05/11/2025
If your vet says no, there's a reason- antimicrobial stewardship is everyone's business 💊
Antibiotics aren’t magic dust — and they’re not always the answer
At GVEH, we know how much you care about your horse’s health. When something looks sore, swollen, or infected, it’s natural to want to “get onto antibiotics” straight away — just in case.
But here’s the truth: using antibiotics when they’re not needed can actually make things worse in the long run, for both horses and people.
A recent study in the Equine Veterinary Journal (Stuart et al 2025 ) found that:
🔹 1 in 4 horse owners have asked their vet directly for antibiotics.
🔹 1 in 3 admitted to reusing leftover antibiotics from a previous illness.
🔹 Some even said they’d consider changing vets if antibiotics weren’t prescribed.
That tells us one thing — we all care deeply, but we don’t always understand how resistance develops. Every time antibiotics are used unnecessarily or incorrectly (wrong dose, wrong duration, “just in case”), we give bacteria another chance to outsmart the drug. Over time, these “superbugs” make infections harder, sometimes impossible, to treat.
At GVEH, we don’t withhold antibiotics to be difficult — we use them wisely and only when evidence shows they’re needed. This protects your horse today and keeps these vital medicines working tomorrow.
So next time we suggest monitoring, a swab, or an alternative treatment first — it’s not hesitation, it’s stewardship.
Together, we can keep antibiotics effective for all our horses. 💚
