Ethics: Navigating Your Practice in light of Animal Health Company Incentives and Rebates

By Nat Messer DVM, DABVP; Eric Peterson DVM; and Kenton Morgan DVM, DACT

In recent years there has been a movement by clients and the profession to reduce the impact of product sales on our income base and focus more on charging for our services and expertise. This trend is also occurring in other veterinary sectors. This is no doubt a good direction but many equine practitioners do dispense  pharmaceutical and vaccine products. Because we are primarily focused on individual patient care, the use of these products is an important component in our arsenal to help maintain the health and welfare of the horse. As such, it is necessary for most practitioners to maintain some level of drug and vaccine inventory.