Submission Number: 560891-00383 

Received: 9/13/2012 8:47:42 AM
Commenter: Timothy England
Organization: Coughing Poodle Inc.
State: Michigan

Agency: Federal Trade Commission
Initiative: Request for Comments and Announcement of Workshop on Pet Medications Issues, Project No. P121201
Attachments: No Attachments
Submission Text
A written prescription should always be given upon request, but to mandate one for each medication is an undue burden on a veterinary hospital (a small business). Additionally, it is unreasonable to requuire a veterinarian to inform the client of their legal right as a consumer to seek alternative sources for their pet's medication. How will pet owners be served in these cases when the pharmacy is closed, or when it is online and not available for immediate delivery of life saving medications? The availability of otc vaccinations has been a disaster, with untrained pet owners and store staff being the caregivers; I do not believe society will be well-served by mandating a move away from veterinarians in medication procurement. However, I agree that consumers should be allowed, if they choose, to request and recieve a written presciption from the veterinarian who has diagnosed their pet and advocated the dispensing of prescription drugs.