And while no one knows yet whether Burnett suffered any ill effects, the improper use of a drug as familiar as penicillin can cause side effects and contribute to the spread of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. But antibiotics are hardly the only drugs intended for animals being snapped up by humans. He was potentially damaging his kidneys and contributing to liver damage. Though Equipoise is still on the market, veterinarians rarely recommend it for horses because it makes them high-strung and can weaken their bones. While some people use animal medications because they are cheaper and easier to get than prescription drugs, others are seeking altered states of mind.
Criminals often break into veterinary offices and trucks to steal it.
Some people pretend to be animal owners to get products they couldn't otherwise lay their hands on. In some states, including California, needles and syringes can be obtained legally only if the buyer signs a statement saying the items will be used on animals only. There has been at least one report of a toddler who died after taking acepromazine prescribed for the family Doberman. Acepromazine is a relative of the antipsychotic drug Thorazine. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Center for Veterinary Medicine, no governmental body tracks crossover use of animal preparations.