Topics and Briefing Documents

Adverse Reactions

Thankfully, harmful, unexpected side-effects to animal medicines are extremely uncommon. Before any animal medicine is allowed onto the UK market it has, by law, to satisfy very strict criteria on its quality, its effectiveness and its safety. However, once an animal medicine is in use, it is vital to know if any animals or people suffer unexpected problems following use or exposure to the product under field conditions.

Very occasionally animals may show some small mild reaction to a medicine - just as you may feel drowsy after certain common medications. But, if your animal is unwell after treatment with an animal medicine or if you are at all worried, contact your vet. This is just common-sense, whether or not your animal has received medication, and it is more than likely that the illness is totally unrelated to the medicine.

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), which administers the licensing system, runs a scheme to monitor reports of any reactions in animals and people following the use of animal medicines, called the Suspected Adverse Reaction Surveillance Scheme.

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Briefing Documents

• Pharmacovigilance: Monitoring Suspected Adverse Reactions to Animal Medicines
• Controls on animal medicines

Reporting forms

• Suspected Adverse Reaction Report Forms (Animal & Human) - the 'Yellow Form'
• Environmental Incident Report Form
• Suspected Residue of Antibiotic in Milk

Further guidance

• VMD Guidance for Registered Agricultural Merchants and Saddlers
• VMD Guidance for Veterinary Surgeons
• VMD Milk Antibiotic Residues Reporting Leaflet
• VMD Reporting Environmental Incidents Leaflet
• Veterinary Medicines Guidance Note 13: 'Marketing Authorisations for Veterinary Medicinal Products - Supplementary Guidance on Pharmacovigilance'