Plan Ahead for Antibiotic Access
are not affected by this new guidance.
Outcome for producers
by Sarah McNaughto, BEEF magazine
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ew Food and Drug Administration guidance related to over-the-counter antibiotic usage in animals is working to control antibiotic resistance in humans and livestock. The guidance will require a veterinary prescription for injected antibiotics in livestock by June. The FDA’s goal is to minimize a growing antimicrobial resistance issue in humans and animals. Veterinarian and livestock producer Cindy Wolf advises producers how to plan ahead to work with these new regulations during a recent webinar hosted by North Dakota State University and University of Minnesota. “In my world, this has already started, because if you go shopping for oxytetracycline, you’re probably going to have a tough time finding it,” she said. “Antibiotics that are going to be affected by this are injectable over-the-counter antibiotics, ox y te t r a c yclin e, p e ni cillin a n d sulfadimethoxine.” At time of publishing, oral antibiotics
having sufficient knowledge of the patient to initiate a diagnosis ЇЇ being readily available for follow-up evaluation ЇЇ maintaining patient records ЇЇ assuming responsibility for making clinical judgments regarding health of animal “These veterinarians are going to want to talk with you regularly, and each vet is going to be different in how that looks,” Wolf said. “Many of my clients do a tremendous amount of texting, but really just making sure the vet is available for continuing care.” ЇЇ
Wolf recommends producers establish a veterinary-client-patient relationship as soon as possible. “If you haven’t already, you’re going to need to develop a relationship with a veterinarian, so that they are familiar with you and your animals, and any usual problems you experience,” she said. Wolf said it is up to the producers to establish and maintain this VCPR. “Figure out who your veterinarian is going to be,” she said, and “what your usual problems are. Do you have baby lamb pneumonia that requires an antibiotic?” After selecting a veterinarian, work Future implications together to review your animals’ health “I believe it is for the greater good that treatment, set up a timeline to implement we have to move to this route,” Wolf said. the treatment plan, and maintain animal “We need to try to preserve effectiveness of health protocols for your operation. antibiotics to work in human and animal Requirements for a legal VCPR include infections.” the veterinarian: Wolf believes that antibiotics will continue to be available to producers, but suspects there will be increased costs Establish a veterinary associated. For more information, visit the American relationship before 2023 Veterinary Medical Association
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antibiotic use changes begin.”
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