college connection
ANTIMICROBIAL STEWARDSHIP
IS A WRITTEN
PRESCRIPTION
REQUIRED?
As of December 1, 2018, Health Canada
moved all medically important antimicrobials
to the prescription drug list. All animal owners
will need to have a prescription from a
veterinarian to purchase antimicrobials to treat
their animals.
The College has received inquiries from
veterinarians for clarification on providing
prescriptions and whether all antimicrobials
require a written prescription. A written
prescription (or script) is only required when
the intent is for the client to have the drug
dispensed at a pharmacy of their choice.
When the veterinarian is both prescribing and
dispensing the drug, a written prescription
is not necessary. Veterinarians are required
to document the information in the animal’s
medical record as outlined in the Professional
Practice Standards Prescribing a Drug and
Dispensing a Drug.
When antibiotics are to be added to feed at
a feed mill, the veterinarian provides a written
prescription for this purpose. Templates for
feed prescriptions have been developed
by Health Canada and the Canadian Food
Inspection Agency and are available as a
resource on the College’s website at cvo.org.
Use of these templates is optional.
STEWARDSHIP RESOURCES AVAILABLE
CVMA launches online platform
The Canadian Veterinary Medical
Association (CVMA) Guidelines for Veterinary
Antimicrobial Use is an online platform to
support Canada’s veterinarians in making
sound decisions on the appropriate and
responsible use of antimicrobials in animals.
The platform provides a searchable interface
with filtering capabilities for quicker access
to information on antimicrobial use. It also
allows for frequent information updates and
the addition of new resources to ensure it
represents the latest in guidance and science-
based knowledge. The platform is accessible
from a variety of devices, including laptops,
tablets, and smartphones).
The platform covers six species groups:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Beef
Swine
Dairy
Small Ruminants (sheep)
Poultry
Companion animals (canine, feline)
Who Can Access?
All licensed veterinarians in Canada have
been granted access to the platform until
April 1, 2019. After that, only active CVMA
members will have full access.
www.canadianveterinarians.net/AMU-UAM
Farmed Animal Antimicrobial
Stewardship Initiative
The Farmed
Animal
Antimicrobial
Stewardship
Initiative
(FAAST)
is another
resource that
aims to tackle
resistance
head on
through
education,
collaboration,
and
engagement across the value chain.
An initiative of the Ontario Veterinary Medical
Association (OVMA), FAAST helps Ontario
veterinarians, farmed animal owners, and their
representative organizations:
•
•
•
improve antimicrobial stewardship in
farmed animals
prepare for upcoming policy and
regulatory changes, and
preserve the efficacy of antimicrobials
without compromising animal health or
food safety
Veterinarian FAASTsheets provide
veterinarians with the tools they need to be
leaders in antimicrobial stewardship.
www.amstewardship.ca
COUNCIL AMENDS BY-LAWS PERTAINING TO INVESTMENT
Council strengthened its By-Law 4.08 to
ensure the College’s investment strategies
assure the preservation of its capital
accompanied by modest fund growth when
the financial sector is stable.
With the advice of RBC Dominion Securities,
Council proposed a change to the By-Law
which would limit any high risk options of
investment strategy and increase safety in the
investment options.
At its December meeting, Council reviewed
input received during the 65-day public
consultation on the draft By-Law change.
The consultation feedback was generally
favourable and supportive of tightening the
College’s investment options.
Suggested amendments were discussed with
the College’s financial advisor and presented
to Council. Council reviewed the consultation
feedback and approved the amendment with
the addition of the word “Canadian” in section
(i). Please visit the College website at www.
cvo.org/public-consultations to review the
report on the consultation.
The revised By-Laws can be found at www.
cvo.org/bylaws.
Winter 2018 / 7