:

www.fda.gov/besaferx
www.fda.gove/buyonline
www.nabp.net