Antibiotics for animals
Good husbandry, biosecurity and hygiene are the cornerstones of protecting animal health and welfare on our farms, and we also need to look after our pets responsibly. However, despite our best efforts, like people, animals can succumb to disease. While many of these diseases can be prevented, for example by vaccination, there will always be cases where animals will need to be treated with antibiotics. These medicines have a vital role in treating, controlling and sometimes preventing the spread of bacterial diseases in our farm livestock and companion animals.
Farmers, vets and all those involved in the care of animals have a moral and legal duty to protect the health and welfare of animals under their care. The UK has some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world with protection provided under animal welfare legislation. Our commitment to safeguarding animal welfare includes the judicious use of antibiotics, prescribed only by a veterinary surgeon when infection and disease would result in pain and suffering.
Another important aspect of antibiotic use is their role in helping vets and farmers with the production of safe food from healthy animals.
Without the use of appropriate antibiotics, pets and farm livestock would endure pain and suffering and the production of safe food could be endangered.
We have produced a series of briefing documents which give more background information on the use of antibiotics for animal health.
NOAH, along with Kennel Club Charitable Trust, has supported a video produced by The Bella Moss Foundation – #BeatTheBugs
Briefing Documents
- Antibiotics for Animal Health and Welfare: An Overview
- Antibiotic Resistance
- Responsible Use of Antibiotics
- Companion animal antibiotics
- Animal medicines – what you should know
- NOAH Briefing: Responsible Use of Antibiotics in Cattle: Best practice and an evidenced-based approach to macrolide policy and prescribing
- NOAH Briefing: Responsible Use of Antibiotics in Laying Hens: Best practice and an evidenced-based approach to macrolide policy and prescribing
- NOAH Technical Briefing: Categorisation of Antibiotics and Updated Guidance to Support Responsible Use and UK Animal Health and Welfare
Press Releases
- UK-VARSS report shows the power of working together to reduce the need for antibiotics
- New action plan on AMR welcomed by NOAH
See Also
- HealthforAnimals: Animal health sector commitments and actions on antibiotic use
- NOAH response to final O’Neill Review Report
- Critique of the 2015 O’Neill Review on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
- Evidence session to the UK Parliament Science and Technology Select Committee
- UK 5 year antimicrobial resistance strategy 2013-18
- Understanding the Population Correction Unit (PCU) used to calculate antibiotic use in food producing animals (VMD December 2016)