Final answer:
Veterinarians must have a degree in veterinary medicine and comply with FDA regulations, particularly those set by the CVM. They need to understand the safety and efficacy of drugs and ensure compliance with guidelines for the responsible use of veterinary products.
Step-by-step explanation:
For a veterinarian to prescribe, dispense, and administer drugs, they must have completed a degree in veterinary medicine. This educational background includes comprehensive coursework in various scientific disciplines including but not limited to comparative zoology, animal anatomy and physiology, microbiology, pathology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics. Additionally, they need to abide by regulations set forth by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), particularly the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM), which oversees the regulation of food, food additives, and drugs for animals. Vaccines for animals, which are not regulated by the CVM, are overseen by the United States Department of Agriculture.
Furthermore, it's crucial for veterinarians to understand the safety and efficacy of drugs they prescribe and administer, due to the regulation of medicines sold in the United States by the FDA. For pharmacies to sell a medicine, it often goes through years of testing to meet these standards. This ensures that both animals and humans are protected from unsafe drugs. Aside from this, to be qualified to handle veterinary products, veterinarians need to be knowledgeable about these products and comply with specific guidelines for their responsible use. They must ensure that only FDA-approved medications are prescribed and used in the treatment of animals.