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| Tylan will no longer be OTC on January 1, 2017 |
If you are a farmer or small producer, of almost any species of animal, then you are accustomed to judicious use of occasional antibiotics. Most of us have learned their appropriate use from our farm veterinarians, and we use them wisely. This will change however, as 2017 rolls in.
The FDA has changed the laws on which animal antibiotics will remain OTC (over-the-counter) and which will become VFD (they require what amounts to a prescription from your veterinarian.)
Some of these drugs include varieties of penicillin, lincomycin, oxytetracyclines, tylosin, hygromycin B, and others.
This change is felt to make life harder for small agricultural producers who might not be able to call a vet for a chicken, a rabbit or a duck, for example. It is also suspected to be the thin end of the wedge. How long before you will no longer be able to get an antibiotic for your fishtank ? Today it's antibiotics, tomorrow it could be that your calcium, magnesium and zinc supplements are also prescription drugs.
It might be a good time to let your congressman know how you feel about this, if you are, in fact, a farmer or you raise species of animals.
