When the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) took effect on January 1, veterinarians of companion animal felt the effects.

The VFD, enacted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, regulates antibiotics used for food-producing animals. Animals who before might have taken over-the-counter (OTC) antibiotics now have to have them prescribed by a veterinarian.

This includes backyard chickens, who have been growing in popularity that past several years. Need a little refresher on chickens on the VFD in general? The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has resources to help.

Their Backyard Chickens 101 guide provides information on topics like common poultry diseases, animal welfare, and CE opportunities. They also have a simple breakdown of what the VFD is and how the new regulations will affect veterinarians. You can also check out the information on certificates of veterinary inspection (CVIs) and disease resources.

These resources are a good starting point to start pecking away at the available information. Other information concerning regulations that affect veterinarians can be found on the AVMA’s blog.

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