The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning to pet owners about buying drugs online on Dec. 14, 2007. It is safest, experts say, to work with veterinarians to obtain drugs for your pets. In Canada, the Veterinary Drugs Directorate monitors and regulates animal drugs. The FDA warning was prompted by increased concern about the quality of drugs that can be obtained online, especially from foreign companies that may sell products that are not regulated by the government.
Advertisements like: "Discount pet drugs — no prescription required" may appeal to pet owners surfing the Web, but FDA experts say it can be risky to buy drugs online from sites that tout this message and others like it.
   Because drugs influence a pet’s health, medical experts urge consumers to work closely with veterinarians to obtain prescriptions and purchase medicine.
   When drugs are purchased through veterinarians, doses are measured carefully for each pet, and pet owners can rest assured that the product has been stored properly to maintain purity. Government investigations have found that some companies advertising drugs online sell expired drugs.
   To keep pets safe and healthy, talk with your veterinary team about the drugs you buy.