RESPONSIBLE USE OF ANTIBIOTICS
Antibiotics, as we know, kill or suppress bacteria. They do NOT kill viruses. Most antibiotics, as
opposed to antiseptic creams, shampoos and lotions, are given by injection or in a form to be taken by
mouth. This means that they enter the blood system in order to combat infections. Whilst this is an
effective way of treating some infections, it also means that the antibiotic cannot concentrate itself in
the infected area, but is diluted throughout the body. This is called Systemic Therapy.
When thinking about whether an antibiotic is right for your pet you need to consider:
1. Antibiotic resistance, we now know, is directly related to the levels of antibiotic use –
inappropriate antibiotic use leads to more resistant bacteria, which cause more serious
infections;
2. Many conditions can be treated without antibiotic injections, or tablets. Alternatively, the
antibiotics or antiseptics could be applied as gels, creams or lotions directly to the infected
area;
3. If antibiotics are prescribed for your pet, it is important to keep to the exact dosing
instructions the vet gives;
4. Vets sometimes feel pressured into prescribing antibiotics – do not let your desire to see
your animal treated cause you to push for (and spend on) unnecessary antibiotic
treatment.
Antimicrobial Resistance.
When antibiotics were first used, it was not foreseen that bacteria would develop the wide range of
resistance we now see. In response, scientists created new and varied types of antibiotics, but bacteria
continued to develop resistance, and MRSA (of which most of us have heard) was thus in part a direct
result of our over-use of antibiotics. It has been proven that the more often any individual antibiotic
is used, the more likely it becomes that bacteria will develop resistance. Effective new types of
antibiotic have become much more difficult to develop and with fewer new antibacterial agents
becoming available, the possibility of bacteria appearing which are resistant to all antibiotics has
become an increasing worry.
Leading clinical experts in both human and animal health now agree that to reduce bacterial
resistance rates and to make sure that antibiotics work when we really need them, we must
avoid using them when we DON’T need them!
The best rule of thumb is that we should use just enough antibiotic to do the job, for just as long as
is necessary. This does not change the fact that certain deep or severe infections need very long
courses of antibiotic therapy (even several months’ treatment) – however, we should be seeking to use
no more of any individual drug than is necessary.
Other reasons not to use Antibiotics.
Aside from bacterial resistance, antibiotics may have undesirable effects on your pet. Some of these
effects relate to:
1. Commensal bacteria
These are beneficial bacteria that normally live on all animals. They generally cause no problem
and even make it more difficult for other bacteria to flourish and cause problems. Antibiotics may
kill these ‘helpful’ organisms and therefore allow them to be replaced by other, more harmful
bacteria.
2. Hypersensitivity
Hypersensitivity occurs when a pet’s immune system over-reacts to even tiny amounts of a drug
and causes an allergic reaction. This can be life-threatening as people who are allergic to
penicillin well know.
3. Direct drug toxicity
To be effective against some bacteria, some kinds of antibiotics need to be used at doses which
can cause damage to tissues and make the treated animal feel ill, e.g. the class of antibiotics
known as aminoglycosides can cause ear damage;
4. Breed specific problems.
Doberman Pinschers may be particularly likely to react badly to the sulphonamide group of
antibiotics.
Although these problems are not common, we need to know, before giving an animal an antibiotic, that
the risks are worth taking – again, that means knowing that the antibiotic is absolutely necessary.
When are Antibiotics Needed?
In general there are only three times when antibiotic use is necessary:
1) When definite bacterial infection is present and will not respond to other treatment
2) Where infection may not be present but is highly likely to develop
This is particularly where a patient has an impaired immune system
3) Where an infection could lead to total catastrophe
It is often the case that antibiotics are required when a surgical procedure (such as
orthopaedic surgery) is likely to be prolonged and the risk of infection is significantly increased.
So, before choosing to use an antibiotic, your vet will ensure that one of the above circumstances
applies and choose an antibiotic likely to be effective. Clinical judgement can often be made about
which bacteria are most likely to be present in a given situation, but it is also recommended that testing
is done where possible to identify the specific bacterium and the medicine that will be most effective
against it.
A large number of problems do NOT need antibiotic treatment in the first instance. These
include:
Simple diarrhoea
This is most frequently down to dietary indiscretion in dogs (eating something unusual, and is often best
managed by changes to feeding and basic husbandry
Viral diseases
Antibiotics are not useful against viruses; for example, colds do not require antibiotics. The exception is
where a viral infection allows a bacterial infection to take over (“secondary infection”), for example in
cats with herpesvirus.
Allergic skin itches
Unless the skin is showing specific signs of bacterial infection, antibiotics are usually unnecessary.
In addition, there are certain bacterial infections that can be controlled using methods other than
antibiotics (e.g. very mild skin infections), or that can be controlled by delivering antibiotics only
to the infected area of the body (such as drops for eye or ear infections). Again, this allows us to
minimise the use of the antibiotic, and therefore the chances of either side effects or bacterial
resistance.
Giving Antibiotics to your Pet.
Each time an antibiotic is given, there will be specific dosing instructions – Your vet will choose an
appropriate medication, dose, frequency and length of treatment for your pet’s condition
It is extremely important to follow the instructions. The dose and frequency are chosen to
maximise the effectiveness of the antibiotic.
Certain infections can be very difficult to stop and dangerous bacteria may survive at low levels even
though your pet appears normal. In such cases, if the antibiotic treatment is stopped prematurely, the
remaining bacteria can breed and cause problems, and may get a chance to develop resistance to the
antibiotic used. Bella Moss Foundation 2011