What is an online pharmacy?
The word “pharmacy” is a protected term. It can only be used to describe a registered pharmacy, a hospital pharmacy, or one within a health centre. This means that some of our partners are pharmacies, where veterinary medicines are supplied under the guidance of a pharmacist in a registered pharmacy setting.
What is an online retailer?
An online retailer supplies veterinary medicines under the guidance of a qualified person (either a vet, a pharmacist, or a suitably qualified person (SQP)). You might also hear it called a veterinary dispensary, pet medicine outlet, or pet health store.
An online pharmacy must be registered with the GPhC. A veterinary equivalent does not have to be, but should be accredited by the VMD. This means that many of our partners are VMD accredited online retailers, but not technically a pharmacy.
How do I know the medications I buy online are safe?
We recommend buying only from government-accredited retailers. These have undergone thorough checks by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) or General Pharmacy Council (GPhC), ensuring the medication you purchase is safe and authentic, just like the medication you would receive from your vet.
You may find medications on other websites, but as qualified vets, we do not recommend purchasing from unaccredited retailers, online marketplaces, or auction platforms.
Sadly, 1 in 10 owners have purchased counterfeit medication online, and this is a risk we want to help you avoid.
What is the VMD?
The VMD (Veterinary Medicines Directorate) is the government agency responsible for ensuring that pet medication is of high quality, safe, and authentic.
What does VMD registered mean?
Purchasing from an online retailer that is registered with the VMD ensures that the medication is safe and authentic. Accredited retailers must follow strict safety protocols so that you can trust your pet won't be put at risk. Look for the blue VMD badge to identify certified retailers. It looks like this:
What is the General Pharmaceutical Council?
The General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) is the independent regulator for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and registered pharmacies in the UK.
What is the General Pharmaceutical Council?
Purchasing from a pharmacy registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) ensures that the medication is safe and authentic. Pharmacies must follow strict safety protocols so that you can trust your pet won't be put at risk. Look for the GPhC badge to identify certified pharmacies. It looks like this:
What is an ‘independent’ online retailer?
Independent online retailers are small businesses, frequently owned by an independent veterinary practice or an individual vet, rather than being part of a larger chain.
They often provide a more personalised service, with greater flexibility and customer support. However, because they tend to be smaller operations, they might not appear as prominently in Google search results, so you may not know they exist.
Corporate-owned online retailers are part of larger groups, many of which also own veterinary practices. These online retailers can offer a broader range of stock and may have more streamlined operations.
Ultimately, it all comes down to personal choice.
If the online retailer is listed on Petscribers, you can rest assured that it is government-approved. So, either way, the medication you purchase will be safe and authentic.