Pets May Contribute to Rising Antibiotic Resistance, Researchers Warn
Recent research reveals that antibiotic use in household pets like dogs and cats may be fueling the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, highlighting the need for improved stewardship in veterinary medicine.
Antibiotic resistance poses an escalating threat to human health, with bacteria such as E. coli and staph increasingly developing the ability to resist even the strongest antibiotics. Compounding this problem is the widespread use of antibiotics in household pets like dogs and cats. Recent studies highlight that the antibiotics commonly prescribed for pets often mirror those used in human medicine, including drugs like amoxicillin combined with clavulanate (Clavamox for animals and Augmentin for humans). This similarity in treatment approaches raises concerns, as resistant bacteria can transfer between pets and humans, facilitating the spread of resistance.
Unlike human healthcare settings, where antimicrobial stewardship programs are standard and federally mandated, veterinary medicine lags behind in implementing similar measures. Surveys reveal that only about half of veterinary schools have dedicated antimicrobial stewardship committees, and many face barriers such as limited staff time and insufficient training for faculty and support staff. Despite some integration of antimicrobial education in veterinary curricula, significant gaps remain.
Veterinarians increasingly encounter cases involving resistant infections, often linked to overuse or inappropriate use of antibiotics. For example, antibiotics are frequently administered prophylactically during surgeries or for conditions like acute diarrhea—practices now being reevaluated as research shows many of these treatments may be unnecessary. Experts are drawing lessons from human medicine for better antibiotic practices, including shorter treatment durations supported by scientific evidence.
Advances in understanding antibiotic overuse in both humans and animals are crucial in addressing resistance. By improving stewardship efforts across veterinary practices and educating veterinary professionals, the goal is to minimize unnecessary antibiotic use and curb the development of resistant bacteria. Ultimately, tackling antibiotic resistance requires a unified approach that includes responsible antibiotic use in pets, which are increasingly involved in the resistance landscape.
Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-pets-adding-antibiotic-resistance.html
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