Weekly Staff = Memo

Willis Animal Clinic

9994 Fm 1097 West

Willis,=20 Texas=20 77318

(936) 856-2927

Re: Internet Prescription=20 Policy

Willis Animal Clinic Client:

At Willis Animal Clinic, it is our policy to take = every=20 possible step to ensure that our patients receive the very best = pharmaceutical=20 products available. This = is=20 especially important with life-threatening illnesses such as heartworm=20 disease. However, we = understand and=20 empathize with the desire to find products cheaper. We know that several internet = sites and=20 catalogue houses presently sell these products for a presumed = savings. If you wish we will write = prescriptions=20 for your pet for these products in lieu of purchasing them here. We do, however, wish for your = decision=20 to be an informed decision, and want you to know several things = regarding=20 internet and catalogue prescription sales:

All major=20 manufacturers maintain a strict policy of sales exclusively through = licensed=20 veterinarians. Most = internet and=20 catalogue house sales are through non-approved channels. (See list of=20 manufacturers with phone numbers)=20
Guarantees = that=20 manufacturers make regarding their products are null and void if their = products are purchased through non-approved channels. This includes the guarantee=20 reimbursement programs for Sentinel heartworm/flea control as well as = other=20 heartworm and intestinal parasite claims.=20
It is a = fact that=20 pharmaceuticals manufactured and labeled for use in other countries = (namely=20 = Australia= )=20 have been illegally diverted and sold through these internet discount = houses.=20
Discount = houses have=20 been cited by the FDA and State Boards of Pharmacy for violating = prescribing=20 procedures. = PetMedExpress (a.k.a.=20 SaveMax), in particular, was recently fined over $100,000.00 by the = FDA and=20 Florida Department of Health. = The=20 Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners and the Texas Pharmacy = Board have=20 also recently sued this particular discount house.=20
Their = products do not=20 come with a person to help you utilize them in the most efficient = manner as=20 ours do..=20
Shipping = charges,=20 delays, mis-shipments, and damaged products are several of the reasons = that=20 many clients feel that the hassles of dealing with the catalogue and = internet=20 houses are not worth the savings.

If you prefer to purchase your products elsewhere, = we will=20 write prescriptions for these products according to the following=20 guidelines:

All = state and=20 federal prescribing laws apply the same as if you purchase it here.=20
We will = write one=20 prescription per pet per year at no charge. You must pick this = prescription up=20 in person or we will mail it to your address. We strongly recommend you = fax this=20 to them and retain the original for yourself.=20
To avoid = any=20 potential doctor-patient confidentiality issues, we will not = communicate=20 with the internet sites or discount house in any form or fashion=20
It is = your=20 responsibility to ensure that the prescription is sent, filled, = labeled,=20 shipped and used correctly. = The=20 discount houses have a reputation for poor customer service, and we = cannot=20 be expected to take the time to oversee their operations.=20
We will = not become=20 involved in any product failure issues for products purchased = through these=20 discount houses. This includes flea, heartworm, and intestinal = parasite=20 prevention.=20
It is = our firm=20 clinic policy that the patient for whom the prescription is being = written=20 must have been seen by a doctor at our practice within the past = year, in=20 order to establish a valid doctor-client-patient relationship. It is also our clinic = policy to=20 require that a heartworm test be done on all dogs on an annual basis = before=20 prescribing heartworm preventative unless other arrangements have = been made.=20

If you have questions concerning this issue, please = contact=20 Dr. Hablinski directly or call the manufacturer for their = guarantee/sales policy=20 concerning these prescribed medications.

&nbs= p; =20 Novartis (Sentinel/Inteceptor) (800) 332-2761

&nbs= p; =20 Merial (Heartgard/Frontline) (888) 637-4251 (Option = 3)

&nbs= p; =20 Bayer (Advantage) (800) 255-6826

&nbs= p; =20 Pfizer (Revolution/Rimadyl) = (800)=20 366-5288

Furthermore, give us the opportunity to meet = internet prices,=20 and if desired, we will mail the prescription to your residence.

Brian Hablinski, DVM

Willis Animal Clinic

Willis,=20 Texas

(936) 856-2927