You’ve seen the TV commercials for Internet pet pharmacies – they tout the convenience of home shopping with the added benefit of large discounts, but are they a good choice for you and your pet?
While some online pharmacies are reliable, most have questionable business ethics and methods. Some major online pharmacies have even been punished for unethical or illegal business activities in other countries.
The Policy on Online Pharmacy
The law demands that we examine your pet for a complete physical exam within a year of the requested prescription date for a veterinarian to approve a prescription. We cannot authorize your request for an online prescription if your pet has not been seen in the last year. An online prescription does not work on the actual veterinarian pharmacy.
Why is a veterinary pharmacy the best option for you?
Below are some of the reasons why purchasing your pet’s medical needs from a veterinarian or a pet hospital is always the best way to go. Read through this website to learn more.
Online pharmacies affect small practices.
The pharmacy at an animal hospital Berkeley CA is a very important component of any veterinary practice. Revenue from pharmacies enables practices to keep professional fees fair and cheap, purchase medical equipment, and hire well-trained and competent staff. When pharmacy revenue falls, small practices have little choice but to raise professional fees to afford the expense of doing business.
Education
Representatives from pharmaceutical firms like Zoetis (formerly Pfizer), Merial, and Novartis visit the pet hospital regularly to share the most recent statistics and research on their products with everyone. Furthermore, the crew periodically attends veterinary conferences and seminars and studies the most recent veterinary medical publications and research articles.
Hospitals and veterinary internal medicine in Berkeley, CA stay updated on the region’s latest disease patterns, products, and treatment regimens. Most importantly, we have fast and direct contact with the pharmaceutical firm through the reps and have up-to-date information about the prescriptions you are acquiring.
Price
The crew works hard with many manufacturers to discover the most affordable, high-quality items and drugs. A veterinarian can help you understand your pet’s needs and answer questions about medications specific to your pet.
Medication administration without a prescription may hide more significant disorders or result in inadvertent adverse consequences. As a result, you may trigger further health issues for your pet, resulting in pricey procedures.
Safety
The FDA has evaluated and authorized all prescription medications obtained from this hospital; they are correctly dosed, made, and packaged following federal rules. Regrettably, the same may not be true for internet pharmacies. When you buy from an internet pharmacy, you have no idea where the pills came from.
Guarantee
Pharmaceutical manufacturers will only respect product guarantees when drugs are prescribed by a veterinarian and purchased from them. These assurances do not apply to Internet or mail-order catalog purchases.
Conclusion
Understandably, everyone wants to save money. It’s easy to be duped by claims of significantly cheaper drugs that don’t require a vet visit or prescription. Bottom line: Taking your pet to the doctor for medication may save you money in the long term.
Furthermore, many medications include a rebate or discount program that can significantly reduce the cost of dependable, veterinarian-stocked medications. Medication from your veterinarian can sometimes cost the same as what you pay online.