TEXAS VET NEWS By Dr. Bob Judd, DVM and the Texas Farm Bureau Texas Farm Bureau Radio Network

Dr. Steve O’Grady from Northern Virginia Equine indicates that owners, trainers, and veterinarians are responsible for the health and welfare of horses and I believe the horse’s health should be the primary concern of all of us.  Many performance horses have medical problems and require a veterinarian to treat them with medications.  However, the vet has to determine which medications can be used and which should not.  Some medications could allow a horse to compete even though the horse should probably be pulled from the competition and these are decisions a vet can make only after an exam.  Owners and trainers cannot make these decisions because prescription drugs can only be dispensed by vets. 

Unfortunately, many drugs are used on horses that are obtained from vets as well as other sources in which the vet has not examined the horse and does not have what is called a valid client/patient relationship.  To legally and ethically dispense or recommend a drug or treatment for an animal, a vet has to examine the animal to determine the correct treatment.  Many owners and trainers request that vets dispense various prescription drugs to them to have on hand and to use as they see fit.  When an owner or trainer asks this of a vet, they are asking their vet to break the law.  Most of the time these requests are meant to gain a competitive edge.  Veterinarians that write scripts or dispense medication without examining the animal are potentially endangering the animal’s health.  It is important to realize that your vet must examine your animal to determine the correct medication to recommend.

Hear the audio of this program at the Texas Farm Bureau Network.

Date Published: 3/16/2009 11:39:00 AM