Small Animal Practice Guidelines

• ISCAID: Antimicrobial use Guidelines for Treatment of Respiratory Tract Disease in Dogs and Cats
  • These guidelines are to assist veterinarians in making antimicrobial treatment choices for use in the management of bacterial respiratory diseases in dogs and cats.
• ISCAID: Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Antimicrobial Therapy of Canine Superficial Bacterial Folliculitis
  • These guidelines describe optimal methods for the diagnosis and management of superficial bacterial folliculitis, including isolation of the causative organism, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, selection of antimicrobial drugs, therapeutic protocols and advice on infection control.
• ISCAID: Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Bacterial Urinary Tract Infections in Dogs and Cats
  • These guidelines provide recommendations for the diagnosis and management of bacterial urinary tract infections in dogs and cats, address sporadic bacterial cystitis, recurrent bacterial cystitis, pyelonephritis, bacterial prostatitis, and subclinical bacteriuria, and discuss issues pertaining to urinary catheters, medical dissolution of uroliths, and prophylaxis for urological procedures.
• Pocket Guide: Antimicrobial Prescribing for Common Small Animal Diseases
  • This document outlines peer-reviewed antimicrobial prescribing guidelines for common canine and feline conditions, as well as stewardship tips, and can fit in a white coat pocket.
  • Suggested specs for professional printing of durable pocket cards: 5.5" x 8.5" flat, 4/4, 2-sided laminate, flush edge, 130# Uncoated Cover, Trim, Shrink wrap in 50's.
• OSU VMC: Antimicrobial Use Guidelines
  • This guidebook is intended to give recommendations about which antimicrobial is the best choice for a given medical condition for small animals, equine, and farm animals, both from the standpoint of treating the disease and from a stewardship perspective.

Equine Practice Guidelines

• AAEP: Prudent Drug Usage Guidelines of Antimicrobials in Equine
  • American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) provides guidelines that reiterate the standard of practice and what is common in equine veterinary medicine.
• New Zealand Veterinary Association: Antibiotic Judicious Use Guidelines - Equine
  • This document is a guide that can be used when deciding upon a course of treatment in equine practice.
• University of Melbourne Equine Prescribing Guidelines
  • Medical and surgical equine guidelines.

• Handbook of Antimicrobial Stewardship in Companion Animal Veterinary Settings
  • Use this handbook to implement core principles of antimicrobial stewardship within your veterinary clinic.
• Antibiotic Use Tracking Tool for Companion Animals
  • Understand your clinic's antibiotic use prescribing patterns and implement antibiotic stewardship initiatives based off tracking results by entering patient data in an Excel tracking tool. There is both an advanced and basic option with an accompanying instructions manual and example data set.
• 2022 AAFP/AAHA Antimicrobial Stewardship Guidelines
  • "The Antimicrobial Stewardship Guidelines in companion animals are designed to aid practicing veterinarians in choosing appropriate antimicrobial therapy to best serve their patients and minimize the development of antimicrobial resistance and other adverse effects. The Guidelines presented below were developed by an expert task force and provide a recommended framework for judicious antimicrobial use in companion animals."
• Antibiotic Stewardship Commitment Posters
  • Customize the PowerPoint poster with your clinic logo and staff picture and display it in your clinic waiting room, exam room, conference room, and staff offices to show your commitment to antibiotic stewardship. 
  • AS Champion Announcement (PDF) | (PowerPoint)
  • Cough. Snort. Sniffle. Sneeze. Antibiotics only when needed, please. (PDF) | (PowerPoint)
  • Paws for a second. Are antibiotics needed in this case? (PDF) | (PowerPoint)
  • Keep calm. Antibiotics aren't always the answer. (PDF) | (PowerPoint)
  • I pledge to do my part to prevent antibiotic-resistant infections and to keep your pet healthy. (PDF) | (PowerPoint)
• Sample Commitment Letter to Clients (PDF) | (Word)
  • Demonstrate your commitment to antimicrobial stewardship by sending this customizable letter to clients.
• Veterinary Antibiotic Stewardship Roles and Responsibilities (PDF)
  • Consider adding antibiotic stewardship duties within position descriptions for all clinic employees.
• How to Use a Clinical Antibiogram (PDF)
  • Antibiograms provide great information, however, appropriately using them is necessary. This document provides details on the dos and don'ts of using an antibiogram.
• Introducing our Clinic’s Antimicrobial Stewardship Champion (PDF) | (Word)
  • Sample email to introduce the antimicrobial stewardship leader to clinic staff.
• Sample Letter to Staff: Communicate Antibiotic Stewardship Priorities (PDF) | (Word)
  • Customizable letter for clinic administration to send to clinic staff communicating the clinic's dedication to antibiotic stewardship.
• Antibiotic Stewardship Program Planning Worksheet (PDF) | (Word)
  • Customizable worksheet to help your clinic develop an antibiotic stewardship program.
• Coming soon! Sample Antibiotic Stewardship Policy for Veterinary Clinics
  • Use this document to guide the development of a working antibiotic stewardship plan for your veterinary clinic.
• One Health Antibiotic Stewardship Print Materials
  • Fact sheets, flyers, posters, brochures, and other print materials that you can download and use.

