April 29th, 2017 is tomorrow so we’re here to prepare for World Veterinary Day. Each year, the World Veterinary Association chooses a theme raise awareness for on a global scale. This year, we’ll be talking about “antimicrobial resistance.” But don’t be intimidated by the fancy language! Antimicrobial resistance simply means that many dangerous diseases are becoming resistant to our antibiotics and other standard treatment methods. We want to make sure that our antibiotics and other medicines continue to work in the future, so we’re here to discuss what’s happening and what you can do to help!
- If you or your pet are given antibiotics to take, make sure you take every pill prescribed. Even if you’re feeling better at day 4, but were given 10 days worth of antibiotics, take them as dosed out to day 10.
- Don’t use old antibiotics or save “extras” for the next illness. Different antibiotics treat different things and can lose potency over time. Also, you should not have any extra doses lying around your house because you and your pet will be taking them all as prescribed.
- Ask the doctor or veterinarian to go over all medicines with you. Before heading home, make sure you know which is an antibiotic and which is a pain-relief drug and make sure you understand the dosages. Make notes or color code the bottles if you need to.
- Keep vaccinations up to date for you and your pet. If you and your pet are vaccinated, you won’t need antibiotics or other treatments for those diseases since you will be immune!
- Avoid using soaps or hand-sanitizers that are antibacterial. Plain soap and water will get the job done without creating the nasty side effects of antimicrobial resistance.
We hope that we can all make a difference in slowing down antimicrobial resistance so we and our pets can all live healthy lives. Here at Emerald Animal Hospital, pet health is our primary concern. We are fully equipped with a wide range of diagnostic testing available and our veterinarians are ready to discuss the best treatment plan for you and your pet. To set up an appointment, give us a call at 216-749-7161! We’d love to meet you and your four-legged friend!