"Fentanyl was designed for animal use."

This is not true. Fentanyl was designed for use in humans and only later used in connection with animals. It is true that fentanyl is widely distributed by veterinarians for use with animals, and that it has similar effects on animals as on people. Because of this similarity, veterinarians may administer fentanyl because human reports of drug effects can be helpful in dealing with animal patients, who cannot tell doctors when they are in pain.

Veterinarians do have a dilemma in prescribing fentanyl or other analgesics because they must register with the DEA just as other medical professionals, and are under the same scrutiny. However, they do not have the luxury of providing social security numbers or medical history on their patients. This makes it easier for them to illegally obtain the drug. It also puts them under...