• Pocket Guide: Antimicrobial Prescribing for Common Small Animal Diseases
  • This document outlines peer-reviewed antimicrobial prescribing guidelines for common canine and feline conditions, as well as stewardship tips, and can fit in a white coat pocket.
  • Suggested specs for professional printing of durable pocket cards: 5.5" x 8.5" flat, 4/4, 2-sided laminate, flush edge, 130# Uncoated Cover, Trim, Shrink wrap in 50's.
• Example Practice-Level Antibiotic Drug Tiers and Selection List for Companion Animals
  • This document can be used as a reference for selection of antibiotics based on available veterinary guidelines and antibiotic importance in human medicine.
• Non-Antibiotic Prescription Pad (PDF) | | (Fillable PDF) | (Word)
  • Complete this form for patients that have a viral infection to provide symptom relief without an antibiotic.
• Example Acute Diarrhea Handout - Small/Mixed Bowel (PDF) | (Word)
  • Complete this form for patients that have acute small/mixed bowel diarrhea to provide symptom relief without an antibiotic.
• Example Acute Diarrhea Handout - Large Bowel (PDF) | (Word)
  • Complete this form for patients that have acute large bowel diarrhea to provide symptom relief without an antibiotic.
• Feline Upper Respiratory Infection: Viral Prescription Pad (PDF)
  • Syndrome-specific viral prescription pad to provide clients to help their cat get symptom relief without an antibiotic when diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection. Developed by Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
• Feline Cystitis: Prescription Pad (PDF)
  • Syndrome-specific viral prescription pad to provide clients to help their cat get symptom relief without an antibiotic when diagnosed with viral cystitis. Developed by Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
• Antibiotic Use Talking Points for the Veterinary Clinic (PDF)
  • Improve communication with clients with these antibiotic use talking points.
• Antibiotic Time-Out Sample Template (PDF) | (Word)
  • Customize this document to incorporate your clinic's antibiotic time-out policy.
• BSAVA: PROTECT Antimicrobial Use in Our Practice
  • British ​​​​​​Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) developed a checklist poster to assess the need for antimicrobials within companion animal clinics.
• WSAVA: Six Moments of Veterinary Antimicrobial Prescribing
  • The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) developed an infographic that focuses on the decision-making process at the time of prescribing an antimicrobial. Each 'moment' is illustrated with the various elements and factors associated that veterinarians should consider in each prescribing decision.

• Antibiotic Use in Horses: Changing Expectations
  • Fact sheet describing equine antibiotic use.
• BEVA: PROTECT ME
  • British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) developed the PROTECT ME toolkit, modeled on the British ​​​​​​Small Animal Veterinary Association PROTECT guidelines to support antibiotic stewardship in equine clinics.
• Example Practice-Level Antibiotic Drug Tiers and Selection List for Companion Animals
  • This document can be used as a reference for selection of antibiotics based on available veterinary guidelines and antibiotic importance in human medicine.

• FDA: Aquaculture and Aquaculture Drugs Basics
  • Food and Drug Administration (FDA) answers to frequently asked questions regarding the field of aquaculture.
• FDA: Approved Aquaculture Drugs
  • Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved drugs for aquaculture.
• American Fisheries Society: Guide to Using Drugs, Biologics & Other Chemicals in Aquaculture
  • A comprehensive introduction to the use of regulated products in aquaculture and a resource for fisheries professionals.
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services: Fish and Aquatic Conservation
  • Information on the Aquatic Animal Drug Approval Partnership and drug information materials.

• Pork Quality Assurance: Antibiotics On-Farm Resources Site
  • Information about on-farm antibiotic use as part of the Pork Quality Assurance program plus certification program.
• PorkCheckoff: Antibiotics on the Farm: What You Need to Know about New Regulations
  • Information about the Food and Drug Administration’s new guidelines for on-farm antibiotic use as part of the Pork Quality Assurance program plus certification program.
• AASV: Basic Guidelines of Judicious Therapeutic Use of Antimicrobials in Pork Production
  • American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV) released guidelines for appropriate antimicrobial use in pork production.

