Keep in mind that AMDUCA does not give veterinarians “carte blanche” for extralabel use of medications. There are certain guidelines to follow. To the everyday veterinary practice, this means that the veterinarian should do the following when considering ELDU:
- Make a careful diagnosis and evaluation of the conditions for which the drug is to be used;
- First make certain there is no approved animal drug that is labeled for such use in that species, or that contains the same active ingredient in the required dosage form and concentration;
- Alternatively, if an approved animal drug exists but a veterinarian finds, within the context of a veterinarian-client-patient relationship, that the approved drug is clinically ineffective for its intended use, extralabel use of an alternative medication is permissible.
- Assure that the identity of the treated animal(s) is carefully maintained;
- Establish a substantially extended withdrawal period supported by appropriate scientific information prior to marketing milk, meat, eggs, or other edible products from the treated animals(s);
- In non-food-producing animals, a drug labeled for use in humans can be administered even if an animal-label drug for that species and medical condition exists.
