Use of Veterinary Pharmaceuticals in the United States

Veterinary pharmaceuticals are widely used in the United States for food-producing animals and for pet or companion animals The purpose of this chapter is to briefly familiarise the reader with the range of veterinary pharmaceuticals available for use in livestock species in the United States. These compounds include, but are not limited to, a variety of antibacterial and antimicrobial agents, reproductive aids, growth promoters, anthelmintics and antiparasiticides.Veterinary pharmaceuticals are administered at therapeutic levels for disease treatment and prevention purposes and for increased milk production. Administration at nontherapeutic levels is usually for disease prophylaxis, growth promotion, and increased feed efficiency.