Effective February 1, 2026, the doctors of Oak Creek Veterinary Care will no longer work directly with online pharmacies, including Chewy, Amazon, 1-800 Pet Meds, etc.

What this means for you:

As our client, you are always welcome to work directly with any pharmacy you choose to fill your pet’s prescription. Our doctors will happily provide you a written prescription during your appointment should you choose to get your medications from an outside pharmacy; however, we can no longer provide prescriptions by fax, email, or phone. When you need to pick up a written prescription for medication outside of a scheduled appointment time, please allow 48–72 hours for processing your request.

While we know many of our clients, like the convenience of online shopping for a variety of reasons, as a clinic with have concerns regarding this trend.

Please see articles we have linked as well as our concerns below.

https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/animal-health-literacy/need-pet-meds-protect-yourself-and-your-pet-be-website-aware

https://premiervetcare.co/storage/app/media/purchasing-pet-drugs-online-buyer-beware.pdf

Concerns Regarding Prescriptions Filled Through Third-Party or Online Pharmacies

  • Transcription Errors and Incomplete Information:
    Faxed prescription requests from third-party online pharmacies often contain missing or incorrect information about a pet’s medication, dosage, or usage instructions. These errors increase the risk of the pet receiving an incorrect medication or dose—an outcome for which the prescribing veterinarian remains responsible.
  • Lack of Manufacturer Guarantees and Support:
    Most manufacturers of veterinary-specific medications sell only to licensed veterinarians. When products are obtained from unauthorized online or human pharmacies, the chain of custody becomes unclear. As a result, manufacturers typically will not honor guarantees, product support, or reimbursement programs if the medication fails or is later found to be counterfeit.
  • Safety and Quality Control Concerns:
    Medications obtained through diversion (unauthorized channels) may have been stored, transported, or handled improperly, without required temperature controls or regulatory oversight. This can compromise both safety and effectiveness, potentially placing pets at significant risk. The FDA and AVMA have issued consumer advisories regarding the dangers of purchasing medications from unaccredited online pharmacies.
  • Legal and Liability Risks for Veterinarians:
    When prescriptions are filled by pharmacies that the veterinarian cannot rely on, the veterinarian may face increased legal exposure and professional liability if errors occur or the medication is mishandled.
  • Differences in Pharmacist Training:
    Human pharmacists typically receive limited training in veterinary pharmacology, and medication use can differ greatly between species. Providing a written prescription directly to the client allows both the pharmacist and the pet owner to verify details, reducing the likelihood of errors.
  • Technological Limitations in Veterinary Systems:
    Unlike human healthcare systems, most veterinary practice management software does not yet comply with National Council for Prescription Drug Programs (NCPDP) standards for secure and standardized electronic prescribing.
  • Business and Competitive Factors:
    Some veterinary practices prefer not to rely on external pharmacies in order to maintain continuity of care and support their own in-house or trusted partner pharmacies. These sources often provide competitive pricing along with full manufacturer guarantees.

How can you get your pet’s prescriptions filled?

Your options:

  • You are always welcome to purchase medications that we keep in stock directly from the clinic.
  • We are able to use our online pharmacy and email you a link to fill your prescription directly through our vendor-provided online pharmacy. This option allows for similar pricing and convenience as other online vendors while ensuring you work directly with the suppliers of our in-house medications and veterinary-specific pharmacists.
  • You are welcome to request a written prescription at the time of your appointment so that you can fill it at the pharmacy of your choice.
  • When requesting a medication or food refill or written prescription outside of your scheduled appointment time, please allow 48–72 hours to process. If your item is a special-order item, please allow 7 days. Be aware that anything received on weekdays after 4 p.m., weekends, or holidays will need additional time.