RUMA CA&E progress report reveals decline in antibiotic use

RUMA CA&E has released its 2021-2022 progress report, highlighting its work addressing anti-microbial resistance.

The report reveals a decrease in antibiotic use in both dogs and cats between 2021 and 2022, following an initial increase after the pandemic in 2021.

The mg/kg measure

Using an mg/kg measure, RUMA CA&E reports a reducing trend in antibiotic use in dogs since 2016. Although there was an increase between 2020-2021, there has since been a decrease.

Antibiotic use in cats had been seeing a small but steady increase, but saw a decrease between 2021-2022.

DDDVet (Defined Daily Dose) results

The DDDVet statistics showed a similar trend for dogs, however a slightly more stable image for antibiotic usage in cats. Both species saw an increase initially in 2021, followed by a decrease between 2021 and 2022.

HP-CIA usage

Dogs and cats have both had a decrease in the use of HP-CIAs between 2021- 2022.

HP-CIA usage for cats remains high, consisting of 44 per cent of overall use, however it does now appear to be on a reducing trend. The use of HP-CIAs for dogs is at its lowest since 2014.

Topical antimicrobial products

Both dog and cat sectors showed a reduction in sales of topical antimicrobial products between 2021-2022, with a 1.1mg/kg reduction for dogs and a 0.2mg/kg reduction for cats.

The full report can be found here.