I read an interesting article weighing in on the possible issues with buying your dog’s medication online rather than through your vet. It is certainly cheaper online, but it seems there are a whole slew of potential issues you could be exposing your pet to if you do purchase medications online. I certainly wasn’t aware of all of the issues. I haven’t purchased pet medicine online but I have considered it. Money is tight for many of us so it’s tempting to save where we can.
But it’s possible some online pharmacies repackage expired medicine with new expiry dates, and some prescriptions could be outright counterfeits. At the worst, it could put your dog at serious risk, and at a minimum the medication could simply be ineffective. You don’t know that the medication was stored properly, and it’s difficult to be certain that what you receive is the correct dose for your dog’s weight.
It seems like the risks outweigh any cost savings. Have you ever purchased any prescriptions for your dog online? Would you consider it? If you have, what was your experience like? Are some online sources of pet prescriptions more reliable than others?
Frank, that is a good point I never thought of. It is certainly something to keep in mind.
Patricia, I’m glad you’ve found a reputable supplier. I think the way you discussed the medication you got elsewhere with your vet is a great idea! It reduces potential risks of dodgy drug suppliers and you get the medication your dogs need at a better price.
I have 3 dogs that can not take shots at all. They are allergic to something in the mixtures. I asked my vet about the nose stuff, bought some 7 way medication, brought it in to the vet. She approved it, and my dogs get it every 6 months. The only thing they can’t get is the rabies vaccine and they are excempt from that because of their allergies. I buy from Drs. Foster and Smith catalogue.
Another factor to think about. Most of us don’t buy drugs for ourselves from our doctors… we go to the local pharmacist in most cases. But there’s no such thing as a local pet pharmacist. All we have is the vet. And it isn’t certain that they all deal appropriately with that built-in conflict of interest.