Beware fake pet medicine

[Retro]

Beware fake medicine for pets which can literally contain poison that will kill them as happened to this poor cat who almost died because of it. Here are the main signs to look out for to spot fake medicine:

• Poor quality, damaged or flimsy packaging
• Spelling or grammar errors on the label
• Missing instruction leaflets or expiry dates
• Instructions not provided in English
• Suspicious smell, colour or texture
• Tablets or pipettes that look homemade or poorly made
• Unusually low prices or deals that seem too good to be true
• Product names that are slightly misspelled or altered from the original brand

Nina Downing, Vet Nurse from PDSA, a vet charity, says she always recommends only giving your pet medicine which has been prescribed by a vet.

"When fulfilling a prescription online, source them from reputable companies that are on the Register of online retailers, brought to you by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, external."

If the medication has any of the above warning signs, you should stop using the product immediately and contact your vet for medical advice.

You should also report it to your local trading standards office and notify the brand manufacturer, who may be able to verify if it's genuine.

Fake medicine almost killed my cat - here's how to spot counterfeits

Pet owners are being urged to check all medicines carefully before using them.

www.bbc.co.uk