Meet Our New Contributing Writers Ashley and Marlene!

Posted on August 4, 2013 by Wes Hepker

The VetRxDirect Blog is excited to welcome two new writers, Ashley and Marlene. Both are passionate and experienced pet-owners who will be contributing their personal insights. So, without further ado, we’ll hand over the reins!

Hello Readers,

My name is Ashley Davidson. I am a Registered Veterinary Technician and graduate of the Vet Tech Institute at Hickey College in St. Louis, Missouri. I consider myself a Pet Lifestyle Expert specializing in the art of canine-to-English translation. I have been a part of animal rescue for over ten years and have worked in the largest no-kill shelter in St. Louis.

I feel you live a better life with a smile on your face. My dogs give me a reason to smile every day. I am devoted to animal health, rescue and welfare and have a passion for ending breed discrimination. I strongly believe second-class animals make first class pets. With the help of my two rescue dogs, Kiki and Gumper, I will open your eyes to the beauty of animal adoption. My dogs have given me joy since they came into my home and my heart. It is my turn to return the favor.

All in all, with humor and love I will use my expertise to strengthen the bond between human and animal, and educate readers on how you too can make a difference. If one mind is changed, one animal helped, or one person can relate to my shared experiences with my pets, I will deem myself successful. Woof, enjoy!

Ashley

Greetings Vet RX Blog Readers,

My name is Marlene, and I am part-time mature student working towards getting my getting my BA (Major- Art History) at the University of Toronto. Using my previous experience as a RN, I presently work as a freelance medical writer contributing content to many health-related websites in both Canada and the United States. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, gardening, traveling and volunteering at the Gardiner Museum of Ceramics in downtown Toronto.

My husband and I have been loving cat owners for close to 35 years. Misty, a 13 year old female grey tabby, is our current cat. We rescued her, along with her twin sister, from a local animal shelter when they were only 8 weeks old. Sadly, Smokey passed away from kidney failure almost 4 years ago. Since then, Misty has become even more affectionate and loving, giving us a great deal of pleasure.

Marlene

Please help us welcome Ashley and Marlene to the VetRxDirect family. Feel free to leave and questions or comments below.

Q&A Feature Now Available on VetRxDirect Product Pages

Posted on July 29, 2013 by Wes Hepker

Go ahead. Ask us anything!

New today, VetRxDirect now offers a question and answer tab on all product pages. Ask us any product specific question and a VetRxDirect representative will get back to you with an answer within one business day.

Want to know about an ingredient found in the product, the number of doses in a syringe or if the packaging of a product has changed? Go ahead and utilize the Q&A tab to ask these or any other product questions about any of the products we carry.

VetRxDirect views the Q&A feature as an opportunity for our users and our staff to learn everything there is to know about every pet medication in our inventory. We look forward to helping you find the answers to any of your product questions.

Insulated Cooler Heat Test Performed

Posted on July 10, 2013 by Wes Hepker

That’s Cool

The heat is on which adds a little challenge to shipping temperature sensitive products to our customers around the nation. VetRxDirect is up to the challenge.

Ensuring the quality of the products we sell is our top priority. That’s why we ship all temperature-sensitive products for next-day delivery in insulated packaging with ice packs. Just to be sure our process is working, we tested it. We shipped a series of packages to the desert Southwest where it is hot. Really hot. I’m happy to report our packaging kept the products cool and protected.

Here are some of the other “cool” things we do when it comes to shipping:

We check temperatures around the nation every day and package temperature sensitive products according to where we’re sending them so they stay cool or, in the winter, are well insulated from the cold.
We provide tracking information on every order so you know when to expect delivery. And we only send next-day orders Monday-Thursday so they don’t get stuck in a warehouse over the weekend.
While we offer free shipping on most orders, we do charge a nominal amount to ship temperature-sensitive products because they require more costly packaging and expedited shipping. We’re aware this increases your cost. Please know that we do our very best to keep the cost down on every order by choosing the most cost effective packaging and shipping option.

Here’s how you can help ensure your order stays cool:

Use your tracking number to check the delivery status. If you won’t be home when your order will be delivered, please have a trusted person on hand to pick up the package, take it inside, and refrigerate it for you.
If you live somewhere with an extreme environment, like Arizona in the summer or Minnesota in the winter, consider purchasing temperature-sensitive products locally during extreme weather months so you don’t have to worry about shipping problems.
Even products that don’t require refrigeration won’t do well sitting on a sunny porch for hours. So please check your package tracking and try to get your shipment inside as soon as possible.
Most of our packaging is recyclable so please reuse or recycle it.

Stay cool!

