The Food and Drug Administration is cautioning nine makers and distributors of drugs aimed at preventing infectious diseases in pets.
The warning is related to concerns that their antimicrobial treatments could lead to resistance to medications crucial for treating infectious diseases in humans. The agency said the products have antimicrobials that are important to human health.
Using the drugs could contribute to resistance, allowing microbes like bacteria to resist the drugs designed to kill them. The FDA issued this warning in a news release.
“These unapproved animal drugs pose a two-fold risk to public health,” Tracey Forfa, director of the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine, said in a statement. “First, these products haven’t been through the FDA drug review process, and we don’t know whether they’re safe or effective, or even contain what the label states.
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Second, inappropriate use of medically important antimicrobials contributes to the development of antimicrobial resistance, which affects both human and animal health.”
The FDA issued the letters to these companies:
- American Aquarium Products
- Aquanest Biotic
- Aquarium Pharmacy LLC
- California Veterinary Supply
- Chewy Inc.
- Kraft Drug
- Midland Veterinary Services LLC
- Silver Lease LLC
- Valley Veterinary Clinic LTD
The animal drugs made or distributed by these companies contained antimicrobials important for human medicine.
Examples include amoxicillin, penicillin, tetracycline, and erythromycin, as reported by the FDA.
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The products containing these antimicrobials have been illegally sold over the counter. However, approved animal drugs with these substances are legally available only by prescription from a licensed veterinarian.
The FDA emphasized that using unapproved animal drugs in humans is perilous due to the lack of evaluation by federal regulators. The FDA emphasized that animal drugs are not identical to those used in humans.
People using or administering these drugs should dispose of the products, as the FDA advises. The FDA further recommends that pet owners contact a licensed veterinarian for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
In other news, the average cost of pet insurance is $45 per month for a dog with an accident and illness policy, covering $5,000 of annual coverage. However, for an accident and illness policy with unlimited annual coverage, the average cost is $55 per month.
Pet owners spend more than $3,000 annually on their pets, as reported by the pet health insurance company Lemonade.
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The cost significantly increases with advanced diseases. For example, cancer treatment involving chemotherapy can run up to $35,000, and diabetes medication can cost around $1,200 per year.
Pet insurance can help reimburse you for these medical expenses. Additionally, if your pet gets sick or injured, you won’t be stuck paying out of pocket.
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