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Perry Veterinary Clinic cited by FDA for unsafe drug administration
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An investigation conducted by the FDA this summer revealed that Perry Veterinary Clinic of Perry, NY caused the animal drug sulfadimethoxine to be used in an unsafe manner, and that Perry's unsafe use of the drug caused dairy cows offered for slaughter to contain illegal drug residues in their edible tissues. The investigation occurred between June and August on five separate dates.
Sulfadimethoxine is an antibacterial approved for treating pneumonia in dairy calves, dairy heifers and beef cattle.
Perry prescribed sulfadimethoxine to treat lactating dairy cattle at a dosage greater than provided for on the drug label. Exceeding approved dosages is considered an extra-label use of the drug, and federal law specifically prohibits sulfadimethoxine from extra label use in lactating dairy cattle. Two dairy cows under Perry's care and offered for slaughter as food were found to contain illegal residues of sulfadimethoxine.
Federal law also requires a prescribing veterinarian to take appropriate measures to assure that assigned time frames for withdrawal are met and places the burden on veterinarians to insure that no illegal drug residues remain in any food producing animals subjected to an extra-label drug treatment.
The American Veterinary Medical Association considers the extra-label use of any veterinary prescription drug to be unethical, unless the veterinarian assumes and maintains a Veterinarian-Client Patient Relationship with the animal under his care.
Perry Veterinary Clinic has fifteen days from October 28, 2009 to respond to the allegations and advise the FDA of the steps taken to correct the violations and prevent their recurrence. According to Dean Rugnetta, Compliance Officer with the US FDA in Buffalo, NY Perry's response has not yet been received.
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