Animal prescription medicine leading to wrong advice – vet

'Prescription medicine' for animals being sold by pet shops is leading to the wrong advice, exacerbating the animal's condition as a result, according to outspoken veterinary doctor Victor Vassallo.

Vassallo told MaltaToday that it was high time to start regulating over-the-counter medicines for animals sold in pet shops, in the same way that medicines administered for human consumption are regulated by an authority.

Vassallo said that vaccines were being sold in pet shops, but their sale was not as blatant as the sale of medicines containing antibiotics.

"The sale of vaccines may lead to failing to protect the animal from parasites as a result, since some animals require different doses of vaccines," Vassallo said.

Other sources who confirmed with MaltaToday that prescription medicines were being sold over the counter from pet shops, compared the alleged purchase of prescription drugs for animals from pet shops to the same way humans would be able to purchase prescription medicines from a grocery store.

"There's plenty of lobbying for patients to present a prescription on purchasing medicines from pharmacies such as antibiotics. In the same way, authorities should also make sure this happens when purchasing medicines for animals too," sources told MaltaToday.

A number of professionals in the field are calling on authorities to regulate the sale of prescription drugs, insisting that the regulatory department concerned conducts more frequent random spot checks to cut down on "this blatant abuse".

A pet shop owner who preferred to remain anonymous questioned why prescription animal feed was only sold in veterinary clinics, referring to it as a "racket".

"The current system has created a monopoly on the sale of prescription only food among veterinarians as they are the only ones entitled to sell it.

"When a human patient visits a doctor, the doctor in turn issues a prescription for the patient to purchase POM medicine from a pharmacy. Why aren't vets asked to follow the same system, where animal owners could have the option of purchasing prescription food from pet shops?" the pet shop owner argued.

However, when contacted by MaltaToday, Dr Roberto Andrea Balbo, chairman of the Veterinary Surgeons Council and director of the Veterinary Regulation within the rural affairs ministry, strongly denied suggestions that pet shops were allegedly selling prescription medicines.

He was adamant to point out that any "proper" reports lodged to the regulatory department would be "treated in strictest confidence" and "taken very seriously".

"It is highly unlikely that these illegalities are taking place since the medicinal unit regulatory department monitors and regulates the sale of prescription medicines as it is illegal to sell medicines over the counter, other than a veterinary clinic or pharmacy.

On the other hand, a regulatory department official told MaltaToday that due to a "lack of staff" the department couldn't conduct as many spot checks as it would like to conduct.

As yet, according to Balbo, "we have never received any reports of this nature. Besides, the wholesalers who are licensed to sell prescription-only medicines are authorised to sell to veterinary clinics or pharmacies only."

The majority of medicines prescribed to treat animal conditions are the same ones prescribed to humans.

Balbo added that it was illegal to sell prescription drugs over the counter and if caught selling without having the necessary expertise, one is bound to face an administrative fine.

Vassallo was surprised to hear Balbo denying such claims. "It is no secret that this kind of abuse existed. The blatant and unauthorised selling of prescription drugs such as medicines that contain antibiotics like ear ointments is leading to unprofessional advice. The wrong use of prescription medicines may as a result aggravate the animal's condition if incorrectly used since it may lead to the parasitic worms living on the animal becoming drug resistant."

Vassallo strongly advised that pet owners should always turn to a veterinary doctor prior to administering prescription medicine.

"A veterinarian should be the only person entrusted to diagnose an animal, and if the need arose, prescribe the appropriate medicine accordingly."