ATLANTA, Ga. — Antibiotic resistance is often blamed on doctors over-prescribing medications.
The situation is no different among veterinarians who treat pets.
“Pets, especially cats and dogs, are a potential source of spread of antimicrobial resistance due to common use of antimicrobials in the pet population,” Jeff Bender of the University of Minnesota’s college of veterinary medicine told an antimicrobial resistance conference held in Atlanta, Georgia, Nov. 12-14.
“Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus is the biggest issue for companion animals.”
This is a bacterium often found on the skin and noses of people and can be removed with thorough hand washing. However, some of them are resistant to the antibiotic methicillin, and if untreated can be life threatening.
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Pets often receive medically im-portant antimicrobials such as cephalosporin and flouroquinolone. A 2002 study found that companion and non-food animals accounted for 37 percent of the pharmaceutical product sales in the European Union.
A recent survey of practitioners in Minnesota found 85 percent did not perceive antimicrobial resistance as a problem in their daily clinical practice.
More than 65 percent said their choice of antibiotics was based on whether the owner could afford to pay for it.
One-third of the respondents said they used antibiotics for clean surgical procedures such as spaying, castrations and uncomplicated mass removal.
More laboratory tests should be done to make sure an animal actually has a bacterial infection, and routine assessments should be done within 48 to 72 hours to make sure the prescription is working.
Bender said veterinarians often don’t provide the right dose, drug or duration to cure the problem.
A committee formed in Minnesota about a year ago to study companion animals and antimicrobial stewardship.
The aim is to understand practitioner prescribing behaviours and laboratory practices and develop practice guidelines on antibiotic use for companion animals. It will also develop a check list for veterinarians to consider so they can rule out non-bacterial causes of disease, try other therapies or stop using antimicrobials in certain cases.
For example, it is advised to avoid antimicrobial use in healthy pets with diarrhea.
As well, veterinarians should avoid drugs for respiratory disease and antibiotics for routine dental procedures in healthy patients. They shouldn’t routinely prescribe antimicrobials for cats younger than 10.
Bender also recommended the Antimicrobial Smart Vet, a recently developed smartphone app from the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association that walks a clinician through a urinary tract infection diagnosis and appropriate treatment plan. More diseases will be added in the future.
