3rd Party Pharmacy

You may not know this already, but here at Beach Pet Hospital we have an online platform ran by a licensed pharmacy, Vetsource, where you can get your pets prescriptions filled and be certain that they’re coming from a reputable source. While there are cheaper pharmacies to get your pet’s meds online, we caution you that we may never know where they’re being sourced from or if the manufacturer guarantees still count medications purchased through outside pharmacies.

What is a 3rd Party Pharmacy?
Independent business that dispenses medication outside of the clinic where the prescription was provided. These can include 1-800-PETMEDS, Amazon, Allivet, and even Chewy.

What are some of the concerns about using 3rd party pharmacies?
There are some 3rd-party vet pharmacies that acquire these medications from places that are not FDA approved. This means that the med could’ve been tampered with, lacking active ingredients, or is all around not the right medication that your pet needs.

Oftentimes medical guarantees for coverage of medical expenses accrued for treating any adverse side effects are voided if the medication did not come from a vet office or approved outside pharmacy. Double check the Satisfaction Guarantee of pharmaceutical companies for specific details on coverage for outside pharmacies.

There’s usually no physical number we are able to call for most 3rd party pharmacies because they are online only platforms so we are able to confirm prescriptions with a human.

Why do we recommend our online store?
Our online pharmacy, Beachpetstore.com is operated through Vetsource which is a licensed and accredited pharmacy. They purchase medications directly from the manufacturer so those medications carry the manufacturer guarantee to the consumer. We have an online portal that connects to our in office system to make prescription approvals easier for the staff and gets your prescriptions to your pet sooner.

What about Chewy?
Chewy is considered a 3rd party pharmacy requiring outside prescription approval from our office to receive medications. However, unlike other outside pharmacies, Chewy allows us to approve prescription requests through an online portal we’ve set up. This allows our technicians to accurately track and manage each pet’s prescription and ensure the prescription makes it to the pharmacy.

How do I know if I bought counterfeit meds and what can I do?

• The packaging has less information on it or has stickers covering labels in different languages.

• The medication itself may be a different color or weight than an approved version.

• Missing or lack of directions in English.

• If the "pharmacy" did not ask for a prescription or verification from the doctor, or if they don't have a pharmacist on site to answer questions.

• They may not even have an address or phone number when you search them online.

If you suspect your pet may have taken counterfeit medication you can call the Pet Poison Helpline at 1-800-213-6680. If you suspect they received counterfeit parasite preventative products, please call the National Pesticide Information Center (N.P.I.C.) toll-free at 1-800-858-7378

If you want to report the retailer you got it from, you can call the EPA and file a report.

Only use pharmacies that are accredited by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy or Veterinary-Vetified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites. At Beach Pet Hospital, we highly recommend filling medications in house with us by calling-in or emailing your requests, using Beachpetstore.com (we have promo codes that change monthly!) or Chewy, or using a local pharmacy that we can speak directly to. We have a difficult time being able to consistently communicate with those online pharmacies to make sure prescriptions are accurately sent in and filled correctly. If you do want to use an online pharmacy, we can provide you with a written prescription that can be picked up in the office and you can send that directly to the pharmacy.

As a pet owner, stay informed and vigilant. We want to do everything in our power as a clinic to keep your babies safe but, we also need you as pet parents to take that extra step and research where the medications are coming from if you don't get them from us. We’re always happy to answer any questions you may have around prescriptions, our online store process, or anything else you may need to keep your fur baby happy and healthy!