The new OTC rules on Antibiotics
Today we listened to the podcast “For the Love of Goats” hosted by Deborah Niemann, where she interviews Dr. Kevin Pelzer on his knowledge of the upcoming changes regarding antibiotic use that began on June 11th, 2023.
The increase in antibiotic regulations began in 2017 when the FDA moved antibiotic feed additives used for increased feed efficiency from being available over the counter to requiring a veterinary prescription. While this can be considered inconvenient to many, this step was the first in working to prevent antibiotic resistance in farm animals and established the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD).
However, this still left room for over the counter use of antibiotics where there is still space for antibiotic resistance to develop. Antibiotics are particular about which kind of bacteria they work against and it is very easy to use them incorrectly. Under the eyes of a veterinarian, we can ensure that the correct antibiotic is being used for the issue at hand, which will ultimately save farmers time and money.
This is where the directive taking effect on June 11, 2023 comes into play. Drugs that will be affected are those that also have a correlation in the human market. Drugs that are only used in the veterinary or animal fields will not be affected and you will still be able to purchase those over the counter. You will still be able to use drug catalogs, but the affected antibiotics will require a veterinary prescription.
What you can do: Establish a working relationship with your veterinarian. Legally, veterinarians cannot prescribe medications without a solid Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship (VCPR) that is re-established annually. This relationship helps to ensure that your patient is getting the best care possible, allows for use of the appropriate antibiotic, and ultimately saves time and money on treatment.
A short list of some of the drugs that will now require a veterinarian’s prescription:
Penicillins
Oxytetracyclines (ex: Liquamycin, LA-200)
Sulfa-based antimicrobials (ex: SulfMed, Albon)
Tylosin (ex: Tylan 50, Tylan 200)
Cephapirin (ex: ToDAY, ToMORROW)
For the Love of Goats Podcast:
Antibiotics for Goats: Availability and Usage. https://open.spotify.com/episode/2cFzz0LJ5uvWW9Dvt2HaCS?si=kdoZkeN4R76Cr6ZWLMNnhw
This podcast has lots of amazing knowledge for goat producers and admirers! There are also episodes on parasite management, kidding/lambing, management, nutrition, and VCPRs.
