Survey highlights vets' AMR concerns
85 per cent of vets raised concern about the potential enforced restriction on veterinary use of antimicrobials in the future.
The BVA has released new figures suggesting that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) remains the leading concern amongst UK vets when it comes to treating animal infections.
The figures, published at the start of World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (18-24 November), show that 87 per cent of vets cited AMR as their top concern in the BVA's Voice of the Veterinary Profession Survey.
Of the 497 vets who responded, 85 per cent expressed concern about the potential enforced restriction on veterinary use of antimicrobials in the future. Furthermore, 73 per cent were worried about the inability to control infections after surgery.
Overprescribing, poor owner compliance and lack of sensitivity testing were among the key reasons cited by vets as the main drivers of AMR in animals. Another highly rated concern was pressure from clients expecting to be given antibiotics, with 77 per cent of vets having experienced this in practice.
Dr. Elizabeth Mullineaux, president of the British Veterinary Association (BVA), urged vets to continue working with their clients to limit the need for using antimicrobials.
She said: “Antimicrobial resistance is a concern for animal and human health globally. Our latest Voice of the Veterinary Profession survey shows that vets in the UK, like their counterparts in human medicine, remain worried about the excessive and improper use of these medicines leading to the inability to treat infections.
“We’ve made huge progress in refining and reducing antimicrobial use in farm animals in the UK, but we can do more across all species. We know that every use of antimicrobials increases the risk of selection for resistant bacteria, so we must ensure that our use of antimicrobials is responsible. This includes creating practice-based protocols for common infections, undertaking bacterial culture and sensitivity testing whenever possible, and reporting treatment failures to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD).
“We must also continue working with clients to avoid the need for antimicrobials in the first place through preventative healthcare and encourage their responsible use and disposal through initiatives like the Antibiotic Amnesty campaign.”
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
