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 Online
Pharmacies
Most veterinarians maintain a well
stocked pharmacy to provide on-site
medications for their patients.
These medications are purchased
directly from reputable distributors
and you can trust that they have
been handled and stored properly.
A number of on-line pharmacies are
available as alternatives to pet
owners. Some of these pharmacies
spend millions of dollars in
advertising to capture the
veterinary pharmacy market. Be
careful when using an on-line
pharmacy. There is a large “grey
market” where on-line pharmacies
purchase medications through
alternative sources and then resell
them on the internet. This practice
falls into a legal grey zone.
Another source of medications for
some on-line pharmacies is
re-importation from other countries.
Again, this falls into a legal grey
zone. There are concerns that this
practice will increase the
likelihood that counterfeit
medications will be sold.
Some of the large veterinary drug
manufacturers (such as Merial who
produces HEARTGARD Plus®) will not
sell directly to many on-line
pharmacies. Since there are not
always assurances that medications
have been stored and handled
properly and are not counterfeit,
manufacturers may not honor their
guarantee if the medication was
purchased on-line.If you choose
to use an on-line pharmacy the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
recommends making sure it's a
VIPPS-accredited pharmacy. (Verified
Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites) To
check accreditation, go to
www.nabp.net.
Veterinarians try to make their
pharmacy products as competitively
priced as possible. Often when
prices are compared your
veterinarian’s prices are the same
or only slightly more than those
seen on-line. Isn’t it worth a few
dollars extra for the peace of mind
to know that your pet’s medications
are coming from a trusted source who
will be there for you if there is
ever any problem?
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