BEVA warns owners not to hoard

The British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) is urging horse owners to not hoard previously prescribed antibiotics ‘for a rainy day’.

To help prevent widespread resistance and to ensure continued availability of antimicrobials (also known as antibiotics) both in terms of effectiveness and legislation, the responsible use of antimicrobial is essential to keeping horses safe.

Multidrug-resistant bacteria are an increasing problem in equine practice. The result is affected horses having longer recovery times, and their owners facing higher costs of treatment. BEVA President, Roger Smith, explains, “If you give too little of an antibiotic because you aren’t sure what to give or don’t have enough for the course that’s required, the infection is unlikely to be sufficiently treated and you will increase the risk of resistant bacteria.

“It’s crucial not to throw old medicines away in the rubbish or flush them down the loo, as they can eventually return to the environment, contaminating soil and watercourses and causing damage to wildlife.”

BEVA has produced a toolkit that contains posters and fact sheets to help horse owners understand more about the importance of antimicrobial resistance and why antibiotics aren’t always required.

To see the guidelines or for more information, visit beva.org.uk.