With increasing antibiotic resistance threatening the efficacy and availability of these vital medicines upon which we rely, BEVA has started the collection and reporting of antibiotic use in equine practice in the UK.
Practices can now submit usage data from their practice management systems (PMS) to BEVA office, where it will contribute to nationwide reporting of antibiotic use in UK equine practice.
"Equine antibiotic usage might be a small part of veterinary usage, and a tiny part of the overall usage of antibiotics, but nevertheless it is the correct thing that we record and publish this usage. It is important that we demonstrate our usage of these vital drugs is responsible and proportionate, to ensure continued access."
Bruce Bladon, BEVA President
Ensure that you record the total mg of each antimicrobial used.
Make note of the number of horses you treated last year (in total, not just those treated with antibiotics) and their average weight if available.
Complete our consent form
Send your data spreadsheet to antibiotics@beva.org.uk, we will then provide you with the following calculations:
Take a look at your contributions to the year's usage report when it is published, and consider your own usage alongside that for the national equine practice usage... how did you do?
We are grateful for assistance from the EVSNET project at the University of Liverpool for collating, analysing and sharing data.
