Regulatory and Legal Considerations of Anesthetics and Analgesics Used in Food‐producing Animals

Veterinarians and animal owners who are involved in the production of animals for human consumption are charged with providing healthy, wholesome, and safe products. For food-producing animals, the sponsor must demonstrate that food products derived from treated animals are safe for human consumption. The effects of antimicrobial use in food animals and resulting residues in animal products have received much attention, but human safety concerns unique to residues associated with anesthetic drugs exist. Alpha-2 agonists include xylazine, detomidine, and medetomidine, which induce sedation and analgesia. Ultra-short-acting barbiturates are most commonly used for induction of anesthesia. Benzodiazepines can be especially useful for use in high-risk animals, such as geriatric or debilitated livestock, because of their minimal cardiovascular and pulmonary effects. Local anesthetics include lidocaine, mepivacaine, and bupivacaine, which can be used as local analgesics for minor or standing surgeries and for epidural anesthesia in farm animals.