The Effects of the Opioid Epidemic on Veterinarians

The current state of the opioid epidemic has made it a little bit more difficult to practice veterinary medicine, Gregg M. Griffenhagen, DVM, MS, DACVAA, anesthesiologist and clinical instructor at Colorado State University, says.

People put what they think for themselves on their pets, Dr. Griffenhagen says, so from a client standpoint, there has been some difficulty. Veterinarians are treating both patients and clients, so if the clients have heard that opioids are bad and they get abused, they then think opioids are bad for their pets. From a supply standpoint, there have also been some difficulties, Dr. Griffenhagen says. Some people want to prescribe fewer opioids and there have also been some manufacturing issues.