Antibiotics save lives — but they don’t help every type of illness and, in many instances, they are not necessary. Using antibiotics only when needed is one step to ensuring that they'll be an option for treating future infections and also helps in protecting a pet’s health today. 

Overuse of antibiotics can lead to bacterial resistance and infections that are more difficult to treat. A good example of that is MRSA (methicillin resistant Staph aureus). Antibiotics also disrupt or upset the "good" bacteria in the body (e.g. the gut and skin microbiome). The reality is that many common illnesses can resolve on their own without the use of antibiotics. Antibiotics are often not needed to treat mild cases of kennel cough, colds in cats, and mild cases of diarrhea:

• Kennel cough - is often caused, in part, by a virus and can resolve with rest and supportive care. Antibiotics should only be reserved for severe cases.
• Feline upper respiratory infections - again, often caused by a virus, are usually self-limiting and can be managed with supportive care.
• Acute diarrhea - often resolve with a diet change, ensuring hydration, and using probiotics. Antibiotics (e.g. metronidazole) should only be reserved for severe cases.
  
  

Pet owners must partner with their veterinarian to prevent the emergence of resistant bacterial infections and to ensure a pet's healthy microbiome. Some important action steps and takeaways for pet owners include:

• Trust your veterinarian's recommendations - if they decide that antibiotics are not needed, don't push them to prescribe!
• Say "yes" to testing - if a veterinarian recommends a simple test like cytology to look for the presence and type of bacteria, let them proceed. If an infection is persistent or recurrent, say yes to a culture.
• Follow directions - if antibiotics are prescribed, give them as directed and complete the course as instructed.
• Ask about alternatives - supportive care, probiotics (depending on the condition), and "tincture of time" can be safer and sometimes as effective (or more effective) than a course of antibiotics.