New Publication Describes Antimicrobial Use in Golden Retrievers

A new study published using data from Morris Animal Foundation’s Golden Retriever Lifetime Study details antimicrobial treatment preferences among veterinarians caring for Study participants. The paper, published in the American Journal of Veterinary Research, provides further insight into antimicrobial prescribing patterns prevalent in the United States and the implications of those patterns in the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance.

“What is unique about our findings is that similar papers only include data from a single veterinary clinic,” said Dr. Julia Labadie, Principal Investigator of the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study and one of the paper’s authors. “Using Study data collected from across the United States, we assessed differences in regional treatment patterns and gained insight into the factors that influence these decisions, such as disease prevalence and veterinary preference.”

The researchers analyzed data collected on golden retrievers participating in the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study. The Study is the most extensive prospective study ever undertaken in veterinary medicine, gathering information on more than 3,000 golden retrievers during their lives.

The study provided the authors with an opportunity to find out the antimicrobials used in dog populations for various disease conditions. The authors utilized the 6 years of retrieved data to identify the common choices of antimicrobials by veterinarians for various conditions of the dogs. The main objectives were to explore the antimicrobial classes that were commonly used and to evaluate the incidence of infectious diseases among the enrolled participants. The findings therefore indicated veterinarians’ preferred choices of antimicrobials for the common conditions.

Not unexpectedly, otitis externa was the most common condition treated with antimicrobials, followed by diarrhea/gastritis, hot spots, bladder infections and tracheobronchitis/cough. A variety of antimicrobial drugs were used. The team looked at regional antibiotic use and noted that antimicrobials were prescribed most commonly for dogs in the Southern region followed by the Midwest, Northeast, Mountain and Pacific.

The researchers concluded that the treatment choices of veterinarians were diverse for similar conditions within geographical regions indicative of a need for more effort in the prevention of diseases in Golden Retrievers. Preventative measures may reduce overall antimicrobial usage and promote effective antimicrobial stewardship to combat further AMR.

“These findings highlight the importance of client education in preventive medicine and early detection,” added Labadie. “Knowing if your pet is prone to certain diseases can help owners be more proactive and catch problems earlier when less intervention is needed for treatment, which can translate into fewer antibiotic prescriptions. And that can help in our fight against the threat of antimicrobial resistance.”

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Posted by Liz on Aug 25 2024. Filed under Current Articles, Featured, Health & Training. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.