Veterinary medicines
Prescriptions
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Dispensing veterinary medicines
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Storage of poisons and restricted substances
5
Labelling and packaging prescriptions
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Prescriptions
A prescription refers to the instructions a doctor or veterinarian writes for
the preparation and use of a medicine. In a veterinary clinic, only a qualified
veterinarian is permitted to write a prescription.
What should a prescription include?
The prescription must include the name, address and telephone number of
the veterinary surgeon—this may be pre-printed. It must also include the
information listed below, written in ink in the veterinary surgeon’s legible
handwriting, unless otherwise approved. Repeat prescriptions can only be
authorised by the veterinarian.
1. The date on which it was written.
2. The name and address of the animal’s owner, and the species of
animal.
3. The name, strength and quantity of the restricted substance or drug
of addiction to be dispensed (in the case of a drug of addiction, the
quantity must be written in both words and figures.
4. Adequate directions for use.
5. The number of repeats, if the prescription is to be dispensed more
than once.
6. In the case of a prescription for a drug of addiction, an
anabolic/androgenic steroidal agent or amylobarbitone or
pentobarbitone injection which is directed to be dispensed more than
once, the time interval between repeat dispensing.
7. The signature of the veterinary surgeon.
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Dispensing veterinary medicines
Dispensing medicines for the treatment of animals should only be done
under veterinary direction. When using, scheduling, dispensing and
disposing of veterinary chemicals the relevant legislation needs to be
considered including:

Veterinary Chemicals Act 1994

Veterinary Practice Act 2003

Stock Medicines Act 1989

Poisons Act 1964

Pesticides Act 1999.
Therapeutic substances: scheduling of
drugs
Most therapeutic preparations have been given a classification according to
the poisons schedule, which determines their conditions of supply and
storage. A veterinary surgeon may only supply scheduled substances for use
in the course of animal treatment. Therapeutic substances within the clinic
are divided broadly into:

over-the-counter medications, often displayed in the waiting room—
may include some s5 and s6 preparations

prescription-only, by the veterinarian stored away from public
access—s4 and s8

under veterinary direction only—s2 and s3.
Not all medications will have schedule specifications, eg some shampoos
and nutritional products.
Preparations classified as restricted substances (S4) or drugs of addiction
(S8) are available for animal use on veterinary authority only, regardless of
whether or not they are registered as stock medicines.
An exception to this exists in the case of the emergency supply by
pharmacists under strict conditions of benzyl penicillin, including procaine
penicillin, in preparations for intramuscular use in animals.
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Important: The label of a product will usually indicate the poisons schedule
classification applicable to that product.
For example:

The label on an S4 drug is headed ‘PRESCRIPTION ONLY
MEDICINE’ or ‘PRESCRIPTION ANIMAL REMEDY’

An S8 drug, ‘CONTROLLED DRUG’

S2 or S3 medicines are labelled ‘PHARMACY MEDICINE’ or
‘PHARMACIST ONLY MEDICINE’ respectively.
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Storage of poisons and restricted
substances
Storing veterinary poisons and drugs
Substances specified in Schedules 3, 4 and 7 of the Poisons List are to be
stored in a part of the premises to which the public does not have access, for
example, in a cupboard or drawer in the surgery or in a storeroom, not the
waiting room.
Schedule 6 poisons—eg some parasiticide rinses—excluding those packed
and labelled for internal use in animals, are required to be stored either:

in a place to which the public does not have access, eg a storeroom

at least 1.2m above the floor (out of the reach of young children).
Over-the-counter medications
Before selling over-the-counter medication you need to confirm with clients
that it is appropriate for its intended use. Inform them of any special
directions or precautions required in its application such as:

method of application

wearing gloves while applying topical medications such as creams or
rinses

washing hands after use

being in a well-ventilated area (especially when using insecticide
sprays)

disposal of empty containers and wrapping.
Most over-the-counter products have a good back-up from manufacturers,
who allow you to contact them to answer any queries that customers may
have regarding products. Reading the product information sheets and talking
to the various representatives of the different companies helps when you
then have to talk to customers about products. Try to keep up with new
information and new products, as they become available to the market.
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If in doubt about how medications should be used or what precautions need
to be taken, ask your supervisor or the veterinarian.
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© NSW DET 2007
Labelling and packaging prescriptions
Labels
When a veterinary surgeon supplies a restricted substance (S4) or a drug of
addiction (S8) to an animal owner, whether in the manufacturer’s original
pack or repacked into another container, the veterinary surgeon must label
the primary container, for example, bottle or carton, with the following
details:

the words ‘keep out of reach of children’ in red on a white
background

the name of the animal’s owner and the species of animal

adequate directions for use (should be explicit—people tend to
forget verbal directions)

the name and address of the veterinary surgeon

in respect of a preparation for external use the word ‘poison’ or the
words ‘for external use’ in red on a white background

the name of the preparation unless it is a preparation compounded in
accordance with the veterinary surgeon’s own formula.
Packaging
In most cases, the preparation should be supplied in its original container.
Where the veterinary surgeon wishes to supply a smaller quantity and has to
repack it into another container, this container should be:

sufficiently strong to prevent leakage arising from the ordinary risks
of handling, storage or transport

securely closed and be capable of being re-closed (other than a
preparation packed for use on one occasion only)

preferably child proof.
Containers such as paper envelopes cannot meet these guidelines and should
not be used.
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A poison or restricted substance in liquid form intended for external animal
use should be supplied in a container which has the outer surface embossed
with the words ‘POISON’ or the words ‘NOT TO BE TAKEN’. In the case
of bottles, prominent vertical ribs or other such device should also be used—
this will make it distinguishable by touch from other containers ordinarily
used for foods, internal medicines etc. It is hazardous to use unmarked
medicine bottles made of clear glass for poisonous preparations intended for
external use.
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