Antibiotic Stewardship in Companion Animal Medicine: Welfare and Resistance

The use of antibiotics in companion animal medicine contributes to antimicrobial resistance while also representing a critical treatment tool — making responsible prescribing an ethical obligation for both animal welfare and broader public health reasons.

Key Facts

An estimated 15-25% of antibiotic prescriptions in companion animal medicine may be unnecessary, unnecessary, or involve the wrong antibiotic for the condition being treated
Antibiotic resistance in companion animal pathogens including MRSA and ESBL-producing bacteria is increasing, threatening treatment options for serious infections
Zoonotic transmission of resistant bacteria between pets and owners occurs regularly — resistant Staphylococcus aureus has been transmitted from dogs to humans in documented outbreaks
Culture and sensitivity testing before antibiotic prescription is considered best practice but adds cost and time that leads to empirical prescribing without testing in many cases
The cascade prescribing system in the EU allows vets to use human antibiotics in animals only when no licensed veterinary product exists for the species and condition
Last-resort antibiotics including carbapenems and colistin should be reserved for confirmed resistant infections — their use in companion animals is a direct public health concern
The British Veterinary Association and similar bodies have developed antibiotic stewardship guidelines that classify antibiotics by importance for restricting use of most critical agents

Welfare Considerations

Responsible antibiotic stewardship in companion animal medicine requires balancing the immediate welfare of the individual animal being treated against the broader welfare impact of contributing to resistance that will harm future animals and humans. An animal with a painful bacterial infection needs effective treatment — withholding antibiotics in the name of stewardship when an animal is suffering is not appropriate welfare practice. The welfare-responsible approach is to use antibiotics when genuinely needed, to select the most appropriate narrow-spectrum agent wherever possible, to culture before treating where practical, and to reserve last-resort antibiotics for confirmed resistant infections.

What You Can Do

Ask your vet about culture and sensitivity testing before antibiotic prescribing where the condition allows for the time this takes
Never pressure your vet to prescribe antibiotics for viral conditions such as cat flu where they are unlikely to help
Complete any antibiotic course prescribed for your pet — stopping early risks treatment failure and resistance development
Never use leftover antibiotics from previous prescriptions without veterinary guidance
Support veterinary practices that follow antibiotic stewardship guidelines and explain their prescribing decisions
Donate to One Health antibiotic resistance research that addresses the human, animal, and environmental dimensions together
Engage with regulatory campaigns for responsible antibiotic use in veterinary medicine in your country