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By Rick, July 30, 2010 3:20 am

Pet health care has experienced tremendous growth in the past 5 years. New advancements in disease treatment and prevention have improved the quality of life for our pets, but the average cost of care per animal has risen substantially. This has lead to pet owners seeking any opportunity to save money on medical costs. One of the more popular ways to save is to buy discount pet meds online. But before you jump into the online marketplace, here are some important things to watch for.

Total Cost
Unlike books or computers that have a relatively straightforward pricing structure, pet meds are packaged in a number of different ways. Frontline Plus for example (a popular flea control product), is packaged according to dog size as well as the number of treatments. This is important to note since it is easy for advertisers to draw you in with an attractive price. However, this may not be the best value for your situation if you own a large dog, or perhaps even multiple dogs. The point is to compare prices across a consistent grade in order to find the best discounts.

Shipping
As with any online purchase, shipping can make or break the deal. Pet meds are no exception to this rule, and they can in fact be more susceptible to bait-and-switch techniques. For example, a number of pet medicines require refrigerated delivery which adds to the cost of delivery. Since the consumer typically absorbs this cost through additional fees, the listed price of refrigerated meds rarely represents the total cost to you. Thus, it is important to read the shipping terms and options between merchants before making a final decision.

Support
Customer service is an important part of any sales transaction, but it becomes invaluable when you buying something you cannot inspect until it arrives at your door. Some of the so-called discount pet med suppliers on the internet are merely third-party distributors or warehouses. They are not specialized in the pet care industry, and most of their customer service reps have very little exposure to the products they sell. This not only creates a gap in communication, but it can also lead to a higher percentage of wrong orders. Make sure your online pet med supplier deals solely with pet related products. Ideally they would also feature a staff of veterinarians available to answer any questions you have about their products.

Utilizing the online marketplace is a great way to find cheap pet meds, as long as you know exactly what you are looking for. Consumers can expect to save about 20 percent off of retail prices because the internet retailer has fewer costs than the average retail store. The key to being successful in this market is to do your research before buying. Compare prices of identical products, analyze shipping costs, and look for coupon codes sites like http://1800PetMedsCoupon.com Soon you will be an expert online shopper who enjoys the convenience and savings that can only be found online.

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By Rick, April 30, 2010 1:30 am

Pets are many things in many ways but they are not responsible.
Not outside of very limited doggy parameters. This means that
you are 100% responsible for your pet’s health. In this day of
seemingly limitless online medication options, the only way to
face this challenge is through education. Freedom of choice is
only a benefit when you are familiar with the choices.

The easy availability of medications online has placed extra
pressure on society to moderate its own behavior responsibly. It
has placed even more pressure on human beings using the Internet
to shop for pets that are entirely reliant on them for their
wellbeing.

Buying pet medicine online offers a level of consumer freedom
that is enough to make one dizzy. In the old days we would take
our pet to our local veterinarian who would counsel us on the
right way to deal with our pet’s health issues. This was a
relief in two obvious ways: we could be guided by an expert and
we could shift a little of the weight of responsibility. Today
it is possible to go online, diagnose and medicate our own pet.

This is a boon on the one hand, and a very serious danger on the
other. With the aid of the Internet we are empowered to act
somewhat independently of traditional channels. This is a
qualified bonus only if we are almost uncomfortably aware of the
fact that we do not have years of veterinary experience behind
us. This awareness should hopefully make us doubly cautious as
we navigate these unfamiliar waters with our newfound freedom.

The bonus is a qualified one because it should not take the
place of veterinary expertise when that is appropriate. The
question of how to discern when that is appropriate is the
million-dollar question. Websites play experts and they do so
with expertise but it is not necessarily the expertise we need.

A favorite tactic is to dot the website with white clad
‘experts’ who profess to a proficiency they don’t have. It is
important to note that the figures are often just models paid to
pose with an air of authority. We need something more than a
show of proficiency when it comes to the lives of our precious
pets.

The bottom line is this; nothing can take the place of a visit
to the veterinarian when your pet is sick. Attempting to
diagnose your pet’s ailment yourself can have devastating
consequences. When time is of the essence, wasting it waiting
for cost effective, online drugs to be shipped to your door is
not only unwise but inhumane.

Buying pet medicine online has a limited application. Within
these boundaries it can be both benign and cost effective. This
avenue works best with repeat medications like flea, tick,
worming and heart medications. If you are considering taking
advantage of the online option let your vet know. He or she will
have to write out a prescription for you to use when purchasing
online. Many services also offer to call the vet directly. Your
delivery date will be reliant on prompt communication between
the online company and the veterinarian’s office working
together to share information.

Purchasing non-prescription drugs for your pet online is also a
matter for caution and consideration. Because certain drugs do
not require a prescription does not mean that they are not
potentially dangerous if administered unwisely. Read
instructions carefully. Good websites take their role as
educator seriously. Most have extensive information online
regarding dosages and side effects.

Avoid or be cautious regarding prices that are way below market
on pet medications. Most legitimate companies hover in the same
discount region. Outrageous savings are normally only offered by
fly by night companies offering questionable product.

Comments (5)

By Rick, April 24, 2010 1:32 am

There are lots of websites selling these products as OTC in canada and promising delivery here in States with in 5-7 working days? Is it a good idea to buy from them? Is there any restriction or FDA issues ?