Wes

Recent E-mailed Receipt Changes

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Wes Hepker

Our customer service pharmacy technicians reported some confusing language in our e-mailed receipt we send out to customers after orders are placed. The main area needing clarification was the designation of products as prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) and how our pharmacy handles each type of pet med.

To back up a moment, we want to share how to tell if a specific product on our website is a prescription drug. This is an easy one. Simply look for the orange Rx symbol next to the product name on any of our product pages. See the example below:

Rx_Product

You will also know you’ve ordered a prescription pet med for your pet when you are asked for your pet and veterinarian’s information during checkout.

Back to our e-mailed receipt, we have separated our e-mail into two distinctive messages. One for OTC only orders and one for any order including a prescription drug. Both of the new receipts include information regarding items on your order as well as shipping information. That’s about it for the OTC version, while the prescription version includes information how VetRxDirect obtains prescription authorization from your pet’s veterinarian.

Here is a recap on some important facts to consider when VetRxDirect needs to obtain prescription authorization:

We must obtain authorization before shipping prescription pet meds
We do everything quickly at VetRxDirect. As soon as we have authorization on file, we’ll ship your order
If we have trouble obtaining an authorization, we’ll e-mail you right away.
If your order combines Rx and OTC items, we wait until we have authorization for the Rx item and ship the entire order.
If we have valid refills on file, we’ll ship your order right away.
Prescriptions do expire requiring us to obtain new authorizations.
If you have a written prescription from your pet’s veterinarian, you’ll probably end up needing to send us the original by mail. That’s why we all prefer faxed authorizations.
Sorry, but pharmacies are unable to accept faxed prescriptions from customers.
Faxed authorizations from veterinarians are the most common, reliable, and secure method of getting your pet’s prescription authorization on file. This is were we’ll start unless we get other information from you.

We apologize for all the rules, but your pet’s safety and health is our first concern. Our second concern is getting you your pet’s medications as quickly as possible.

We hope this clarifies issues interpreting our communications with you, our loyal customers. If you have any questions or you think we need to include more information, please leave us a comment below.

Have a great day,

Wes

Guidelines for Ordering Temperature Sensitive Items in the Heat

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Wes Hepker

Warmer Temps As hot weather settles into parts of the U.S., now is the time to review your preferred shipping address to make sure deliveries are made away from the heat. This is not only important for insulin for pets and any other cold packed pet meds, but any medication for your pet if you live in a hot environment.

In our experience, the best place to have packages delivered is the location where you spend your days, or if you are unable to have packages delivered to this location, have them delivered to a trusted friend or family member who is able to sign for the packages during the day. Leave instructions with this individual to have the contents stored appropriately. Most items require room temperatures out of sunlight, but temperature sensitive drugs should be placed in refrigeration as soon as possible. Ask your pet’s pharmacist if you have any questions on how to appropriately store your pet’s medication.

Remember to follow your pet’s order by clicking on the tracking number provided in the tracking e-mail sent to you after we ship your order. Every order at VetRxDirect gets a tracking number for your convenience. When you track your pet’s package, an expected delivery date will be provided to help you make plans.

We apologize, but we are unable to leave special handling instructions in most cases. Even if we are able to leave instructions, there is no guarantee the courier will follow your desires. That’s why it is best to have orders delivered to controlled environments where a person can take possession of the package and follow your wishes.

If you live in a warm environment, please take a moment to read VetRxDirect’s shipping information page. The information provided on this page may provide answers to your basic shipping questions. If you have any other questions, we are available by e-mail or phone to provide answers. Just drop us a line and a VetRxDirect pharmacy technician or pharmacist will get back to you right away.

Thank you and stay cool,

Wes

Get Your Pets Ready for Summer!

Posted on April 26, 2013 by Wes Hepker

3 Steps to a Healthy Pet this Summer

I’ve got good news and bad news. First, the good: summer is almost here. Now the bad: it’s time to do battle with nasty pests and seasonal allergies on behalf of our pets. Fortunately, we have everything you need to keep your cat and dog happy, healthy, and safe this summer.

Take these three steps now to get Fido or Fluffy ready for the summer:

Step 1: Protect from heartworms. Mosquitoes hatch in warm weather. They’re the most dangerous parasite for pets because they carry heartworm, which can be deadly. If your dog or cat isn’t on a year-round heartworm medication regimen, now is time to start. Many heartworm treatments also protect your pet from dangerous intestinal worms including whipworm, roundworm, and hookworm. Talk to your veterinarian about which medication is right for your pet then shop with us — we stock a wide range of heartworm medications.

Step 2: Fight fleas and ticks. The two most irritating pests—fleas and ticks – flourish in the summer. Flea bites not only make your pet miserable, they can transmit tapeworms. And if your pet has a flea infestation, your home may be infested too and that is a huge nuisance.

