Internet Pet Pharmacy Laws

If your veterinarian prescribes medicine for your pet, you have several options for filling the prescription. You can purchase the item through your vet, if available; your vet can contact a local pharmacy to fill it, or you can send the prescription to an online pharmacy. If you choose the latter option, make sure you're dealing with a legitimate online pharmacy. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulates human and veterinary medications.

  1. Vet-VIPPS Accreditation

    • The FDA recommends purchasing online veterinary medications from a pharmacy accredited through the Veterinary-Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites program. In order to receive accreditation, the online pharmacy submits documentation to the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. Licenses for the company and pharmacists are verified by the NABP, along with the pharmacy's policies and procedures. Upon receiving accreditation, the online pharmacy can display the Vet-VIPPS seal of approval on its website. Buying through an approved site gives you confidence that the medication is not outdated, has been properly stored and isn't counterfeit.

    Regulation

    • State boards of pharmacy regulate online pharmacies physically based in a particular state. Most states require that online pharmacies have an out-of-state pharmacy license to ship medications to other states, according to the NABP. If you believe an online pharmacy operates suspiciously, you can report it to the NABP.

    Foreign Pharmacies

    • Though it might be tempting to order prescriptions through a Canadian pharmacy because of lower pricing, don't do it. It's not legal to order medications from Canada or any other foreign country for your pet or for yourself. That's because the FDA doesn't regulate or guarantee the efficacy or safety of medication sold through foreign pharmacies. Because of its proximity to the U.S., relatively low shipping fees and English as a primary language, it's more common for U.S. residents to attempt to order medications through Canadian pharmacies than other foreign countries.

    Red Flags

    • If a pharmacy doesn't require a prescription for you to purchase a veterinary medication, that's a red flag that something isn't legit. Pharmacies generally accept faxed prescriptions only from the physician or provider, not the patient. That's because it's easy for someone to alter a prescription before faxing it. If a pharmacy claims that an on-staff veterinarian "examines" your pet via information you provide, that red flag is really waving. Veterinarians must physically diagnose animals for diagnosis and treatment purposes. Most often, unscrupulous online pharmacies offer medications such as heartworm preventatives or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs without a prescription. For both of these types of medication, blood tests and veterinary consultation is necessary to ensure your pet can take these drugs.