Medicines for Pet Fish May Become Prescription-Only

Did you know it's possible your favorite pet fish medicine may soon become either illegal or at least require a prescription?

Today you can walk into any pet store and have a wide choice of fish medicines. Malachite green, methylene blue, formalin, potassium permanganate, metronidazole ... the list is endless. It can be difficult to know which one to buy, but at least you have choices. This could change in 2007.

What is "The Minor Use Act"?

Have you heard of the "Orphan Drug Act" for people? Meet the Minor Use Act for animals.

New legislation, officially named "The Minor Use and Minor Species Animal Health Act of 2004" was signed into law on August 2, 2004.

Starting in 2007, all fish pharmaceuticals, in order to remain on the market, will have to undergo a review process to prove their safety and effectiveness. If the drug's benefits are determined to outweigh its risks, the drug will be recommended to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for inclusion in an "index" of products legally available for use in minor species.

What animals does it include?

"Minor species" is any species other than cattle, horses, swine, chickens, turkeys, dogs, and cats. It includes fish as well as small pets such as guinea pigs and reptiles.

What is its intent?

The intent of this new legislation is to make more medications available for uses such as by zoos and pet owners. Currently the financial roadblocks involved in getting a new drug approved by the FDA have meant that pharmaceutical companies can rarely afford to bring such drugs to market.

So hopefully if we lose any of our current medications, there will be newer, better replacements. (There, that's me trying to be positive instead of negative.)

Will your fish need a prescription?

I have 300-400 fish at my house at any given time. Having something tried-and-true become unavailable is too scary to think about. I would most miss having access to malachite green and formalin formulations, used in many common tropical fish treatments, or potassium permanganate, the best all-around parasite and bacteria treatment when used properly, in my humble opinion. And even if they're still available, they may now require a prescription. If that happens, it could be an unacceptable challenge.

Not many fish vets

The American Veterinary Medical Association reports that there are currently about 1800 veterinarians who work with fish in this country. But only about 180 of those are in private practice. The other 90% works in the aquaculture and pet-trade industries or in academia. So where are we going to get those golden prescriptions?

Will it be harder or easier?

It's hard enough right now to treat sick fish. Will we be better off treating our fish in 2007 or will we have our hands tied?

As with so many things, only time will tell.