Submission Number: 560891-00247 

Received: 9/4/2012 10:04:50 AM
Commenter:  Fankhauser
Organization: 
State: Texas

Agency: Federal Trade Commission
Initiative: Request for Comments and Announcement of Workshop on Pet Medications Issues, Project No. P121201
Attachments: No Attachments
Submission Text
Changing the policy will cause veterinarians to require more frequent visits due to unknown medication compliance, will cause increase for services. Increase in prices will cause less owner compliance, risk of animal cruelty, abandonment and surrendering. This will, in turn, cause an increase in shelter animals and costs. Pharmacists are not educated in animal pharmacology. They don't know the risks and toxicity some medications have due to species, breed, drug interaction or pet illness, or how to adminster medications to pets. They don't know appropriate supplemental medications for pets. We are commonly informed by the owner that money is a factor. We are constantly weighing cost of services and medications. If the owner cannot afford all medications, the veterinarian has to determine which medications would be best for the health and well-being of the pet and also be cost effective for the owner. Pharmacists are not able to determine which medications the owner should or should not take based on the situation or condition of the pet.