Should owners be able to administer minor drugs?

[HORSE Mag]

This month's Reader Rant comes from Lorraine – you can read it in full here or in the latest issue of Horse.

Do you agree with her views about medication? Vote below.

[Ebenezer_Scrooge]

I voted yes. I do get quadrisol off my vet for when my boy gets gassy colic and I know when and how to administer it. I wish though that when this doesn't work I could administer my own buscopan via injection saving me £150 for call out!! I have to say though if it was anything that was out of the normal aetiology for him then I would consult the vet first.

[lizziebell]

I voted yes - I think certain minor drugs should be, although I don't think annual vaccinations as suggested by Lorraine should be as this could have a serious outcome for competitors if there is an outbreak because someone hadn't vaccinated properly.

As long as there is a good relationship and trust between vet and owner, I don't see the issue. At the end of the day, scrupulous people already get hold of drugs without the vets consent, so it would make no difference to them.

[criso]

I voted yes - my vet lets me have a supply of minor drugs like Bute, Sedalin etc and trusts me to use them appropriately and discuss when he needs to come out.
However vaccinations are a different matter as the vets is not only administering the injection but also verifying that it has been given and stamping the passport.

[saltires]

I vote yes - when I lived in America all injections were freely available to buy with the exception of rabies vaccine and I frequently injected all my own animals, including horses.
Despite this, the veterinary care offered by vets over there is far superior to any I have encountered here in the uk with clients treated as exactly that, clients, not talked down to as I have oh so often found over here. (you're only the owner, what do you know...)
Does anyone know WHY minor meds can not be administered by owners here? What is the law, exactly?
And I am not sure if it is true or not, but are many medications available for purchase in Ireland?

[PaddyMonty]

I used to be able to phone vet and ask for P or B to be left out for me. He had treated our horses for a long time, built a relationship with us and knew of our competence level.
Since he retired this facility doesn't seem to be available anymore. So having spent years giving horses P injections when required (and not killed on yet) it seems I have lost the ability.

So a big yes from me with the exception of vacinations for competing.

[Scoutie]

I voted yes because I agree with items such as bute. However I would be very wary about vaccines especially as they are requirement for competition and I think that the record should be independent of the owner/rider, if it is serious enough for a vet to loose their license for back dating a dose I don't think the general public should administer.

I would also say no to antibiotics in most circumstances due the increasing resistance now being seen as people either give incorrectly or do not finish the course.

[Elliep25]

Yes for minor drugs, and think courses should be run. If there's money involved though it'll probably make no difference!

[Scoutie]

Sorry I should clarify for antibiotics, I mean a vet should perscribe the appropriate drugs but the owner could administer.

[hannahealasaid]

Yes for the most part. I agree that they should be able to give some, ie bute for things where the cause is known, but don't think it would be a good idea for things like vaccinations. Although on the other side of the argument, would this cause some horse owners to ignore a problem by stuffing the horse full of bute to save money instead of getting the vet out?