PetMed Express disciplined by Ohio State Board of Pharmacy

In a move echoing the Florida Board of Pharmacy's action this past spring, the Ohio State Board of Pharmacy reached a settlement agreement with PetMed Express Inc. on June 12.

The Ohio State Board of Pharmacy took issue with the company's "alternate veterinarian program" that contracted with veterinarians to write prescriptions for animals they had never examined. This program violates Ohio law because the authorizing veterinarian is not deemed to have a valid doctor-patient relationship.

The company accepted penalties but did not admit guilt. Under the agreement, PetMed Express agreed to abide by the law, pay a $35,000 fine to the Ohio State Treasury, and reimburse the Ohio Board of Pharmacy $9,000 for investigative costs. The company will be on probation for five years but can qualify for early termination of probation after three years.