Are pet medicines sold online safe?

By Dr. John Koch

Question: I have been hearing on television an advertisement for heartworm medication that is cheaper than I can get from my veterinarian and is sent right to my doorstep. Since I live on a budget, I thought I might be interested. However, my daughter who once worked for a veterinarian said she understood that several of these companies had been in trouble for selling bogus medications. Is this true?

Answer: There are some legitimate concerns with several of these so-called Internet companies. Heartworm medication, if used improperly, can cause serious injury or even death to your pet. Because of this concern, heartworm preventive is a prescription medication. Federal law restricts this drug to use given on the order of a licensed veterinarian. Due to the legal implications, manufacturers will not sell these products to Internet companies. Likewise veterinarians are subject to the same legal restraints of the drug manufacturers and could lose their licenses if proper protocol is not followed.

Where then are these companies obtaining heartworm medication? Several of the Internet companies have been caught smuggling their drugs into this country from abroad. The effectiveness and safety of these products cannot be guaranteed because of a lack of production standards in foreign countries.

If you wish to get medication from someone other than your veterinarian, you have a right to do so. Simply ask your veterinarian for a prescription. You may take the prescription wherever you choose. However, if you use an unapproved source and have problems, you are on your own.

Most of the manufacturers of heartworm preventives guarantee their products effectiveness if given faithfully and if the medication is purchased for a reputable source. If your pet develops heartworms while on their medication, they will pay for treatment. Since heartworm treatment now costs between $250 and $300 at most clinics, their guarantee is an important consideration. The pet must also have had a negative heartworm test within the last year to be eligible for the guarantee.

Dr. Koch is a Cape Girardeau veterinarian.