FDA warns against use of unapproved aspirin in lactating dairy cattle

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is informing veterinarians and farmers to stop using unapproved aspirin to treat pyrexia and pain in lactating dairy cattle.

The nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug is being used on some dairy farms to treat cattle infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI, more specifically avian influenza type A H5N1), according to a communication from the American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) to its members.

The FDA published a “Dear Veterinarian” letter on October 11 as a reminder and educational effort that the extralabel use of unapproved drugs in food-producing species is prohibited.

“The U.S. Food and Drug Administration understands that veterinarians and dairy farmers may be treating lactating dairy cattle for pyrexia and pain with aspirin and wants to clarify that there are no FDA-approved aspirin products for use in cattle,” the letter states. “There are FDA-approved products for controlling pyrexia and pain in lactating dairy cattle that are safe, effective, and have established milk and meat withdrawal periods.”

Flunixin meglumine is the only FDA-approved drug used in lactating dairy cattle for control of pyrexia associated with bovine respiratory disease and endotoxemia and for the control of relaxed inflammation.

In addition, Vazalore is the one FDA-approved human aspirin product that veterinarians may use in food-producing species under specific conditions, according to the Animal Medicinal Drug Use Clarification Act, also known as AMDUCA.

To allow extralabel drug use, a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship must be established, an appropriate withdrawal time must be assigned, violative residues must not result, and only approved human or animal drugs may be used. AMDUCA says a veterinarian should not prescribe a drug in an extralabel manner if there is an approved drug that is labeled for the indication unless that labeled therapy is ineffective as determined by the veterinarian.