Prescribing or Dispensing Medication for Veterinarians Working In the Pig Industry

Background

Because of the nature of intensive pig production, veterinarians involved in the industry have a unique set of requirements; in particular, prescription requirements may differ from those for other types of veterinary practice. For example, medication usage is more frequently prescribed for groups of animals rather than individuals.

The veterinarian’s goal should be to improve herd health through management and endeavour to decrease the amount of medication used in the pigs. The changing nature of the pig industry is such that veterinarians are increasingly undertaking a role of delivering ‘value’ to pig farmers while still needing to meet ethical and professional obligations for supply of medications.

These guidelines for veterinarians working in the pig industry are intended to supplement the Code of Professional Conduct and the NZVA Code of Practice for Prescribing of Prescription Medicines and Prescription animal Remedies by Veterinarians. They deal with the meaning of ‘immediate care’ and ‘emergency’ as referred to in the Code of Professional Conduct in relation to prescribing of restricted animal remedies.

Guidelines

Immediate Care

The Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinarians 2005 defines the conditions to be met for an animal to be ‘under the immediate care’ of a veterinarian in the context of prescribing of restricted animal remedies (Section 4.5 part 3). Section 4.5 3(iii) states:

3. either:
   1. the animal, herd or flock must have been seen immediately before prescription and supply; or
   2. the animal, herd or flock must have been seen recently enough or often enough for the veterinarian to have personal knowledge of the condition of the animal or current health status of the herd or flock in order to make an informed diagnosis and prescribe appropriately.

In relation to veterinarians working in the intensive pig production industry, the term ‘recently’ means:

• An ongoing and steady relationship that involves routine visits, communication, surveillance and follow-up to enable adequate knowledge of the health management procedures in place on that farm.

A recommended minimum frequency of visiting the farm is twice in a 12-month period. In larger farms with higher stock numbers, and greater numbers of staff using larger quantities of Prescription Animal Remedies, it would be appropriate to visit more frequently.

Emergency Care

Section 4.5 part 3(v) of the Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinarians 2005 states:

5. inherent in prescribing PAR veterinary medicines is the ability and commitment to provide adequate emergency care should that be necessary, given the circumstances of the case and potential for adverse effects from or failure of the prescribed PAR veterinary medicine(s). A veterinarian must either:
   1. provide the emergency care personally; or
   2. make arrangements for another veterinarian to provide the care.

In relation to veterinarians working in the intensive pig production industry, the term ‘emergency’ means:

• An unexpected event that jeopardises the welfare of an individual or herd and is unlikely to resolve without intervention by the herd veterinarian. The herd veterinarian is expected to resolve the emergency either by providing advice or a service.

Documentation

Where Prescription Animal Remedies are prescribed to a pig producer in anticipation of a future need, suitable documentation should be supplied to the producer outlining appropriate indications, dosages, withholding periods, health and safety risks for use of the product(s) supplied.

Refer to Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Operational Procedures No 2 (Standard covering the use of Veterinary and Human Medicines by non-veterinarians generally) available from the ACVM website (www.nzfsa.govt.nz/acvm).

The herd veterinarian should ensure there are recording systems in place that are available for audit.

Policy Files: 

2h - Pig Prescribing - 16May06.pdf