Evaluation of antimicrobial prescriptions in dogs with suspected bacterial urinary tract disease

 A study evaluated antimicrobial prescriptions for dogs in the U.S. and Canada diagnosed with urinary tract disease. Dogs that were evaluated were diagnosed with sporadic bacterial cystitis, recurrent cystitis, and pyelonephritis. Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (41%), cefpodoxime (16%), and amoxicillin (13%) were most commonly prescribed for sporadic bacterial cystitis. The median prescribed duration was 12 days. Shorter durations were used in Y-2018 (10 days) compared to both 2016 and 2017 (both14 days).

Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (33%), marbofloxacin (21%), and cefpodoxime (14%) were most commonly used for recurrent cystitis; median duration of 14 days. Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (26%), marbofloxacin (17%), and enrofloxacin (11%) were most commonly prescribed for pyelonephritis.  Twenty-nine percent of dogs received drug combinations. The median duration of treatment was 14 days.

The results of decreased duration of use of antibiotics in addition to the increased use of recommended first-line antimicrobials are encouraging for antimicrobial stewardship programs that aim to optimize antimicrobial use.

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Jeffrey Scott Weese, Jinelle Webb, Dennis Ballance, Talon McKee, Jason W. Stull, Philip J. Bergman, Evaluation of antimicrobial prescriptions in dogs with suspected bacterial urinary tract disease,  J Vet Intern Med. 16 August 2021, https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.16246