Let me see if I can explain this.
Animal medication ise is both simple and complex.
The avainability of many drugs and drug types that are prescription only in humans are over the counter OTC in animals.
This puts the responsibility of managing thr use of those drugs with thr individual. The reason why most drugs are prescription drugs is that the drug is or has the potential to be abused or mis-used or has potential side effects that require monitoring.
Many drugs are used off label - including ivermectin and valbazen in chickens
Doctors and vets alike will prescribe a drug for off label use but in the realm of live stock the following drugs are deemed so potentially harmful to humanity, use will lead to discipline of the vet and potential loss of license to prescribe
Prohibited Drugs:
- Diethylstilbestrol (DES)
- Chloramphenicol
- Nitroimidazoles - which include dimetridazole, metronidazole, and ipronidazole.
- Sulfonamide use in dairy cattle (Dimethox has some limited use)
- Nitrofurans
- Clenbuterol
- Dipyrone
- Fluoroquinolones - (Cipro, Off label use of Baytril on any other livrstock than beef cattle)
- Glycopeptides -(Vancomycin)
- Extralabel use of medicated feed .
Companion animals fall into a different class and have different rules - thus availability of metranidazole in pet stores.
