The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cautions pet owners to be careful when buying drugs for their pets on-line. Although some Internet sites are legitimate, others are not, warns Martine Hartogensis, deputy director of the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine’s Office of Surveillance and Compliance.
When buying pet drugs on-line she warns consumers to:
• Order from a website that belongs to a Vet-VIPPS (Veterinary-Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Site) accredited pharmacy, or
• Order from an outsourced prescription management service their vet uses
Hartogensis is especially concerned that pet owners will buy nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and heartworm preventives on-line. These drugs can be dangerous. She said pet owners should consult their vet before buying them.
