Veterinarian Services at the La Crosse Fish Health Center
Veterinarians at Fish Health Centers
Veterinarians are needed at Fish Health Centers to prescribe treatments when fish at hatcheries are sick. Drugs can be administered surface use (immersion), injected, or mixed in with feed. A Veterinary Feed Directive drug is intended for use in animal feeds, and such use of the VFD drug is permitted only under the professional supervision of a licensed veterinarian. In the case of a Veterinary Feed Directive, the veterinarian works directedly with the feed mill to ensure the correct dosage and amount. There are not many approved drugs for fish so when all drugs are exhausted the veterinarian can use the Animal Medicinal Drug Use Clarification Act. The veterinarian can prescribe off label drugs commonly used in humans, or other terrestrial animals to treat fish. The must have a valid Veterinary-Client-Patient Relationship (VCPR) in place to do so.
More information on the Veterinary Feed DirectiveVeterinary Care Commitment and Clinical Guidelines:
- The veterinarian has assumed responsibility for making clinical judgments regarding the health of the animal(s) and the need for medical treatment, and the client has agreed to follow the veterinarian’s instructions;
- The veterinarian has sufficient knowledge of the animal(s) to initiate at least a general or preliminary diagnosis of the medical condition of the animal(s). This means that the veterinarian has recently seen and is personally acquainted with the keeping and care of the animal(s) by virtue of an examination of the animal(s), or by medically appropriate and timely visits to the premises where the animal(s) are kept;
- The veterinarian is readily available, or has arranged for emergency coverage, for followup evaluation if there are adverse reactions or a failure of the treatment regimen.
