Clevengers Corner Veterinary Care

In Purchasing Pet Drugs Online: Buyer Beware, an article printed in the FDA Consumer, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cautioned pet owners about the potential dangers associated with purchasing animal drugs on the Internet. According to the article, “The FDA has also found companies that sell counterfeit pet products, make fraudulent claims, dispense prescription drugs without requiring a prescription, and sell pet drugs that have expired. Pet owners who purchase drugs from these companies may think they are saving money, but in reality they may be short-changing their pet's health and putting its life at risk.”After publication of the cautionary article, the FDA issued a press release with the following information and advice:“The problem arises when unsuspecting consumers purchase these drug products online from enterprises that are fronts for unscrupulous businesses. In these cases, the consumer can end up with products not approved by FDA. While many of the unapproved products are considerably cheaper, they may also pose a health threat to pets and put their lives in danger.Two of the most commonly used animal prescription drugs that pet owners buy over the Internet are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and heartworm prevention products. The use of both of these products should be preceded by a blood test and thorough examination of the animal, which cannot be done online. NSAIDs are prescribed for pain relief in dogs with osteoarthritis or for pain following surgery. NSAID therapy needs to be monitored by the treating veterinarian. Manufacturers of heartworm medications do not sell to Internet pharmacies unless the pharmacies are licensed and are owned by a veterinarian. Nevertheless, a pet owner’s own veterinarian is really the best source for obtaining heartworm medication. This way, should a cat or dog that is on heartworm medication contract the disease, the manufacturer will work with the veterinarian directly. At the end of the day, there is no better assurance for your pet’s health than a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship.”In my practice, I have diagnosed two dogs with heartworm disease who were being administered preventive medications purchased through a very well known internet and 1-800 pet medication supplier. Both dogs had tested negative a year prior to the diagnosis. The owners of each dog attested to administering the preventive medication monthly for twelve months of the year. Despite claims by the web site that their medications were “guaranteed,” the supplier did not pay any of the treatment expenses for these heartworm positive pets.In contrast, earlier this year I diagnosed a heartworm positive dog that had been on prevention purchased through veterinarians. The manufacturer of the medication promptly agreed to pay for treatment of the dog. I also occasionally see pets pick up intestinal parasites that were supposed to be prevented by the heartworm medications. In these cases, the manufacturers always quickly pay all expenses incurred to treat the pets. As I have seen first hand, manufacturers are not willing to do the same when medications are purchased through catalogs, the internet, or 1-800 numbers.

Many veterinarians hesitate to educate pet owners on this issue for fear of being accused of being motivated by profit. In reality, it is the veterinarian who dedicates his life to the well-being of his patients, while the internet corporation exists solely for the profit of its shareholders.

I advise pet owners to thoroughly investigate any source of medication that does not have a local front door and smiling face behind the counter. Some reputable pharmacies have on-line or 1-800 outlets with completely legitimate drugs. The National Association of State Boards of Pharmacy keeps a website of such pharmacies at www.nabp.net through a program they call VIPPS. Regarding this program, the Food and Drug Administration has said, “consumers should look for participation in this type of certification program as one method to help minimize the risks of getting bad quality drugs from disreputable sources.”

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