Wildlife Pharmaceuticals
Natural resource management and research programs conducted in natural areas often require the administration of pharmaceuticals to wildlife. Pharmaceuticals commonly used in wildlife programs include anesthetic agents, sedatives, antibiotics, vaccines, contraceptives, anti-parasitic drugs, and euthanasia agents. For the purposes of this discussion, the term “wildlife” means animals that are wild in their place of origin, as well as other wild-living or feral animals.
Many wildlife species cannot be safely restrained or handled without the use of pharmaceuticals. Pharmaceuticals are also used to treat or prevent non-native diseases or diseases resulting from human intervention, diseases that threaten at-risk species, or animal diseases that threaten human health. Occasionally, contraceptives are used as a form of reproductive intervention to control wildlife populations, and euthanasia agents may be administered when approved lethal control of wildlife is necessary.1
Regulatory Considerations
In the United States, most of the pharmaceuticals used for wildlife are federally regulated to help safeguard human and animal health. Veterinarians, their support staff and wildlife handlers must possess adequate knowledge and experience in the use of pharmaceuticals for wildlife to assure human safety and to provide an adequate standard for professional care.1
The use of vaccines and other veterinary biologics is regulated primarily by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), U.S. Department of Agriculture. An exception to this is that contraceptive vaccines, as well as other contraceptive formulations, used in free-ranging wildlife are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The use of other pharmaceutical agents in animals is under the jurisdiction of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
These laws and their implementing regulations govern the prescription of animal drugs and the extra-label use of drugs. Extra-label (or off-label) use of drugs refers to the administration of an approved human or animal drug in a manner not in accordance with label directions. Extra-label use of drugs for wildlife is often necessary because the drugs are not licensed specifically for use in these species.1
Many of the drugs used for wildlife, particularly for field anesthesia, are controlled substances whose use is restricted by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Controlled substances are narcotics and other dangerous drugs that are classified into five groups based on their potential for abuse and ability to cause psychic or physical dependence.
Finally, some pharmaceuticals, particularly new injectable anesthetics and contraceptives, are available for use prior to licensing to collect data that will be used in their registration. These products are regulated by FDA as Investigational New Animal Drugs (INADs) or by EPA under an Experimental Use Permit (EUP).1 Use of INADs and EUPs requires specialized authorization from the drug’s sponsor for application under a research protocol.
Generally, the care and use of animals in research is governed by the Animal Welfare Act. If pharmaceuticals are administered as part of a research project, requirements of the Animal Welfare Act, including protocol review and approval by an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), may apply. Wildlife management activities are not regulated under the Animal Welfare Act; however, other standards and professional society standards do exist.1
Classes of Pharmaceuticals for Wildlife
Veterinary pharmaceuticals are widely used in the United States for food-producing animals, pets, companion animals and wildlife. This includes a broad range of veterinary pharmaceuticals available for use 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.2
Veterinary pharmaceuticals may be loosely grouped into several classes. Antibiotics and antimicrobials are used to treat, control, and prevent diseases caused by microorganisms. Anthelmintic and antiparasitic drugs are approved for the treatment and control of internal and external parasites. Production drugs are intended to increase the rate of weight gain, improve feed efficiency, or increase milk production. There are also drugs approved for reproductive management, including drugs for estrus synchronization, induction of estrus, and pregnancy maintenance.2 Analgesics, sedatives and anesthetic drugs are used for the reduction of pain, and for the sedation of wildlife.
Drugs may be delivered to animals in a variety of methods including through feed or water, direct oral dosing, topical application, and by injection or implantation.2 In the case of wildlife, the remote delivery of drugs is frequently necessary.
Capture and Restraint of Wildlife
Veterinarians and animal care specialists who are familiar with a given species can often capture these animals just by manually restraining them, without the need for chemical immobilization. Each procedure requires staff to know the species’ defense systems and protection is based on that knowledge. In most cases however, the wildlife veterinarian will have to employ methods of manual and chemical restraint for wildlife species.
