Recent news reports have highlighted the dangers of buying medicines from non regulated online suppliers. Whilst online products may seem like a good deal the reality is you cannot be sure the product you is buying is genuine. A fake product at best will just not work, however more concerning are the products with toxic contents that could make your pet extremely ill or potentially result in their death. Whilst there may be some tell tale signs a product is fake such as poor packaging, lack of an English datasheet, misspellings or a product that appears poorly made with an unusual colour or odour, some counterfeit products are not so easy to distinguish. We therefore advise that all products you plan to use on your pet are purchased either from your vets, from a pet shop or pharmacy (NB. you will need a written prescription from your vet to acquire any POM products from a pharmacy). We would also advise that off the shelf flea and worm products often have limited efficacy so we do not recommend that you purchase these. We also advise that products purchased somewhere other than your vets are brought from 'behind the counter' at a pet shop or pharmacy. If buying from an online pharmacy check that they are registered with the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD).

If you are concerned that you may have purchased a fake product do not use it on your pet. If you call the brand manufactures they may be able to confirm if the product is genuine. You should report any concerns you have regarding fake medicine to trading standards.

If your pet is unwell after the administration of any medicine please seek veterinary advice.