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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.
Overprescribing and poor owner compliance among the key worries. 

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.”

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Free CPD announced for BVNA members

News Story 1
 Zoetis is to present a CPD event for free to members of the British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA).

Led by veterinary consultant Ruth Moxon, the one-hour online session is designed to help veterinary nurses discuss parasiticide options with clients. It will advise on structuring recommendations, factors for product choice and moving away from 'selling'.

'How do you recommend parasite treatments to your clients?' will be presented on Tuesday, 20 May at 7.30pm. It is free for BVNA members, with £15.00 tickets for non-members.

Veterinary nurses can email cpd@bvna.co.uk to book their place. 

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News Shorts
DAERA to reduce BVD 'grace period'

DAERA has reminded herd keepers of an upcoming reduction to the 'grace period' to avoid BVD herd restrictions.

From 1 May 2025, herd keepers will have seven days to cull any BVD positive or inconclusive animals to avoid restrictions being applied to their herd.

It follows legislation introduced on 1 February, as DAERA introduces herd movement restrictions through a phased approach. Herd keepers originally had 28 days to cull BVD positive or inconclusive animals.

DAERA says that, providing herd keepers use the seven-day grace period, no herds should be restricted within the first year of these measures.

Additional measures, which will target herds with animals over 30 days old that haven't been tested for BVD, will be introduced from 1 June 2025.

More information is available on the DAERA website.