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Current Practices:
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50% of dogs with acute diarrhoea are prescribed antibiotics, which may not always be necessary or ideal for antibiotic stewardship.
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Antibiotic Stewardship Resources:
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The “Protect Me” poster provides guidelines on appropriate antibiotic use for dogs and cats.
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The Journal of Small Animal Practice published an open-source article highlighting that antibiotics are a low priority in treating chronic diarrhoea.
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Various veterinary associations also offer guidelines for appropriate antibiotic use in small animals.
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Antibiotic Necessity Based on Diarrhea Severity:
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Mild Diarrhoea: Antibiotics are generally not required. Most dogs recover without them.
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Moderate Diarrhoea: Antibiotics are also not needed in most cases. These patients may need short-term hospitalisation for rehydration etc., but are generally not systemically ill.
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Severe Diarrhoea: Antibiotics may benefit dogs with severe disease, particularly those at risk of sepsis.
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Sepsis and Antibiotic Timing:
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Early administration of antibiotics can lower the mortality rate in dogs progressing to sepsis.
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Client Communication Tool:
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The BSAVA offers a “No Antibiotic Prescription Required” form to help explain to clients why antibiotics are not indicated for their pet’s condition, managing both client expectations and the veterinarian’s perceived need to act.
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Probiotics and Faecal Transplantation:
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Probiotics are still in the early research stage, with limited evidence supporting their effectiveness, especially for systemically ill or septic patients.
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Faecal transplantation is an emerging therapy, and consensus guidelines are available on its appropriate use for dogs.
Antibiotic Use for Diarrhea