Ticks may be a little less irritating than fleas (no less gross, though), but they’re more dangerous because they can transmit Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Ehrlichosis.

Prevention is your best defense when it comes to fleas and ticks. Look for broad- spectrum treatments that prevent fleas and ticks from getting on your pet, and kill all stages of existing fleas and ticks – both adults and immature forms. There are several new preventatives that combine medications with new, more convenient dosing processes. Be sure to get your vet’s recommendation first. Click here to see VetRxDirect’s flea and tick newsletter.

Signup for VetRxDirect’s Newsletter and start saving today!

Step 3: Treat allergies. It’s allergy season for humans and pets alike. Pets can develop allergic reactions to flea bites, grasses, pollen, mold, and even foods. How do you know if your pet has allergies? Look for symptoms including skin irritation, scratching, wheezing, and ear infections. We have a many oral and topical allergy treatments for dogs and cats. Talk to your vet about what treatment is best for your pet’s condition.

Here’s to a fun, healthy summer for you and your pet!

Wes

We’re Sorry, We Found 0 Results for your Search Term

Posted on April 23, 2013 by Wes Hepker

We’ve all been bummed out by receiving “0 results” when searching for a product or drug, but did you know VetRxDirect is also concerned by this message. Our system quietly logs every single search query and tabulates the results so we can quickly identify needed pet medications.

Recently, our system notified us of three important products missing from our inventory. Specifically, these exact terms were at the top of the list: ofloxacin, minocycline and Bactrim.

We did our homework and located the following products which now appear on our online pharmacy:

Ofloxacin Eye Drops: Ofloxacin is an ophthalmic solution medication used in dogs and cats primarily to treat bacterial infections. It is now available in a 5mL and 10mL Dropper Bottle at VetRxDirect.

Minocycline Capsules: Minocycline is an antibiotic used in dogs and cats to treat many bacterial infections as prescribed by your pet’s veterinarian. These capsules are now available in 50mg and 100mg strengths at VetRxDirect. Many pet owners and veterinarians may be searching for minocycline as a possible replacement for Doxycycline.

Sulfamethoxazole and Trimethoprim Double Strength Tablets: These tablets are the generic drug of Bactrim and are a broad-spectrum antibiotic used in dogs and cats to treat many infections as prescribed by your pet’s veterinarian.

Please continue to use our search function to easily find your pet’s medication and help us identify needed products for dogs and cats.

Let us know which products you’re having trouble finding by leaving a note in the comments section below. You never know, we might be able to find the medication and add it to our site.

Have a great day,

Wes

How do I Submit a Claim to my Pet Insurance Company?

Posted on April 8, 2013 by Wes Hepker

Recently, VetRxDirect received the following 2 out of 5 star rating review from user evan-990 over at ResellerRatings.com:

“Cannot get them to send me invoices with vets name and date of order. My pet insurance will not accept anything less, so I have been unable to send them claims.”

All of us at VetRxDirect want to provide a pet meds pharmacy where our customers can easily place online orders and receive fast, accurate deliveries at affordable costs without hang-ups.

In response to the above review, VetRxDirect now lists your pet’s name and veterinarian on our mailed invoices. You will now be able to easily submit our invoices to pet medical insurance plans after you receive your pet’s order. Be sure to follow the insurance company’s instructions when submitting claims.

Here is an example of a product line item on VetRxDirect’s improved invoice:

All of our invoices clearly display the order date at the top of the page.

If you have any other suggestions or ideas for invoice improvements, please let us know in the comments suggestions below.

Have a great day,

Wes

VetRxDirect is Now Licensed in All 50 States and D.C.

Posted on April 2, 2013 by Wes Hepker

VetRxDirect recently obtained our last two state board of pharmacy licenses. Please help us welcome Louisiana and Arkansas to our pet pharmacy family.

With these additions, we can not offer our Vet-VIPPS and PCAB accredited prescription pet medication pharmacy to residents in all 50 states and the District of Colombia.

VetRxDirect is absolutely committed to providing our customers with an outstanding online shopping experience. We’ve worked hard over the years to provide only trusted, high-quality, FDA/EPA pet medications at competitive prices, with superior customer service and fast delivery to match. We respect the trust and relationship our clients have with their veterinarians. That’s why we work hand in hand with your veterinarian to deliver the products best suited for your pet.

Everyone is welcome to help us celebrate the occasion by enjoying 10% off your next purchase with coupon code “50STATES” during checkout.* Hurry though! This coupon is only available for a limited time.

*Customers must be signed into an account at VetRxDirect.com to validate one-time use coupons. Coupons cannot be combined or used with any other discount or offer. Coupons are not valid on telephone orders and cannot be applied to previous orders.