Online Prescription Policy

Online Prescription Policy

We have established the following policy regarding prescription medications to assist you in making informed decisions and ensure we can focus our resources effectively on patient care.

Our Policy Regarding Third-Party Pharmacy Requests:

As of 5/1/2025, Beyond Pets Animal Hospital will no longer authorize prescription requests from third-party online pharmacies sent directly to us (via phone, fax, or email).

This includes, but is not limited to, retailers such as:

  1. Chewy.com
  2. 1-800-PetMeds
  3. Allivet
  4. Petco Pharmacy
  5. PetSmart Pharmacy
  6. Other similar online retailers

Why We Have Implemented This Policy:

This policy has been implemented for several important reasons, all centered on patient safety and our ability to provide optimal care:

  1. Prioritizing Patient Care: Responding to and verifying requests from numerous third-party pharmacies requires significant administrative time from our doctors and staff. This time commitment directly impacts our ability to focus on the patients currently in our hospital, answer your direct calls promptly, and provide the hands-on care your pets deserve.
  2. Ensuring Prescription Accuracy: Third-party requests come in various formats, are often incomplete, and sometimes contain errors. Verifying and correcting these takes considerable effort and introduces potential risks if inaccuracies are missed or changes are not implemented correctly by the third party. Direct handling or providing written prescriptions minimizes these risks.
  3. Concerns Regarding Medication Handling & Sourcing: While convenient, not all online sources guarantee that medications are sourced, stored, and shipped according to strict manufacturer guidelines. By approving requests directly, we carry a passive responsibility. We cannot always be certain that medications obtained through these channels are authentic, unexpired, or have maintained their efficacy due to proper handling, potentially jeopardizing your pet’s health.
  4. Operational Efficiency: Managing the high volume of external pharmacy communications is inefficient and costly in terms of staff resources. Rather than increasing overall service fees to cover these administrative costs, this policy allows us to dedicate our team’s efforts more appropriately to direct patient and client services.

How to Obtain Your Pet’s Medications:

We offer the following options for filling your pet’s prescriptions:

  1. Written Prescription for Outside Pharmacies: If you prefer to use an outside pharmacy (including online retailers like Chewy, etc.), we are happy to provide you with a written prescription.
    • Please contact our office directly to request a written script.
    • Kindly allow adequate time (e.g., 24-48 business hours) for our veterinarians to review your pet’s record and prepare the prescription.
    • Written prescriptions must be picked up in person from our hospital in Marietta. You can then submit it directly to the pharmacy of your choice.
  2. Our Integrated Online Pharmacy: We strongly encourage you to use our convenient, hospital-affiliated online pharmacy. Ordering this way offers significant advantages:
    • Seamless Approval: No written prescription is needed; requests integrate directly with your pet’s medical records for fast veterinarian approval.
    • Competitive Pricing: Our prices are regularly monitored to ensure competitiveness with major online retailers.
    • Exclusive Rebates: Take advantage of manufacturer rebates and promotions often unavailable elsewhere.
    • Guaranteed Quality: Medications are sourced directly from manufacturers or authorized distributors, guaranteeing authenticity and proper handling, ensuring manufacturer guarantees are valid.
    • Convenience: Enjoy fast shipping directly to your home.
    • Support Local: Your purchases directly support our local practice here in Marietta.
    • Link to our online pharmacy
  3. In-Hospital Pharmacy: For many common medications and preventatives, you can purchase them directly from us during your visit or by stopping by our hospital.

Our Commitment to You

We value the trust you place in us for your pet’s healthcare. This policy ensures we can continue providing the safest, most effective, and focused care possible. We believe that providing written prescriptions empowers you to choose your pharmacy while maintaining a documented and accurate process, and our online store offers a safe, reliable, and competitively priced alternative.

Questions?

If you have any questions regarding this prescription policy, please do not hesitate to call or text our office at 770-971-1556 or speak with one of our team members during your next visit.

Thank you for your understanding and for entrusting Beyond Pets Animal Hospital with your pet’s care.