Written Prescriptions, Internet & Catalogue Ordering
Written Prescriptions Are Provided at Your Request.At Animal Health Services, we take pride in being your furry family member’s doctor and see our role as an integral part in providing healthcare to your pet. The primary focus of our practice is centered on offering a professional level of high quality Medical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Dental care. In addition to these professional services, we do stock numerous forms of pharmaceuticals, vaccines and products for your pets.
For Your Convenience We Carry Many Pet Products & Prescription Medications.
We carry these items in our practice primarily for two reasons; 1) Many items are animal specific formulations or for animal only usage – often these products aren’t carried locally by traditional brick and mortar pharmacies and 2) there is a convenience in having items readily available onsite rather than sending our clients to another location just to sit and wait for prescriptions to be filled elsewhere. Animal Health Services takes measures to ensure the vaccines, medications and products we provide to our patients are properly handled and stored from the initial manufacturer until they reach our facility. The items we offer from our hospital supply are obtained either directly from their manufacturing source or via our relationships with selected major distributors which track these items to verify their integrity.
Internet Sites and Catalog Medication Ordering.
We’re fully aware there are many internet sites and catalogue houses which sell pharmaceutical products directly to consumers. Contrary to slick print and television advertising marketing touting pet medications available at less than half the price from the veterinarian, this veterinary office generally offers full-sized packaged medications (Heartgard® Frontline® Revolution® & Rimadyl®) for similar prices – in fact, we might be even lower when company “bonus doses” or manufacturer rebates are taken into account.
The Dangers of Internet Medication Purchasing.
With the recent concerns from the FDA and the drug manufacturers regarding online pharmacies, we are encouraging our clients to order through VetSource Home Delivery.
(www.animalhealthservices.vmgvetsource.com). VetSource is the same company we use to purchase the drugs we sell in the hospital. In doing this, you can be assured the medications are purchased directly from the manufacturer with proper handling methods that do not compromise the integrity of the drug, nor are substituted with an ineffective generic. This means a safer, more effective medication for your pet. Our home delivery program offers: 1) Convenient home delivery of medications, prescriptions and Hill’s® Pet Nutrition products. 2) Automatic refills and reminders. 3) Clinic and veterinarian approved. If you still prefer to go through an outside pharmacy, we can provide you with a written prescription that may be picked up or mailed to you.
Our Practice Policy.
It is our practice policy to provide written prescriptions to our clients at their request. We do not charge a fee for writing prescriptions for our patients. We do however wish for your decision on where to have your pet’s prescription filled to be an informed one, and feel it is part of our responsibility as your pet’s doctor to advise you consider the following:
1. We Will Provide A Written Prescription.
We will provide a written prescription on request provided we have recently examined your pet and the particular medication or product is appropriate. The time frame of ‘recent’ examination is at the doctor’s discretion but will never exceed a maximum of one year from your pet’s last annual examination. The written prescription will be provided directly to you. You may request to pick it up or have it mailed to your home.
2. We Do Not Respond To Fax Requests or Telephone Calls from Internet or
Catalog Companies.
If you choose internet or catalogue sources, we advise you to copy your prescription and mail them the original. We recommend this process for the same reason we will only provide written prescriptions to you from our database and why we do not respond to fax requests or telephone calls from internet or catalogue companies—We require our physical prescription form be used so it can be traced back and authenticated in the event medication error, failure or reaction occurs.
3. Carefully Select Your Pharmacy.
Please double check to ensure your prescription is sent, filled, labeled, shipped and used correctly. Carefully select your choice of pharmacy including thorough research for Board of Pharmacy disciplinary actions.
4. Your Guarantee May Be Null.
Some guarantees made by manufacturers regarding their products are purchased through non-approved channels. This includes the guarantee reimbursement for heartworm / intestinal parasite claims if your pet contracts heartworms or specific parasites while on prevention.
5. Some Internet & Catalog Companies Cited & Fined.
Some internet based pharmacies and catalog companies have been repeatedly reprimanded by the FDA and State Board of Pharmacy for violating prescribing procedure. Several well known companies have been cited and fined repeatedly for the same violations in the same states or several states.
6. Counterfeit Medications.
Pharmaceuticals manufactured and labeled for use in countries (Australia, New Zealand) have been illegally diverted and sold through some internet sources and catalogues in the United States. In addition, counterfeit medications, preventatives and products have been produced and sold to unsuspecting consumers. The FDA-CVM has documented these problems with the use of some internet sources on their website, FDA
As with any treatment, medication or pet product, we at Animal Health Services want what is safest and most effective for your pet. Feel free to contact us if you have questions or concerns about purchasing pharmaceuticals for your family members.
