Supply of restricted substances

In recent times Orange Veterinary Hospital has been under increasing pressure from producers and clients to supply restricted substances (e.g. antibiotics, pain relief etc) without one of our veterinarians having physically examined the animal that the substances are required for. 

Our vet Genevieve explains the regulations that we are required to adhere to regarding supply of prescription drugs for animals.

Drug supply has always been regulated by legislation however this is now being more closely monitored and enforced by the Veterinary Practioners Board and Government regulations. To comply with these regulations we would like to remind clients of our legal obligation in regards to the dispensing of restricted substances and medication.

It is a government requirement that prior to a veterinarian dispensing medication for production or herd animals (cattle, sheep, goats, alpaca, poultry etc) that they:

1. have spoken directly with the producer/client, AND either

2. have seen at least ONE of the affected animals, or

3. have attended your property within the last twelve months, in order for the veterinarian to be familiar with the health status of the animals under ‘his/her direct care’.

In the case of companion animals (dogs, cats, horses etc) we are legally required to have examined the individual animal before any medications can be dispensed.

We would like to thank our clients in advance for their understanding of our legal obligations regarding the dispensing of restricted substances.  

Given that they don’t come with a warranty, you need to gather every bit of useful information about a horse before you hand over your hard earned cash! A pre-purchase examination of a horse can give you vital information that you need to know before making the purchase. Pre-purchase examinations should be a standard procedure you undertake before buying a horse.

The procedure must be carried out by a qualified vet and usually consists of: a thorough physical examination, dental assessment including aging, and lameness assessment. Sometimes additional testing is performed as a result of initial findings or at the buyer’s request (e.g. joint radiographs).

The job of the vet looking at the horse is to make sure the horse is fit for its intended use. A horse you want to compete with has different needs to a horse you intend breeding from. Some diseases which are manageable may be acceptable to you if you are paying $1000 for a horse but not if you are paying $20 000 for a horse. Thus, the job of the vet is to not give a pass or fail to a horse, but rather to gather information so that you can make an educated decision before your purchase.

If you are planning on buying a horse, consider a pre-purchase examination first.