The well-being of the animals under study is of paramount importance. Improper restraint, especially of distressed animals, may lead to major and potentially fatal physiological disturbances. In addition, the capture of some species of animals may alter their behavior or predispose them to predation. The decision to use physical or chemical restraint should be undertaken through consultation with knowledgeable individuals. This should be based upon the length of the procedure, the invasiveness of the procedure, the need for analgesia, the degree of stress involved in the capture and restraint of a particular species, and the safety of the investigator.3
Predictable chemical restraint protocols with good analgesia and antagonists exist for some species, but not others. For many species, effective physical restraint (e.g., netgun capture) can be accomplished faster with fewer complications. Investigators should be competent in the restraint techniques to be used and should not allow unsupervised or inexperienced persons to handle any species until adequately trained to restrain, manipulate and release the animals properly.3
Chemical or physical restraint of wildlife may cause various forms of social disruption which should be considered in the planning process of the project. Social disruption is more detrimental at certain times of the year, especially during breeding. The pregnancy status of female animals should be taken into consideration, and physical or chemical restraint of pregnant females avoided, particularly during the last trimester of pregnancy, due to the potential risks to the health of the female and fetus. Generally, chemical restraint of animals with dependent young should be avoided as there is increased risk of abandonment.4
1nps.gov.
2Bloom, R.A. Use of Veterinary Pharmaceuticals in the United States. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, 2004.
3Arnemo, Jon & Evans, Alina & Fahlman, Åsa & Caulkett, Nigel. (2014). Zoo Animal and Wildlife Immobilization and Anesthesia, Second Edition. 10.1002/9781118792919.ch9.
4Canadian Council on Animal Care. Guidelines on the Care and Use of Wildlife (2003). ISBN: 0–919087–39–6.
About NexGen Pharmaceuticals
NexGen Pharmaceuticals is an industry-leading veterinary compounding pharmacy, offering sterile and non-sterile compounding services nationwide. Unlike other veterinary compounding pharmacies, NexGen focuses on drugs that are difficult to find or are no longer available due to manufacturer discontinuance or have yet to be offered commercially for veterinary applications, but which still serve a critical need for our customers. We also specialize in wildlife pharmaceuticals, including sedatives and their antagonists, offering many unique options to serve a wide array of zoo animal and wildlife immobilization and anesthesia requirements.
Our pharmacists are also encouraged to develop strong working relationships with our veterinarians in order to better care for veterinary patients. Such relationships foster an ever-increasing knowledge base upon which pharmacists and veterinarians can draw, making both significantly more effective in their professional roles.
Disclaimer
The information contained in this blog post is general in nature and is intended for use as an informational aid. It does not cover all possible uses, actions, precautions, side effects, or interactions of the medications shown, nor is the information intended as medical advice or diagnosis for individual health problems or for making an evaluation as to the risks and benefits of using a particular medication. You should consult your veterinarian about diagnosis and treatment of any health problems. Information and statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration ("FDA"), nor has the FDA approved the medications to diagnose, cure or prevent disease. Medications compounded by NexGen Pharmaceuticals are prepared at the direction of a veterinarian. NexGen Pharmaceuticals compounded veterinary preparations are not intended for use in food and food-producing animals.
NexGen Pharmaceuticals, LLC does not recommend, endorse or make any representation about the efficacy, appropriateness or suitability of any specific dosing, products, procedures, treatments, services, opinions, veterinary care providers or other information that may be contained in this blog post. NEXGEN PHARMACEUTICALS, LLC IS NOT RESPONSIBLE NOR LIABLE FOR ANY ADVICE, COURSE OF TREATMENT, DIAGNOSIS OR ANY OTHER INFORMATION, SERVICES OR PRODUCTS THAT YOU OBTAIN THROUGH THIS BLOG POST.