The Role of Veterinarians in Combatting Antimicrobial Resistance

This approach can be confusing for pet guardians. The rationale behind it ties into a larger public health concern known as antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Antimicrobials include antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, and antiparasitic drugs. Resistance arises when microorganisms evolve to withstand treatments that previously eliminated or inhibited them. Each time an antibiotic is prescribed, susceptible bacteria may be destroyed, but resistant ones can survive and proliferate, highlighting the need for careful antibiotic use.

Veterinarians share many bacteria, environments, and antimicrobial agents with humans, allowing resistant bacteria to transfer between species through contact, contaminated food, and various environments. This interconnectedness underscores the One Health concept, which emphasizes the link between human, animal, and environmental health.

In veterinary education, students from various health disciplines collaborate on mock public health scenarios to illustrate the intersection of veterinary and human medicine and the benefits of cross-disciplinary cooperation. Veterinarians are thus not merely deciding on antibiotic prescriptions; they are contributing to a broader effort to maintain the efficacy of these medications for all species.

In practice, veterinarians first ascertain whether an infection is present, often requiring additional testing like cultures or bloodwork. A common misconception involves metronidazole, an antibiotic traditionally used to treat gastrointestinal issues in dogs. New evidence suggests that its routine use for acute diarrhea is often unwarranted, since many cases resolve on their own with supportive care. Antibiotics, in such instances, can disrupt the gut microbiome and may not provide significant benefits, indicating that metronidazole should not be prescribed solely for diarrhea.

For recurring conditions, such as ear infections, veterinarians aim to identify and address underlying issues, like allergies, rather than relying solely on antibiotics. While antibiotics can be necessary in some cases, they may only temporarily resolve problems without addressing root causes.

Veterinarians remain committed to responsible antibiotic use, selecting treatments based on the patient's specific needs. This includes sometimes opting for narrow-spectrum antibiotics and considering cultures to precisely target infections.

Pet owners can also play a vital role in ensuring responsible antibiotic use. Following prescriptions carefully and never sharing leftover medications among pets is essential since treatment for one pet may be inappropriate for another.

Antibiotics have vastly improved modern medicine, but their long-term efficacy requires collective vigilance from veterinarians, physicians, public health professionals, and the public alike. Understanding that a veterinarian may forgo antibiotics in favor of alternative treatments signifies a commitment not only to immediate pet health but also to sustaining these vital medications for future use.

Dr. Kelly Voss is a veterinarian at Aspen Animal Hospital specializing in small animal medicine and surgery. She has a background in emergency and critical care and aims to provide high-quality veterinary care in her community.