So there are these sterile single-use disposable syringes:
https://kruuse.com/Files/Images/Products/112419_02.jpg
They come with or without a 25-gauge needle.
On the packaging it says “For veterinary use only”. What does that mean? What is the difference between a veterinary plastic syringe and a normal plastic syringe?
FDA approval?
It looks like that company provides vet med equipment exclusively, and I’m betting it is FDA approval for dual use that’s needed.
Whether you need a prescription to buy them?
The following persons or classes of persons may obtain hypodermic syringes and hypodermic needles without prescription for use within the scope of their professions or activities:
[ . . . ]
(3) veterinarians; [ . . . ]
(15) persons engaged in an agricultural activity, provided that the manufacturer, distributor or supplier of the hypodermic syringe or hypodermic needle or of any product pre-packaged in a hypodermic syringe has an established needle and syringe return program in compliance with any applicable law;
That is interesting, though it does not distinguish between different types of hypodermic syringes, just stating that if you are a physician. veterinarian, etc then the NY health department says you may buy syringes without a prescription. I should point out that the company in question is Danish and the syringes are made in China.
It’s true that the company manufactures vet equipment, I just would have thought that a syringe is a syringe, gloves are gloves, a scalpel is a scalpel… if is a regulatory issue, it is not obvious from your link.
My daughter (a nurse) tells me that these syringes are slip-tip, while she only uses luer-lock syringes at work. Also these have no needle guard to automatically shield the needle following use. She doesn’t know if that is why they are veterinary use only, but at her job they’d never order these.
That would be a matter of labeling requirements, which, you’re right, isn’t in that link. That’s why I had a question mark in my earlier post, because I don’t know whether it’s a requirement for selling syringes without a prescription that the label state they’re for uses that fall under that list.
I have bought these by the box for years for vaccinating livestock. Used to be that my feed store carried them, but recently they were not allowed to sell the needles only the plastic syringes (California). So you can get the vaccine or the injectable dewormer or the injectable antibiotics, but not the needles …
I haven’t bought any online recently but assume I still can.
I was reading just yesterday that diabetics should not wipe off their needles with an alcohol swab and try to use it again because the needles are coated with silicone to make them easier and less painful to inject. Also needles for human use come in very ultra fine sizes for the same reason. For someone who jabs themselves several times a day this is important. I doubt that needles for animal do this and if they are they approach the price of needles designed for use on humans.
I am sure you are right. Vet needles are super cheap.
Vet needles come in varying sizes for varying species. You don’t use the same size needle on a hamster as on a horse.
True, but I’d guess that the finer ones for hamsters cost more.
For my insulin pen I am prescribed BD Ultra Fine Mini needles and they run $53 a box without a script and about $11 a box with a script. When I ran out and couldn’t get another box paid for by insurance I was able to go on Amazon a get a box BD Micro-Fine needles for about $10 a box, no script needed. They work and I keep them around, but I can tell the difference between them in how they go in.
We injected one of my cats (may she RIP) every couple of weeks for a couple of her health issues. At first I was getting the syringe/needle combo from the vet. They pointed out (they were really good about stuff like this) that I could get them cheaper from my local pharmacy.
The only problem I had was that once I had written down the type we’d been using and they were out of stock. It was a question of what substitute would work. I had no idea what would be appropriate, but the pharmacist just asked me a few questions about how I used them, and cheerfully sold me a box that worked just fine.
I think the availability of syringes without a prescription might depend on what state you live in.
You damn near need a prescription to get a Kleenex tissue.
Once I drove a friend to a pharmacy after he had some surgery, to get some Rx filled. He was feeling sickish, so I asked the clerk if we could also get a barf bag. She gave me a graduated plastic bucket like this one, still in its original wrapping. Yes, it was marked “Rx Only”.
Syringes & needles are available online for veterinary purposes, from the usual farm & pet stores.
Only 5-1/2 states (CT, IL, MN, NJ, NY, & parts of FL) require a prescription from a vet (or doctor, I suppose). But only some of the online websites seem to make note of this (though possibly they check before shipping the order).