Purchasing Pet Drugs Online: Buyer Beware

Consumer Health Information www.fda.gov/consumer Purchasing Pet Drugs Online: Buyer Beware When ordering online iscount pet drugs— FDA has found companies that sell 1. Order from a Web no prescription unapproved pet drugs and counter- feit pet products, make fraudulent site that belongs to a “Drequired” may appeal claims, dispense prescription drugs Vet-VIPPS accredited to pet owners surfing the Web, without requiring a prescription, and pharmacy. but FDA experts say it can be sell expired drugs. risky to buy drugs online from Pet owners who purchase drugs from 2. Mail the prescription these companies may think they are sav- provided by your sites that tout this message ing money, says Hartogensis, but in real- veterinarian to the and others like it. ity, they may be short-changing their pet’s health and putting its life at risk. pharmacy after your Some of the Internet sites that sell CVM regulates the manufacture pet receives a physical pet drugs represent legitimate, repu- and distribution of animal drugs, examination. table pharmacies, says Martine Har- while individual state pharmacy togensis, D.V.M., deputy director of boards regulate the dispensing of 3. Order from an outsourced the Office of Surveillance and Com- prescription veterinary products. prescription management pliance in FDA’s Center for Veteri- service that your nary Medicine (CVM). But others are Red Flags fronts for unscrupulous businesses Some foreign Internet pharmacies veterinarian uses. operating against the law. advertise that veterinary prescription Photo Illustration: FDA/Michael Ermarth 1 / FDA Consumer Health Information / U.S. Food and Drug Administration M A R C H 2010 Consumer Health Information www.fda.gov/consumer A veterinarian should physically examine an animal prior to making a diagnosis to determine the appropriate therapy. drugs are available to U.S. citizens • the prescription should be without a prescription. But, says Har- accompanied by a Client togensis, “There is a risk of the drugs Information Sheet that explains not being FDA-approved.” important safety information to A foreign or domestic pharmacy may the owner claim that one of its veterinarians on staff will “evaluate” the pet after look- Heartworm disease is a potentially ing over a form filled out by the pet fatal condition transmitted by the Vet-VIPPS seal to online pharmacies owner, and then prescribe the drug. “A bite of a mosquito that is carrying that dispense prescription animal veterinarian should physically exam- infected larvae of the heartworm par- drugs and comply with NABP’s strict ine an animal prior to making a diag- asite. Dogs, cats, and ferrets can get criteria, including federal and state nosis to determine the appropriate heartworm. Heartworm preventives, licensing and inspection require- therapy,” says Hartogensis. given daily, monthly, or semiannually ments, protecting patient confidenti- CVM is especially concerned that depending on the product, kill the lar- ality, quality assurance, and validity pet owners are going online to buy vae before they become adult worms. of prescription orders. Look for the two types of commonly used prescrip- Vet-VIPPS seal displayed on a phar- tion veterinary drugs—nonsteroidal The American Heartworm Society macy’s Web site or check with NABP anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) recommends at www.nabp.net (click on “Accredita- and heartworm preventives. • using heartworm medication for tion Programs”) to find out if a phar- “Both drugs can be dangerous if dogs year-round, no matter where macy is Vet-VIPPS accredited. Because there is no professional involvement,” you live in the United States this is a new program, begun in 2009, says Hartogensis. “It’s not generally • getting dogs tested yearly to make a small number of pharmacies are a concern if the owner uses a legiti- sure they’re not infected with currently Vet-VIPPS accredited. mate online pharmacy and mails in a heartworm prescription from their veterinarian, • Order from an outsourced prescription who is monitoring the animal. But if “Testing is important even in dogs management service that your veteri- there is no veterinarian–client–patient regularly treated with heartworm pre- narian uses. relationship, it’s a dangerous practice.” ventive products due to the occasional These state-licensed Internet phar- reports of product ineffectiveness,” macy services work directly with the NSAIDS and Heartworm Preventives says Hartogensis. An Internet phar- veterinarian, require that a prescrip- Veterinarians often prescribe NSAIDs macy veterinarian cannot draw blood tion be written by the veterinarian, to relieve pain in dogs. NSAIDs from the animal to perform the test. If and support the veterinarian-client- should not be purchased on the Inter- the test isn’t done, a pet owner could patient relationship. Ask your vet- net without a veterinarian’s involve- be giving heartworm preventives to a erinary hospital if it uses an Internet ment because dog that has heartworms, potentially pharmacy service. • dogs should undergo blood leading to severe reactions. testing and a thorough physical Find this and other Consumer examination before starting Tips for Buying Pet Drugs Online Updates at www.fda.gov/ NSAIDs • Order from a Web site that belongs ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates • dogs should be monitored by a to a Vet-VIPPS accredited pharmacy. veterinarian while they are taking Vet-VIPPS—the Veterinary-Verified Sign up for free e-mail NSAIDs Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites—is subscriptions at www.fda.gov/ • veterinarians should discuss a voluntary accreditation program of consumer/consumerenews.html possible side effects of NSAIDs the National Association of Boards of with the owner Pharmacy (NABP). NABP gives the 2 / FDA Consumer Health Information / U.S. Food and Drug Administration M A R C H 2010.

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