FYI

[microchick]

Having 6 dogs who are always hurting themselves or squabbling with one another and winding up with bite wounds, 4 cats, that are busy being cats, not to mention around 45 chickens who are...well, chickens which means they are always needing doctoring of some sort, we try to keep a broad selection of antibiotics around. I usually buy 'fish' antibiotics or 'bird' antibiotics on line and noticed recently that many of my suppliers were suddenly out of stock. Found one in California and today I got this email from them:

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Critical supply warning: Fish antibiotics are disappearing fast — secure yours before the shutdown spreads.​

Dear Customer, We're reaching out with urgent news. Over the past few weeks, more and more suppliers of fish antibiotics have shut down operations, with no signs of restocking. This is not a drill — access to essential treatments like Amoxicillin, Cephalexin, and Doxycycline is disappearing fast. If these products are part of your aquatic care routine, now is the time to act decisively. Once our current stock is gone, there’s no guarantee it will return. What’s happening? Nationwide supplier shutdowns Regulatory pressure halting distribution Key medications being discontinued We’re doing everything we can to keep inventory available — but time is running out. Stock up now before it’s too late: Shop Now Before It's Gone » Once these antibiotics are gone, they may be gone for good. Take control of your pet’s health while you still can. Same trusted formulas, no vet visit needed.​

SHOP NOW​

If you aren't aware of this going on and keep antibiotics on hand for your flock or pets you might want to stock up now. Our animals always seem to be hurting themselves on a Saturday afternoon and I don't know how many times I've depended on our stocked antibiotics to carry them through till Monday so we can get them to the vet. Usually the vet tells us to continue on with whatever we have on hand.

I understand that there are a lot of concerns about overuse of antibiotics but frankly I don't know what people who keep birds or expensive tropical fish are going to do. There are vets out there who will see exotic birds....not around us unfortunately. Can't even get a vet to look at a sick chicken when need arises and I truly doubt that people who keep exotic salt water tropicals are going to load their expensive, fragile fish in a plastic bag and haul it to a vet even if there is a vet who will see a tropical fish on an emergency basis.

So if you keep some Thomas Lab, etc antibiotics on hand and want to stock up, now is the time to do it.

 

[nuthatched]

Fishmoxfishflex went down a month ago.

 

[Perris]

I understand that there are a lot of concerns about overuse of antibiotics but frankly I don't know what people who keep birds or expensive tropical fish are going to do.

They are going to discover and use alternatives to antibiotics.

The point about overuse of antibiotics is that the antibiotics stop working. Some of them have already reached that point. There are alternative substances, and sometimes a change of management does the job.

 

[RoseHawke]

The point about overuse of antibiotics is that the antibiotics stop working.

Indeed. Anti-biotics will only work against a bacterial infection, they're worse than useless with something viral, and people will discontinue their course when they, or their animals, are "better" which does nothing but breed anti-biotic resistant bacteria.

 

[microchick]

Perhaps education would benefit. From a human use perspective, being a retired nurse I know the difference between a viral infection and a bacterial. Two years ago when our female cattle dog turned up with a festered wound on her side that was draining, there was no doubt that she had a bacterial infection that required the use of antibiotics. I think the problem from a medical POV is that many people in general run to the doctor with a bad cold and demand antibiotics when all they need is a decongestant, fluids and rest.

I'm not referring to human use here, but the need for people who don't have a vet around who will treat their chicken, duck, guinea fowl, goose, etc or their expensive tropical fish or Amazon parrot.

We live in a deep rural area of Missouri. The local vet will treat farm mammalian farm animals, cattle, sheep, goats, horses, dogs and cats but even though he treats ostriches and emus, he will not touch a chicken. To get that kind of medical care the animal needs to be taken to Columbia's veterinary college where you can expect to pay thousands of dollars towards treating your pet. Ask me how I know that......been there done that and the dog didn't survive.

I keep antibiotics on hand to treat our dogs, cats and chickens. Without them, I'll be able to get treatment for our dog or cat from our vet but my chickens will be out of luck.

In dealing with the problem of overuse of antibiotics in meat animals they have effectively cut off a means of short term treatment for people who keep flocks and don't have a source for veterinary care.