There’s a resource from the Food and Drug Administration that you should make your veterinarians aware of. It’s a brochure for pet owners called “Protect Yourself and Your Pet: Be Online Pet Pharmacy A.W.A.R.E.,” and it is designed to alert owners to the potential pitfalls of buying pharmaceuticals online.
“If you’ve ever searched online for prescription pet medicines, you’ve no doubt seen eye-catching, attention-grabbing claims,” reads the brochure copy. “They sound convincing in their promises of convenience and lower prices. But are these claims really true?
“Internet sites that sell pet drugs can be reputable pharmacies. However, others are fronts for businesses breaking federal, state, and sometimes, international laws. Illegal online pharmacies may sell medicines that are counterfeit, outdated, mislabeled, incorrectly formulated, or improperly made or stored. These medicines may not contain the actual drug, or the correct amount of drug, may contain contaminants, may not work as well due to age or being stored in conditions that were too hot, cold, or humid, and may not have the proper directions for use. If you are unhappy with ordered products, illegal online pharmacies may fraudulently leave you with no way to get your money back. In the end, you may find buying prescription pet medicines online costly to your pet’s health and your wallet.”

The brochure tells pet owners that there’s no fool-proof way to tell if an online pharmacy is on the level. However, says the agency, pet owners can do their homework by being “online pharmacy A.W.A.R.E.” The acronym stands for:
• A: Ask your veterinarian. Before you purchase online, ask your veterinarian if he or she has had any experience with the website, advises the FDA.
• W: Watch for red flags. Pet owners should be careful if the site does not require prescriptions for prescription drug orders; has no licensed pharmacist available to answer questions; does not list a physical business address, phone number or other contact information; is not based in the United States; is not licensed by the State Board of Pharmacy where the business is based; does not protect your personal information; has prices that are dramatically lower than those of your veterinarian or other websites; or ships you medicine that you didn’t order or that looks different from what your pet normally takes.
• A: Always check for site accreditation.
In addition to following federal and state licensing and inspection requirements, pharmacies have the option of participating in the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) voluntary accreditation program called Vet-VIPPS (Veterinary-Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites). Vet-VIPPS-accredited online pharmacies are appropriately licensed in each state where they ship drugs, have successfully completed a 19-point review and online survey, undergo yearly VIPPS review and re-accreditation, and undergo NABP on-site surveys every three years.
• R: Report problems and suspicious online pharmacies. Pet owners are advised to report any problems (e.g., a reaction to medicine or failure of medicine to work) to the manufacturer. Adverse drug events should be reported directly to the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine at 1-800-FDA-VETS.
• E: Educate yourself about online pharmacies. The best defense pet owners have against illegal online pharmacies is education, according to the FDA.

Your veterinarian, says the brochure, is the pet owner’s best resource because he or she:
• Physically examined the pet and knows his or her medical and treatment history.
• Knows which medicines are safest for the pet.
• Educates owners about potential side effects associated with their pet’s medicines.

The FDA has it right. Make sure your veterinarians do – and that they get that message out to their clients.
To download a PDF of the FDA brochure, go to http://www.fda.gov/downloads/AnimalVeterinary/ResourcesforYou/AnimalHealthLiteracy/UCM203063.pdf.