Doctor’s Note Needed: Certain Equine Antimicrobials Now Require Prescriptions

Thanks to new federal regulations, horse owners are no longer able to purchase certain antibiotics at tack shops or feed stores as over-the-counter medications. These include oxytetracyclines, tylosin, injectable penicillin, all “sulfa” antimicrobials and all mastitis medications, according to The Horse.

The results of the recently-passed legislation are not expected to have a major effect on horse owners or equine veterinarians as both the owner and the veterinarian are expected to have an established veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR) to prescribe medications. Veterinarians are not required to provide the horse with the antibiotic; they must only provide the prescription.

A VCPR must meet these five criteria, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA):

The veterinarian has assumed the responsibility for making clinical judgments regarding the health of the patient, and the client has agreed to follow the veterinarian's instructions.
The veterinarian has sufficient knowledge of the patient to initiate at least a general or preliminary diagnosis of the medical condition of the patient. This means the veterinarian is personally acquainted with the keeping and care of the patient by virtue of a timely examination of the patient by the veterinarian or medically appropriate and timely visits by the veterinarian to the operation where the patient is managed.
The veterinarian is readily available for follow-up evaluation or has arranged for veterinary emergency coverage and continuing care and treatment.
The veterinarian provides oversight of treatment, compliance, and outcome.
Patient records are maintained.

This law will encourage horse owners to contact their veterinarian at the onset of illness as they will not be able to purchase antimicrobials at the store to try to treat the horse themselves before calling in medical assistance.