About veterinary medicines
Animal health terms, flea and tick products, vaccines and pharmaceuticals.
Animal health terms
- AHCZSK
- Animalhealth CZ/SK – an association of pharmaceutical companies.
- Antibiotic resistance
- The ability of microorganisms such as bacteria to withstand antibiotic treatment. Some bacteria are naturally resistant to specific antibiotics. In other cases, bacteria develop resistance to an active substance to which they have been exposed for some time and to which they were previously susceptible. Selection for resistance is a natural process that results in the survival of the most resistant bacterial strains.
- Antibiotics
- Substances obtained or derived from living organisms that kill bacteria or inhibit their growth or reproduction.
- Antimicrobial
- An agent that kills bacteria or suppresses their multiplication and growth. Includes antibiotics and synthetic agents.
- Antimicrobial resistance
- The result of microbes changing in ways that reduce or eliminate the effectiveness of medicines, chemicals or other agents designed to treat or prevent infections.
- Bacteria
- Any of a large group of microscopic, single-celled organisms that live in soil, water, plants, organic matter or the living bodies of animals or people. Bacteria can be beneficial, but in certain conditions they can cause illness.
- Biologicals
- Products that stimulate an animal’s immunity to infection. They are generally derived from living organisms.
- Diagnostic test kit
- A biological or medical device that helps farmers and veterinarians to diagnose illness in animals.
- Efficacy
- Proof of a product’s effectiveness.
- Enteric
- A term relating to the digestive tract.
- Feed additive
- A substance added to feed, for example to improve its nutritional value, promote growth or control disease.
- Infection
- An invasion by organisms such as bacteria or viruses. Some infections lead to disease.
- Major species
- Cattle, horses, pigs, chickens, dogs and cats are regarded as the major species. These are the domesticated populations for which most veterinary medicinal products are produced.
- Medicine
- A substance intended for use in the treatment and prevention of disease in humans and animals.
- Microbes/Microorganisms
- Any organism of microscopic size, such as a germ, virus or pathogen.
- Minor species
- Examples include zoo animals, fish, parrots, ferrets and guinea pigs. Some farm animals are also classed as minor species: sheep, goats, catfish, game birds, bees and others.
- Pathogens
- Bacteria, viruses, parasites or fungi that can cause disease.
- Prophylaxis
- The use of a medicine to prevent or limit the occurrence of disease.
- Prudent use (of antibiotics)
- A set of principles developed by global organisations representing the animal health industry (HealthforAnimals, formerly IFAH), the veterinary profession (World Veterinary Association) and farmers (International Federation of Agricultural Producers), which emphasise the need for professional supervision of antibiotic susceptibility and resistance and for considering alternatives to antibiotics. Put simply, prudent use means giving antibiotics only where this ensures the production of safe and wholesome food and delivers economic and environmental benefits without jeopardising human health.
- SVS
- State Veterinary Administration (Státní veterinární správa)
- ÚSKVBL
- Institute for State Control of Veterinary Biologicals and Medicines, based in Brno.
- ÚŠKVBL
- Institute for State Control of Veterinary Biologicals and Medicaments, based in Nitra; the Slovak counterpart of ÚSKVBL.
- UVLF
- University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice
- Vaccine
- A biological preparation that improves immunity to a particular disease. It typically contains an agent that resembles a disease-causing microorganism and is usually made from weakened or killed forms of the microbe or its toxins.
- Veterinary medicinal products
- The pharmaceuticals, vaccines, feed additives and pesticides used in modern livestock production, and the products used to treat companion animals.
- Veterinary medicine residues
- Residual traces of medicinal compounds present in the edible tissues of animals.
- VFU
- University of Veterinary Sciences Brno (formerly the University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno)
Flea and tick products
Fleas and ticks, along with intestinal parasites, are controlled primarily through the use of pesticides. AHCZSK members work closely with national regulatory agencies to ensure the approval of safe and effective chemical agents that can combat the spread of parasites in people and animals.
For some dogs and cats, a flea bite can mean more than an itchy annoyance. Fleas can cause allergies or anaemia. Ticks are also dangerous to animals and can transmit certain diseases, such as Lyme disease. An animal can bring a tick into the home and so put the family at risk.
Vaccines
As with human vaccination, veterinary vaccines are given to prevent various diseases in animals. Companion animals are usually vaccinated against rabies, parvovirus, distemper and hepatitis. Farm animals are often vaccinated against rotavirus, E. coli or brucellosis.
Vaccinating animal populations supports their health and welfare. The goal of vaccination programmes is to prevent disease and so promote the optimal health of the patient, the herd and the public. Even though some formerly common diseases have disappeared, vaccination is still strongly recommended, because the agents of often serious diseases continue to survive in certain environments.
Pharmaceuticals
Veterinary pharmaceuticals are primarily used to treat or prevent diseases or infections. Both vaccines and pharmaceuticals are essential for keeping animals healthy.
Because animals cannot take medicines themselves as people can, veterinary medicines come in many forms that make it easier for the owner or the veterinarian to administer them. These include flavoured tablets, solutions, injections, powders, drenches, feed additives given in feed, boluses (a large pill made for veterinary use), spot-ons and others.
Types of pharmaceuticals
Pharmaceuticals cover a broad range of products, including antiparasitics, anti-inflammatory medicines, anaesthetics, pain relief, antibiotics and specialised products for managing reproductive, cardiovascular and metabolic conditions. Veterinarians are trained in the diagnosis and proper treatment of diseases in animals, and the treatment of an animal should always be discussed with them.
Government regulation
Veterinary pharmaceuticals are regulated by ÚSKVBL in Brno and ÚŠKVBL in Nitra. The standards and processes for controlling veterinary pharmaceuticals are in most respects the same as for products intended for people.
Institutions
The authorities and agencies responsible for veterinary medicines in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and the European Union.