Antimicrobials have a key role to play in protecting animal health and welfare. Protecting animals against disease contributes to the production of high quality food from healthy animals whilst minimizing the impact on the environment.
A comprehensive regulatory process applies before these medicines may be placed on the market. Veterinarians have the necessary detailed education to select the most appropriate medicine and to ensure safe use. The farmer has a key role to play in preventing disease and in ensuring that antimicrobials are used correctly.
Antimicrobials have revolutionized veterinary practice since their introduction more than 60 years ago. Many of these early medicines are still successfully used today although loss of efficacy through resistance development is an ever-present risk.
It is essential that all parties work together to ensure safe use and to minimise the development of resistance . A guiding principle with respect to antimicrobials should be “As little as possible, as much as necessary” since we owe it to both present and future generations to use these agents with care and discrimination. In this way those to come will benefit, as we have, from these valuable medicines.
The following organizations have identified themselves as being willing to participate in the discussions regarding pharmaceutical use in animals. This in no way implies complete endorsement of the entire text in this document.
Alberta Veterinary Medical Association (ABVMA)
Suite 950,Weber Centre,
5555 Calgary Trail NW,
Edmonton, AB, T6H 5P9
Phone: 780-489-5007, Toll-Free: 1-800-404-2862
Fax: 780-484-8311
www.abvma.ca
Alberta Farm Animal Care (AFAC)
Cambrian PO Box 75028, Calgary, AB, T2K 6J8
