The following recommendations are offered as a guide to prescribing and client purchases:

1. Drug therapy, when medically indicated, should be initiated by the attending veterinarian in the context of a veterinarian-client-patient relationship. Clients that wish to purchase their prescription drugs from a pharmacy rather than the veterinarian, should be advised to first obtain a prescription from their veterinarian before contacting a pharmacy.The veterinarian may choose to either issue the prescription in writing for the client, or contact the pharmacy electronically or by phone.
2. Drugs may be dispensed or prescribed. Veterinarians should honor client requests to prescribe rather than dispense a drug (AVMA Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics). The client has the option of filling a prescription at any pharmacy.
3. Clients might be advised to select an Internet pharmacy certified by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (www.nabp.net) whose VIPPS™ program and its accompanying seal of approval identify to the public those online pharmacies that are appropriately licensed and prepared to practice pharmacy via the Internet.
4. Veterinarians asked by pharmacies to approve prescriptions they have not initiated should do so only if the prescription is appropriate and a veterinarian-client-patient relationship exists.
5. It is within the veterinarian's (not the pharmacy's) purview to determine the medical criteria whereby a drug is indicated.
6. As with any prescription, a written record should be maintained.
7. Prescribing veterinarians should assure that information regarding the proper use of the prescribed drug and the risks associated with its use are communicated to the client, regardless of the drug source.
8. Use of drugs of foreign origin that lack FDA approval generally is not permitted.

For further information, please contact: Scientific Activities Division, Council on Biologic & Therapeutic Agents.