Antibiotic resistance

Q: What do we say to clients concerned about antibiotic resistance?

Bacterial resistance should be a concern to all veterinary professionals, says Dr. Fred Metzger, DABVP, a Veterinary Economics Editorial Advisory Board member and owner of Metzger Animal Hospital in State College, Pa. Make sure clients know that there are several reasons pets become immune to drugs. For example, resistance can occur if antibiotic dose, frequency, or duration is inadequate. But, most likely, it happens because the condition being treated isn't bacterial but rather viral, fungal, immune-mediated or neoplastic, Dr. Metzger says.

Dr. Fred Metzger

What you can—and should always—do for clients is encourage them to opt for bacterial cultures and sensitivity tests to confirm that a bacterial infection is present. Explain that this allows the veterinarian to choose which antibiotic is best for fighting the infection and, thus, least likely to cause resistance. If the tests come back negative, talk to clients about which further diagnostics the doctor wants to pursue to identify the underlying problem.