On the other hand, there are some very reputable online pet supply firms owned by veterinarians, and many people enjoying the convenience of ordering online. It seems inconsistent for Bayer to take this stand when they continue to supply their product to these online stores. The EPA has issued "stop sale, use, and removal orders" to those companies selling the counterfeit products, so it should be just a matter of time before those sales cease.
In the meantime, if you are among the group that purchases products online, here are a few rules to keep in mind, for your cat's safety:
Know and Trust Your Supplier
Establish a trusting relationship with the online company before ordering any health-related products. Do they have a help line for questions about products? Do they have a money-back guarantee? What is the overall quality of their products and service?
Read the Labels!
Learn to read the labels of all products you buy for your cats, and most especially, health-related products.
If You Have Doubts, Call the Manufacturer
If you have any doubts at all that the product you've received from an online retailer is not the real thing, call the manufacturer. Both Bayer and Merial have posted phone numbers in their press releases for that purpose.
Follow Label Directions
Don't let some "expert" convince you that you can safely divvy up a dog's dose of Advantage among your two or three cats. Manufacturers spend millions of dollars and thousands of hours on research before establishing correct dosage amounts. To take unnecessary chances with your cat's health to save a few bucks is false economy.
