Topics and Briefing Documents

Animal medicines for animal health and welfare

Why do animals need veterinary medicines?

We all have days when we feel fantastic, others when we are ‘a bit under the weather’ and times when, through no fault of our own, we are really quite poorly.

When we are ill most of us automatically turn to modern medicine to make us better. We can do this without a second thought because we know that the manufacturers have spent years developing their products to ensure their effectiveness and safety.

Like us, animals can also suffer from bacterial and viral diseases. In addition, like us, they can catch a cold, fall victim to a flu virus or suffer from what we might generally refer to as a ‘stomach bug’.

Unlike us, animals can’t communicate what is wrong with them. They rely on us to look after them and ensure they receive the medicines needed to treat the conditions that might cause distress or pain.

• Some common questions about medicines for farm animals
• Vaccination of companion animals
• Vaccination of farm animals
• Equine vaccination
• Antibiotics in animals
• Poultry medicines
• The cascade and human generic products
• Consumer attitudes to animal medicines

Press releases

• NOAH Conference to highlight the link between healthy animals and safe food (3 November 2006)
• The Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2005 - and you! (27 October 2005)
• VMD informal reaction on advertising goes 'a long way but not far enough' to answer communication concerns, says NOAH (20 April 2005)
• NOAH conference to emphasise the link between healthy animals and safe food (21 September 2004)
• NOAH emphasises the need for PML category for pets (12 July 2004)
• New UK regs need to allow best communication and advice for farmers: NOAH (12 July 2004)
• Don't give your pet a taste of your own medicine! (7 April 2004)
• Animal medicines can help health strategy succeed (23 March 2004)
• Animals walk the walk in the corridors of power (3 March 2004)
• Animal health and welfare strategy - animal medicines integral part (18 December 2003)
• NOAH supports report's 'prevention is better than cure' stance (31 October 2003)
• DEFRA welfare strategy - animals need medicines (15 July 2003)
• Medicine accessibility is key to future animal welfare (24 April 2003)0
• 2001 animal antimicrobial figures show care for animal health (16 April 2003)
• VPC Report on Antibiotic Resistance - antibiotics for animals "essential" (24 February 2003)
•  Government Response to Marsh: NOAH welcomes support for cascade (17 December 2002)
• New leaflet from NOAH shows how vaccines help farm animal welfare - and the production of healthy food from healthy animals (1 November 2002)
•  Importance of medicines to animal welfare recognised in DEFRA reshuffle (12 September 2002)
• Poultry medicines - your questions answered (4 September 2002)
• Why animals need medicines too - new NOAH leaflets answer common queries (1 July 2002)
• Animal medicines part of a sustainable future (18 April 2002)
• Benefits of pet vaccination recognised by independent committee (1 February 2002)
•  Animals would suffer under new EC regulations, warns NOAH (5 October 2001)
• Animal welfare report heralds regulatory reform (10 May 2001)
• Take the best from organic and conventional farming (22 February 2001)

See also

• Farm Health Planning website
• RUMA guidelines for the responsible use of vaccines and vaccination in farm animals
• NOAH submission to the DEFRA Outline Animal Health and Welfare Strategy
• DEFRA outline animal health and welfare strategy in GB (July 2003)
• NOAH submission to the DEFRA Proposal for an Animal Health and Welfare Strategy
• DEFRA Consultation on proposal for an Animal Health and Welfare Strategy
• Veterinary Products Committee Working Group on Antimicrobial Resistance in relation to Veterinary Medicines
• Veterinary Products Committee Working Group on Feline and Canine Vaccination - report to the VPC