Author Arturo Pérez-Reverte strongly criticizes new Spanish veterinary regulations concerning antibiotic administration to animals. He argues that while the restrictions on antibiotics in livestock farming are understandable, the extension of these rules to veterinary clinics and pets is excessive and harmful.
Reverte highlights the bureaucratic hurdles created by the new regulations, citing delays in treatment and increased administrative burdens for veterinarians. He claims these delays lead to preventable deaths of pets, as the process of obtaining and administering antibiotics becomes excessively complicated. The author gives personal anecdotes about his own pets to illustrate the problem.
He names Luis Planas, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food, as responsible for these regulations, criticizing his lack of consultation with veterinary professionals.