Purchasing pet drugs online: buyer beware.

1 / FDA Consume r Hea l t h In fo r ma t ion / U . S . F ood and D r ug Admin i s t r a t ion DECEMBER 14 , 2007 Some of the Internet sites that sell pet drugs represent legitimate, reputable pharmacies, says Martine Hartogensis, D.V.M., Promotion and Advertising Liaison for FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM). But others are fronts for unscrupulous businesses operating against the law. FDA has found companies that sell unapproved pet drugs and counterfeit pet products, make fraudulent claims, dispense prescription drugs without requiring a prescription, and sell expired drugs. Pet owners who purchase drugs from these companies may think they are saving money, says Hartogensis, but in reality, they may be short-changing their pet’s health and putting its life at risk. CVM regulates the manufacture and distribution of animal drugs, while individual state pharmacy boards regulate the dispensing of prescription veterinary products.