Overview of diseases and drug needs for sheep and goats. Veterinarians' and producers' perspectives.

A survey among small ruminant veterinary practitioners and producers of the United States was conducted to determine the most important health problems of sheep and goats and the need for drugs to treat these diseases. Gastrointestinal nematodes and pneumonia were the most important health concerns. Ceftiofur, long acting tetracyclines, penicillins, tilmicosin and enrofloxacin were the antibiotics most needed. The approval of ivermectin and albendazole for goats, and fenbendazole for sheep were among the most common requests for anthelmintics. Veterinarians also stressed the need for drugs to manipulate the estrous cycle, anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics and anesthetics. Among the viral diseases, lentivirus infections (ovine progressive pneumonia and caprine arthritis encephalitis) and soremouth were the greatest concerns among veterinarians and producers. Both groups indicated that the availability of a generic antiviral drug would be important. The lack of a rabies vaccine was of great concern particularly among goat producers. Extra-label use of drugs in food animals may result in drug residues in tissues that may be hazardous for consumers. Therefore; in order for producers to provide high quality, safe products while remaining competitive in a global market economy, research to determine safety levels and tissue depletion times of new drugs is an urgent need for the sheep and goat industry.