Online Pharmacies: What You Need To Know

Online Pharmacies:  What You Need To Know

Their ads promise to save you lots of money and even “a stressful trip to the veterinarian”.  You are encouraged by slick video and professional announcers to purchase flea medications, pain relief drugs and even heartworm prevention all from the comfort of your living room and laptop computer.  But, are online pet pharmacies really the best option for you or are there hidden dangers?  Drs. Beauchamp, Brazik, and Claypool at Leland Veterinary Hospital want you to know the facts.

By:  David G. Beauchamp, DVM

With record numbers of families enjoying the benefits of pet ownership and online shopping, it should come as no surprise that the amount of money spent on our pets is huge.  Experts are forecasting that pet owners will spend more than $50 billion dollars annually.  A significant percentage of those expenses include veterinary care and prescription medications.  So, is it any wonder that buying your prescription medications online may also look like a good deal?

At first glance, online pet pharmacies would seem to be a great option.  The promise of lower prices and having the medication shipped to your door is a big selling point for busy, budget conscious people.  These online stores also promise a guarantee.  But, there are some pitfalls when relying on Internet based sources for your pet’s medication needs.

First, they all say you can “save a trip to the vet”.  Unfortunately, this is only partially true.  In order to prescribe and dispense medication to your pet, North Carolina law requires that there is a valid veterinarian-client-pet relationship or VCPR.  This is usually defined as a veterinarian having examined your pet within the last 12 months.  If the VCPR does not exist, medication cannot be dispensed.  Nevertheless, we do provide a written prescription to you if you request one as long as the VCPR is current.

Some websites will offer to sell the drugs without a prescription. This is not only illegal but not in the best interest of your pet!  Websites that sell without needing prescriptions are most often based outside of North America, where pharmacy and drug laws may not be as strict.  Some of the medications may be counterfeit and some may have risky concentrations of the active ingredient.

The requirement for the professional veterinary-client-patient relationship insures that you and your veterinarian have good, up to date facts about your pet’s health. Plus the medical records and history for your pet are all in one place.  The veterinary staff also knows your whole pet family and can help prevent problems when there are multiple species present in the household.  Only your personal veterinarian can answer your questions and tell you how to properly use, store, dose, and dispose of these drugs.


Since pets are unique individuals, some may have unexpected reactions to certain drugs and some medications can even be deadly if given incorrectly.  Others may need a special formulation for ease of administration.  The online pharmacies will not know this information and this could be a problem if your pet is on several medications or has secondary conditions.


When an online pharmacy says they have a product guarantee, they mean if your pet has an undesirable side effect from the medication, they will refund only the price of the medication.  Heartworm medication manufacturers require that their medication be dispensed on the order of a licensed veterinarian.  They guarantee through your veterinarian that if your pet gets heartworms when dosed regularly then the manufacturer will pay for the entire heartworm treatment.  This does not apply when you purchase from an online pharmacy.

If a life-threatening emergency happens with a medication, your veterinarian is only a phone call away.  Some online pharmacies only allow contact through email and this will not help you if your pet needs assistance immediately!

Finally, despite many good businesses online, there will always be a few who are looking for a quick buck at your expense.  Avoid sites that offer dramatically lower prices than competing sites or your veterinarian.  There are some companies who receive their prescription medication by having licensed veterinarians divert their products to an online source.  This practice is unethical and is likely to become illegal.  Likewise, if you have ordered medication online, check the drug to make sure it looks identical to what you have given before.  If it looks different in any way, do not give it to your pet.

The FDA is so concerned about this, it is now warning pet owners to be aware of shady online companies.  And, the National Board of Pharmacies has instituted the Veterinary Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites program (Vet-VIPPS) to help you find properly licensed and compliant online pet pharmacies.  Only twelve companies so far have earned the right to display the Vet-VIPPS seal of approval.  A recent press release in July, 2012 states that the FDA will be investigating the source of online stores medications.  If they find that online stores are receiving medications through diversion, then the stores may lose their licenses.

Check with your veterinarian about online pharmacies.  Leland Veterinary Hospital now offers our own online store through our pet portal system, Vetstreet.  You can get a pet portal online by clicking the Pet Portal icon on our website:  www.myvetonline.com/lelandvh.  Once registered, you can order your pet’s medications conveniently from home, and get home delivery and you know that the source is reputable.  In addition, you will know who you are talking to in case of any problems or concerns.  Honest and open communication with Drs. Brazik, Beauchamp, and Claypool about cost concerns will prevent misunderstandings about money and help you do what’s best for your pet.  Our online store is priced competitively with other online sources and the manufacturers guarantee their medications.