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One in 10 pet owners have unknowingly fake pet medication online, according to the latest survey from Seresto.
The group, which produces flea and tick control collars, found that 12% of respondents believe they have previously received fake medicine, but did not report the incident to any authority.
In addition, 87% of pet owners have purchased pet medicine from sites that have been recognised as selling counterfeit medicine.
A further 62% of respondents said they struggled to tell the difference between authentic and fake medication due to the tactics used by illegal retailers.
It comes as the Veterinary Medicines Directorate has removed more than 500 veterinary medicine listings from online marketplaces since April 2020.
TV veterinarian, Rory Cowlam, said: “It saddens me there are those out there looking to take advantage of pet owners who are really just trying to take the best care of their pets.
“It is so important to think carefully about where you buy your pet medicines, and always check the retailer is accredited. Visiting the brand’s own website to find out where to buy safely is always a good idea.”
