Life is tough. I do so much to keep the hospital in line and still I only get fed twice a day. Dogs shove their snouts in my face. I can count how many days I haven’t been kicked out of my chair on one paw. Some people just don’t realize what I go through!
But I know you all understand. You try to give the best care to your furry friends but sometimes it’s hard between bills adding up and the time constraints of daily life. As such, more and more people have been turning to online pet pharmacies for their pets’ needs. However, many of these businesses don’t make visitors aware of the risks of using their products.
The most frequent requests we get from online pharmacies are for monthly heartworm and flea & tick preventatives. The prescription-strength products we most highly recommend for prevention are Heartgard Plus and Frontline Plus. These are generally only available through a veterinary office, as your veterinarian wants to ensure your pet does not have allergies, health conditions, or breed-specific sensitivities to these medications. The manufacturer of these products, Merial, has vowed never to distribute them outside of proper veterinary clinics and hospitals. How then do online pharmacies get a hold of them?
One method is that they could be acquired through other countries where veterinary medications are not regulated like they are here. This means the methods of storage cannot be verified; the preventatives could be stored in extreme temperatures or for unverified periods of time that hinder their effectiveness. Merial normally guarantees their products. For instance, on the off chance that a pet using Heartgard actually contracts heartworm, they will pay for the treatment. However, since they cannot confirm that online pharmacies are following proper safety protocol, they will not guarantee products sold by online pharmacies. Our Dr. Rovner has unfortunately had a case where a dog contracted heartworm while taking preventatives from an online pharmacy.
Many online pharmacies acquire other pet medications in the same way. Since the medications are diverted, their effectiveness cannot be guaranteed. We at Roscoe Village Animal Hospital find this too big of a risk and do not recommend using online pet pharmacies.
We keep an extensive pharmacy at our hospital and are able to order most any medication for your furry friend. Currently we are offering some promotions on your monthly preventatives. For Heartgard Plus, there is a $6.00 rebate on 6 doses or $12 rebate on 12 doses. For Frontline Plus, we are offering 1 free dose with a purchase of three doses or 2 free doses with a purchase of six. We are also willing to ship to your home free of charge! Our staff just wants to ensure that the medications you give your pet are safe and of the highest quality. Be sure you are making the best decision for your pet. And don’t forget to give your hard-working quadruped an extra treat or two!
