Why Should Pet Owners Care About Antimicrobial Resistance?
Your pet’s health matters, and so does how we treat infections. Antibiotics are powerful tools, but they must be used carefully. Overusing or misusing antibiotics can lead to resistance, in the future.
Your vet may have fewer treatment options or even impossible to treat and your pet could suffer longer or face more serious health risks. It would also be expensive for you.
By working together, vets and pet owners can help protect antibiotics for the future.
What is Antimicrobial Stewardship?
Antimicrobial stewardship means using antibiotics responsibly to:
Treat infections effectively
Reduce unnecessary use
Prevent resistance
Your vet follows UK guidelines to make sure antibiotics are only used when truly needed. Sometimes, your pet may recover with supportive care alone, without antibiotics.
What You Can Do as a Pet Owner
Here are simple steps to help protect your pet and fight resistance:
Follow your vet’s advice, only use antibiotics when prescribed by your Vet and complete the full course prescribed.
Never use leftover or human antibiotics.
Practice good hygiene, clean bowls, bedding, and litter trays regularly.
Keep up with vaccinations and parasite control.
Dispose of unused medicines safely, ask your vet or pharmacist.
Want to do more? Join the Antibiotic Guardian campaign and pledge to use antibiotics responsibly.