As a horse owner, you are regularly bombarded with advertisements for various products that will supposedly cure your horse’s arthritis. On the other hand, you might have noticed that your veterinarian uses pharmaceutical products that are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and you only have access to them through a veterinarian’s administration or prescription. It is important to realize that FDA approval brings assurance that your veterinarian is using a product that has met stringent standards for quality, consistency, and safety. Veterinarians know that unapproved pharmaceuticals that are not subjected to rigorous approval and monitoring processes of the FDA can present unnecessary risks to their patients and practice. Many horse owners and trainers are unaware of the facts and ramifications associated with the pharmaceutical products not approved by the FDA, particularly if an unexpected, adverse reaction occurs.

“Science is the cornerstone of good regulatory decisions,” according to former FDA Commissioner Jane E. Henney, MD. “While statutes such as the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act give the FDA the authority to regulate various industries and products, it is the science that provides the knowledge needed to develop and apply the regulations in the right way.” The Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act of 1938 (known as FDCA) provides clear-cut definitions for an FDA-approved animal drug