There are some widely known online pet pharmacies that are selling flea, tick, and heartworm medications at "reduced" prices with a prescription from your veterinarian.  There are even listings for pet medications on popular internet auction sites.  While you are certainly free to make your own decisions regarding your pet's health, we strongly recommend against purchasing products from any online retailers.

Our STRONG word of caution? Remember that if you purchase your pet's medications from a third party retailer, the pharmaceutical company will not stand behind its guarantee should there be an issue.  The product is only guaranteed if purchased from a veterinarian.  The manufacturers of ethical veterinary products do not sell their products directly to online pharmacies.  These online companies get the majority of their products from other countries, where the manufacturing of the product is not policed as it is here and where either the packaging, the product, or both are counterfeit.  Other product comes from veterinarians who illegally sell it to third parties for profit. Most products purchased this way are are as genuine as a ten dollar diamond watch.

Were you planning on getting big savings by purchasing your pet's medication by ordering it online? If you thought that you were getting a cheaper product, please remember to check the total cost of your purchase,- including shipping, handling, packaging, and the expiration date of what you purchase.  At Knollwood, our prices are very comparable to what you find online, once you consider your total online costs.  We never sell out-dated or second-party products, or products that will expire before you have full use of them.  And, we always have educated staff members available to answer any questions you have about a purchase made from us, whether they are immediate concerns or months down the line.  You won't find that at your online pharmacy!

There are some especially shocking examples of questionable pet products currently being marketed on online sites such as (well, as Lizzie would have said, "that big one that rhymes with "knee-Way").  The worst example? Frontline sold in altered packaging, with the product in small bottles with a syringe provided for dosing.  Not accurate, not ever sold this way by the manufacturer, and especially since NO ONE knows if the product is even what it says it is or has been altered - not even remotely safe.

Technically, this is not illegal.  HOWEVER, there are currently active lawsuits against many online companies for selling expired products, for counterfeiting expiration dates on products, for improper storage and shipment of products, for forgery of a veterinarian's name and misuse of a veterinarian's signature, as well as several disciplinary actions taken against them for illegally sold prescription drugs in several states.

We at Knollwood Hospital for Pets have your pet's best interests at heart, and want nothing but health and happiness for our patients.  Please think twice before ordering your pet's medication online.