Supplements And Drugs

There is much confusion among horse owners about products. This stems from the avalanche of new products being marketed over-the-counter as nutraceuticals or nutritional supplements. The claims made about these products often are what classifies

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There is much confusion among horse owners about products. This stems from the avalanche of new products being marketed over-the-counter as nutraceuticals or nutritional supplements. The claims made about these products often are what classifies them either as a drug or a nutritional supplement, and determines whether the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has control over their sale.


Sharon Benz, PhD, leader of the Nutrition and Labeling Team at FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine, clarified some government definitions at an American Horse Council meeting. “A drug is any substance, food, or non-food that is used to treat, cure, mitigate, or prevent a disease,” she said. “A drug is also any non-food substance that is intended to affect the structure or function of the animal. Drugs must be shown to be safe and effective for their use. Any product administered by injection is also considered a drug,” such as Adequan, Legend, or Hylartin V.


Benz continued, “Part of what distinguishes a food from a food additive is intended use. For example, when vitamin E is used as a source of an essential dietary nutrient, it is considered a food. If it is used to treat or prevent azoturia or tying-up, it is a drug.


“Unapproved drugs on the market are deemed adulterated drugs and may be subject to regulatory action,” explained Benz. “In contrast, the law does not require a food to be subject to a pre-market approval process unless it is considered to be a food additive

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Written by:

Andrea Reynes is a free-lance journalist specializing in horses and the human-animal relationship. She has an animal care business in Lincoln, Mass.

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