Once a veterinary medicinal product is on the market, user experiences with the product are monitored. This is done by people such as veterinarians and animal owners reporting adverse reactions (undesirable effects) in animals, humans or the environment. By collecting and analysing these reports, we learn more about the veterinary medicinal product. Based on this information, new adverse reactions are listed in the package leaflet, including information on how often they occur. In some cases, actions can be identified that may prevent adverse reactions, such as including an extra warning in the package leaflet.
This monitoring of veterinary medicines is known as ‘veterinary pharmacovigilance’.