It’s only natural to be worried if your pet is unwell. We all love our pets as part of the family, which is why it’s really important to find a vet that you trust. If your vet doesn’t prescribe antibiotics, it’s because antibiotics won’t work against the infection or illness that your pet has. 

Antibiotic resistance is a worldwide issue, affecting both human and animal health. Antibiotics are essential for treating some infections in both people and animals. However, every time they are used, the chances of the bacteria becoming resistant increase. To make sure antibiotics don’t stop working (in people and pets), they should only be used properly and when absolutely necessary. 

We all have a part to play in preventing antibiotic resistance! Let’s take a look at the key facts.

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How do antibiotics work?

Antibiotics work by either killing bacteria (known as bactericidal antibiotics), or by preventing the bacteria from multiplying (bacteriostatic). They only work against bacteria, and will have no effect at all on viruses.

What is antibiotic resistance?

Antibiotics can be life saving for serious bacterial infections, so they are a very important medicine in both animal and human health. However, over time, bacteria can adapt to become resistant to antibiotics. Meaning that antibiotic won’t work against that infection any more. The more often we use antibiotics, the quicker the bacteria may adapt. 

Developing new antibiotics takes many, many years. This makes it even more important to protect the antibiotics we already have. 

What type of infection does not need antibiotics?

There are lots of illnesses where antibiotics simply won’t work. Examples include viruses, such as cat flu. The only exception to this are cases when a virus weakens the immune system, meaning that a secondary bacterial infection sets in, such as pneumonia, or sepsis following parvovirus. Thankfully, this is relatively rare.

Then there are situations where an alternative treatment could be better for your pet than antibiotics. Examples include:

  • Skin infections in the surface layers of the skin. Your vet may advise topical antibacterial treatments, such as shampoos or mousses. 
  • Ear infections. Your vet may suggest an ear cleaner or flush, with or without some anti-inflammatory treatment.
  • Cat bites. Opening and flushing the abscess or wound can mean that your pet won’t need antibiotics (some studies suggest that as many as 85% will recover just fine without!).

Most of the time, diarrhoea does not need antibiotics. Similar to when humans get a stomach bug, most diarrhoea resolves by itself. There are still some medicines that can help, such as probiotics and / or kaolin, but antibiotics are very rarely indicated.

Can I get antibiotics for my pet without seeing my vet?

You cannot, and should not, get antibiotics for your pet unless they have been prescribed by your vet. This includes not using antibiotics prescribed for your pet in the past, prescribed for a different pet in the house, nor sourcing online / elsewhere. Legally, pets can only be given antimicrobial drugs on prescription from a veterinary surgeon. In fact, it is actually illegal for anyone to sell a POM-V (prescription only) medication without a veterinary prescription.  

Even if your vet has prescribed antibiotics for the same condition in the past, it still may not be appropriate now. As with human medicine, veterinary medicine is continually evolving with the most up to date research and recommendations. Now that we know how dangerous antibiotic resistance is for your pets and your human relatives, vets are only allowed to prescribe antibiotics when it is absolutely necessary. For example, if antibiotics would only help your pet feel better a little faster, but your pet will get better on their own without antibiotics, your vet will not prescribe antibiotics. However, they may still be able to prescribe other medicines to help your pet feel better while their immune system fights off the infection.

Can an infection resolve itself without antibiotics?

Many infections will resolve without antibiotics. Remember, antibiotics only work against infections caused by bacteria. So, if your pet has a virus, antibiotics will not work. Giving your pet antibiotics when they don’t need them also increases the risk of the antibiotic not working for your pet in the future. This can mean the difference between life and death in serious bacterial infections. 

How pet owners (you!) can help stop antibiotic resistance

We all have a role to play in protecting the future of antibiotics! Antibiotic resistance affects humans as well as pets, so it’s really important that we protect them. 

Using antibiotics when they aren’t needed contributes to antibiotic resistance developing. Antibiotics also kill ‘good’ bacteria, which are important for the health of many organs, including the gut. ‘Good’ bacteria protect the body from ‘bad’ bacteria and support a healthy immune system. So, using antibiotics when they aren’t needed can be detrimental to your pet. 

Here are some top tips:

Never try to treat your pet yourself:

Many human drugs are poisonous to pets, and even medicines designed for pets can be dangerous if they aren’t used properly. You should never swap medicines with other people, nor with other pets in your household. You should only give your pet medicines that have been prescribed for them, for this particular illness (not some left over from when they were ill in the past!)

Follow the dosage instructions:

You should always give the dose of antibiotics (or any other medicine) that your vet puts on the label. It’s very important that your pet finishes the course, even if they start to feel better. If you stop the course early, some of the bacteria the antibiotics are fighting will remain. These remaining bacteria can then develop resistance to the antibiotic, so that antibiotic won’t work for your pet (and other pets) in the future. 

Communication:

Listen to your vet! If you don’t understand anything, talk to them. Your vet will be happy to explain their treatment plan. If your vet thinks your pet’s illness is not caused by bacteria, they may still be able to give some treatment, to help your pet feel better. You should never demand antibiotics from your vet. A vet is the only person qualified to make the decision as to whether antibiotics are necessary. 

Protect your pet’s health:

Healthy pets will have a stronger immune system. Just as with people, ensure your pet has a healthy diet, enough exercise and is a healthy weight. Regular health checks with your vet are important, as is keeping up to date with their vaccinations. 

Practice good hygiene: 

This helps to prevent the spread of infections between people and their pets, including bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics.

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has also put together a handy leaflet, which summarises the key points.

Communication with your vet is key! 

If you are concerned that your pet wasn’t prescribed antibiotics, ask your vet to explain. They will be able to reassure you and explain what their treatment plan does entail. If your vet thinks your pet will get better on their own- that’s good news! Remember, antibiotics won’t work against any infection, they will only work against infection caused by bacteria.

The good news? According to gov.uk, “sales of antibiotics for use in food-producing animals fell by nearly 10 percent in the last year and have more than halved since 2014!” . Antibiotic use has also reduced in companion animals, so we are all on the right track!

Further reading