Is It Safe to Buy Discounted Pet Medications Online?

cat and dog Bulat Silvia

The use of pet meds and supplements continues to increase each year, according to the American Pet Products Association. The medications can be expensive: Heartworm medication alone costs dog owners $86 per year on average (cat owners, $45).

While buying medications directly through your vet may be the priciest option, some experts also think it’s the easiest way to be sure prescription medications are safe.

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The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy reviewed over 22,000 online pharmacies and found that almost 95 percent don’t meet NABP patient safety and pharmacy practice standards or applicable laws. “The scope of the problem is expansive,” the NABP says. The good news? You can rest assured that NABP-approved retailers are safe and reputable.

So it’s fine to buy pet medications online as long as you do your homework to make sure the retailer is approved first. Learn whether a website has been approved by theNABP by copying its URL into a search box at safe.pharmacy. (Approved websites include 1-800-PetMeds, Chewy, and PetCareRx.)


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