Russian government permits ketamine use in veterinary

[QueenScoopalot]

http://www.interfax.ru/e/B/0/28.html?id_issue=10700199

Sep 6 2004 4:52PM
Russian government permits ketamine use in veterinary
MOSCOW. Sept 6 (Interfax) - The Russian government has permitted veterinarians to use ketamine (a psychotropic drug for anesthesia).

The administration approved regulations on the use of narcotic and psychotropic drugs in veterinary last week, head of the Veterinary Department at the Federal Veterinary and Phitosanitary Service Ivan Rozhdestvensky told Interfax.

He said the Agriculture Ministry and the Health Ministry put ketamine on the list of narcotic and psychotropic drugs permitted in veterinary several months ago, but veterinarians could not use it before authorization. "Now the government has set the rules for using, storing and accounting the drug and specified other details of the issue," he said.

[QueenScoopalot]

And it's about time they smartened up! I've heard of too many animals going in for surgery and dying from the terrible pain associated with it. :(

[Jods]

I didn't know what the drug was and thought other ppl might not either so I found a link...

thats terrible...
http://www.health.org/nongovpubs/ketamine/

[QueenScoopalot]

Thanks for adding the link Jods! ;)

[CathyBogart]

I have extremely mixed feelings about this....on one hand it's a very good thing for the animals....on the other hand...erf, it just hits a bit close to home in another way. :( I think I'll wait and see how this thread goes before I say more.

[lizbud]

I'm glad to hear that things have changed for the better.
Here's an old HSUS article that gives some background on how
this whole "snafu" came about in Russia.

http://www.hsus.org/ace/21425

[QueenScoopalot]

Originally posted by lizbud
I'm glad to hear that things have changed for the better.
Here's an old HSUS article that gives some background on how
this whole "snafu" came about in Russia.

http://www.hsus.org/ace/21425

This is probably where I first heard about the Russian gov. banning ketamine's usage. In the U.S it IS abused by people, but I'm not sure the same goes in Russia. The bottom line is, a lot of animals have suffered by this government 'oversight'. I can only hope the vets won't be prosecuted for doing what they are supposed to be doing, and that's saving lives humanely, and as painlessly as possible. ;)