As regular readers know, I strongly believe that purchasing medication directly from your veterinarian is the best way to ensure your pet receives the ideal product at the optimum dose.  At each refill, your veterinarian or his staff reviews your pet’s medical record to monitor for any changes in your pet’s needs.   In addition, any medications sold by veterinarians maintain manufacturer guarantees of quality and effectiveness.  Finally, proceeds from medication sales go to enhancing staff and equipment for your pet’s future veterinary needs.

However, some pet owners still choose to order pet medications through the Internet.  Most veterinarians will tell you horror stories about dosing errors, incorrect drugs, and voided manufacturer warranties from even some of the more prominent web pages.  Until now, consumers have had few resources to research the ethics of specific pet medication web sites. 

Veterinary product web sites accredited through VIPPS have demonstrated to the NABP that they meet certain criteria, “including patient rights to privacy, authentication and security of prescription orders, adherence to a recognized quality assurance policy, and provision of meaningful consultation between clients and pharmacists.”

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. 

The NABP website lists Vet-VIPPS accredited companies at www.nabp.net.  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.”