This trend has led to a surge in online pet pharmacies, which offer a wide range of pet medications, supplements, and other products. The rise of online pet pharmacies is driven by several factors, including the convenience of online shopping, the affordability of online prices, and the lack of regulation in the pet industry. These factors have created a lucrative market for online pet pharmacies, attracting both established pet care companies and new startups.
This highlights the importance of verifying the authenticity of products, especially when purchasing online. The presence of fake products can have significant consequences, ranging from financial losses to reputational damage. The counterfeiters are often sophisticated and well-equipped, employing advanced techniques to replicate the original product’s packaging, branding, and even the product itself.
This is a common problem in rabbits, and it is often caused by stress, poor hygiene, and inadequate nutrition. The rabbit’s owner, Arina, had been feeding her rabbit a diet of mostly carrots and potatoes. This diet is not suitable for rabbits and can lead to health problems. The rabbit’s owner, Arina, had also neglected to clean the rabbit’s cage regularly. This neglect led to the spread of scabies.
“Even if the listing has a lot of reviews, or if someone you know recommended it to you, please seek advice from a professional to make sure (that it is genuine), as those other buyers could be victims, too,” said Arina. “After my rabbit almost lost his life, I no longer purchase any medication from online sources unless they are the online store of a vet or an authorised seller. I no longer trust reviews as well when it comes to medication.” How can counterfeit products affect my pet? Seven vet clinics that ST spoke to said they were aware of counterfeit pet products circulating in the market. Three of them had attended to cases affected by such products. Paws N’ Claws, for instance, has seen cases resulting in vomiting and seizures. Its head vet, Dr Esther Lam, said: “Counterfeit products can pose significant risks to pets, including adverse health effects such as allergic reactions, toxicity, and ineffective treatment of conditions.” Dr Brian Loon from Amber Vet added: “At worst… if these are toxic, they can be an immediate or accumulative life-threatening risk, such as severe-to-irreversible organ damage.” Dr Mikayla Liow from Vet Central told ST that commonly counterfeited pet products are often driven by high demand and the ease of resale, particularly through online platforms. Examples include joint care supplement Antinol and anti-parasite medications such as Revolution and Nexgard Spectra. More common long-term prescription medications, and even medicated toothpaste, have also been counterfeited. “For instance, counterfeit Antinol does not contain the active ingredients necessary for therapeutic effects, posing significant health risks to pets,” she said. Pet Wellness Products, an authorised distributor of several pet supplements including Antinol in Singapore and Malaysia, first encountered counterfeits sold online in 2022. Since then, more sellers have begun offering fake Antinol via e-commerce platforms, with these products appearing to have come from Thailand and Malaysia, said a Pet Wellness Products spokesperson. Antinol’s manufacturer Vetz Petz sought the help of the Thai authorities. This led to a raid on a warehouse containing counterfeit supplements for both humans and animals from “famous brands”. Upon testing, the counterfeit Antinol was found to contain only coloured vegetable oil resembling the real product.
**DHKS Pet Supplies Fights Back Against Unauthorized Sellers**
**DHKS Pet Supplies:
The company has been working with law enforcement agencies to combat this issue. DHKS Pet Supplies has also been actively engaging with online platforms like Shopee and Lazada to address the unauthorized sellers. DHKS Pet Supplies has implemented a number of measures to prevent unauthorized sellers from selling its products.
This practice raises several concerns. Firstly, it can lead to the pet food being contaminated with harmful substances, posing a risk to the pet’s health. Secondly, it can be a violation of import regulations, leading to fines and legal action. Thirdly, it’s unethical and potentially harmful to the pet’s well-being, as it can lead to nutritional deficiencies and other health issues.
The spokesperson added that cross-border imports into Singapore, even if the products bear import stickers from other countries, are illegal, as they were not brought in by importers authorised by the Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS) to do so. According to regulations, pet food containing meat or meat products can be brought into Singapore only from sources approved by AVS. Every consignment of pet food brought into Singapore must be accompanied by an AVS-issued import permit and supporting documents such as a health certificate endorsed by the relevant authority of the exporting country. In response to ST’s queries, AVS said it received two cases of feedback on potential counterfeit pet foods in 2024. Both buyers had purchased their pet food from private sellers on e-commerce platforms instead of local authorised distributors. “AVS will investigate and take action against sellers who bring in pet food containing meat or meat products without an import permit under the Animals and Birds Act,” it said. Anyone found guilty of doing so can be fined up to $10,000, jailed for up to a year, or both. AVS is also working with e-commerce platforms to take down listings of pet food that are not supplied by local authorised distributors. In response to ST’s queries, Shopee said sales of counterfeit products are prohibited on its platform, with sellers required to comply with local regulations and its policies on prohibited items. “In cases when we identify listings that infringe upon local regulations or our platform policies, we take immediate action by notifying sellers, removing listings, and/or banning sellers wherever necessary,” said a Shopee spokesperson. “We also encourage our users to report any counterfeit products via the ‘Report this Product’ option. Users can also chat with our live agents via the Shopee app, or send us an e-mail through the Help Centre.” What should pet owners look out for? As a precaution, pet owners should purchase products only from authorised sources and/or retailers, said importers and vet clinics that ST spoke to. Dr Christopher Tham from Jireh Veterinary Clinic said: “Generally, buyers need to know that all the vet clinics in Singapore buy medications directly from local suppliers, or sometimes, imported drugs from Australia Vet Pharmacy companies. “We have clients bringing counterfeit items to us to check if they can use them. Very often, after comparing the products (packaging, pills and labels), we are able to find differences that set them apart from the genuine ones.” Vets recommend those concerned about costs to discuss their budget and needs with them, as they may be able to suggest alternative treatment options, or otherwise, guide them towards reputable suppliers if they choose not to purchase products directly from the clinic. AVS strongly encourages pet owners to verify the authenticity of pet food before purchase, and to look for information from brand owners on how to distinguish genuine products from counterfeit ones.