The cost of pet medicine shouldn’t be a reason a pet doesn’t receive the care it needs. Unfortunately, high prices can make treatments inaccessible to some. Pet owners are turning to more economical ways of obtaining what their pets need by getting their pet medications online.
Online pharmacies hold the advantage in cost and convince, however, not all online pharmacies are equal. Before deciding to buy your pet medications online take a look at these tips to help you buy authentic and cheap medicines worry free:
1. Look for the Vet-VIPPS seal
In order to be verified as a Veterinary-Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites Seal (or Vet-VIPPS) member, a pharmacy has to abide by the inspection and license requirements of their state and every state they ship medicine to. Sites with Vet-VIPPS certification will display a hyperlink seal at the bottom of the page that will link you to their verified information maintained by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. With this seal, you can ensure that your pet is getting the highest standard of quality medications.
2. Use sites that require prescriptions
It’s against federal U.S. law to buy a controlled substance without a prescription. You’ll want to protect yourself as well as your pet when you peruse the online pet pharmacy community. Pharmacies that are willing to sell you medications that require a prescription without you needing to show one shouldn’t be your top choices. This rule should not only apply to medications that need a prescription. You may not need a prescription for a product like K9 Advantix II, but you’ll still want to make your purchase from a reputable pharmacy.
3. Buy American
Many of the pharmacies that don’t require a prescription are located overseas and don’t adhere to the standards of quality control regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration. You’re taking a gamble for savings that are only marginally lower than U.S.-based legitimate online pharmacies. When ordering medication online from overseas you’re risking receiving medication that has been repackaged with English language packing but has metric dosing. It’s better to be safe than sorry by sticking with U.S.-based pharmacies.
4. Ask a veterinarian
Having your veterinarian diagnose your pet and prescribe recommended medications should always be the course you take. Don’t rely on an online diagnose from a non-certified veterinarian. Often simply asking your veterinarian for the cheapest places you can get your prescription filled will yield better results than hunting on the internet for reputable pharmacies.
Your veterinarian will know online sources you can trust and should be happy to write you a prescription to take elsewhere. If your veterinarian isn’t willing to help you out then consider switching veterinarians.
5. Always research reputation
Whether you’re buying an over the counter treatment like K9 Advantix II or attempting to fill a prescription for your pets heart medication, online pharmacies can be a convenient and cheap way to get your pet the help they need. Remember these tips as you shop for the right medications for your pet and give your pet the advantage of a reputable source for their medications.