• US Poultry: Antimicrobial Use Within US Poultry Production
  • Executive summary and full report on antimicrobial use in the U.S. poultry industry.
• NTF: Standards of Conduct
  • National Turkey Federation (NTF) has established standards through its Animal Care Guidelines. 
• AAAP-AVMA: Guidelines for Judicious Therapeutic Use of Antimicrobials in Poultry
  • American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and American Association of Avian Pathologists (AAAP) provide a framework for the Guidelines for Judicious Therapeutic Use of Antimicrobials in Poultry.

• UMN Extension: Beef Extension
  • University of Minnesota (UMN) researchers provide information on the beef industry.
• MN Beef Council: Beef Quality Assurance
  • The Beef Quality Assurance Program helps farmers to be certified on best practices in cattle handling, management and care.
• Food Armor
  • Antimicrobial stewardship education for the food animal industry.
• Beef Quality Assurance: Antibiotic Stewardship for Beef Producers
  • A beef producers guide for judicious use of antibiotics in cattle.
• FARM: Milk and Dairy Beef Drug Residue Prevention Reference Manual
  • Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) produced a manual on the appropriate management of milk and dairy.
• AABP/AVMA: Judicious Use of Antimicrobials in Cattle
  • American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) and American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) produced guidelines as an aid in preserving the effectiveness and availability of antimicrobial drugs through conscientious oversight and responsible medical decision-making, while safeguarding animal, public and environmental health.
• AABP Guidelines: Key Elements For Implementing Antimicrobial Stewardship Plans
  • American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) produced an antimicrobial stewardship plan for bovine veterinary practices working with beef and dairy operations.
• MVMA: Food Animal Producer Requests a Prescription Drug from a Veterinary Practice
  • Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA) produced an algorithm for what a veterinarian should do if a food producer requests a prescription drug.
• AVMA: Extralabel Drug Use Algorithm
  • American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) produced a guide to help veterinarians prescribe extralabel use of approved animal and human drugs under specific conditions.
• Food Animal Residue Avoidance Databank
  • Food Animal Residue Avoidance Databank (FARAD) is a university-based national program that serves as a source for scientifically-based recommendations regarding safe withdrawal intervals of drugs and chemicals in food-producing animals.
• MDA: Promoting Antibiotic Stewardship and Preventing Residues in Meat and Milk
  • Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) developed resources to help producers, veterinarians, and industry stakeholders prevent veterinary drug residues and promote antibiotic stewardship through a quick response to positive residues and proactive education.
• CDFA: Antimicrobial Use & Stewardship Program
  • The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Antimicrobial Use and Stewardship Program works with California livestock industry and stakeholders in collecting information to help inform and develop the nation’s first comprehensive antimicrobial stewardship model.
• Washington State University: Dairy Antimicrobial Stewardship Webinar Series
  • The California Department of Food and Agriculture in collaboration with Washington State University and the University of California, Davis, hosted free webinars to bring veterinarians and dairy producers “together” to learn about the threat of antimicrobial resistance and provide insights for practical antimicrobial stewardship plans for their farms.

• AAHA: 2018 Infection Control, Prevention, and Biosecurity Guidelines
  • American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) provided practice-oriented guidelines to upgrade infection control, prevention, and biosecurity efforts in veterinary clinics. 
• CCAR: Infection Prevention and Control Best Practices for Small Animal Veterinary Clinics
  • Canadian Committee on Antibiotic Resistance (CCAR) first developed this document to provide a complete and readily accessible summary of infection prevention and control best practices for small animal veterinary clinics in 2008. This document was updated in January 2020.
• University of Pennsylvania: Carbapenem Resistant Enterobacterales Animal Testing and Epidemiology
  • The Carbapenem Resistant Enterobacterales Animal Testing and Epidemiology (CREATE) website aims to be a resource to veterinarians, veterinary hospital administrators, and veterinary laboratory to help prepare for, respond to, and appropriately detect Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacterales (CRE).
• Center for Food Security and Public Health
  • Resources available on infection control, zoonotic diseases, emergency response, vaccines, and more.
• NASPHV: Compendium of Veterinary Standard Precautions for Zoonotic Disease Prevention in Veterinary Personnel (2015)
  • The National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians (NASPHV) published these guidelines to describe routine infection prevention practices designed to minimize transmission of zoonotic pathogens from animals to veterinary personnel. 
• Veterinary Clinics of North America: Infection Control in Veterinary Small Animal Practice (2015)
  • Article discussing infection control in small animal clinics.
• AVMA 2019 Conference: Antimicrobial Resistance, Emerging Clinical Threats and Evolving Expectations for Care 
  • Presentation at the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) 2019 conference on infection prevention in the veterinary setting.
• UMN VMC: Infection Control Guidelines Poster
  • The University of Minnesota (UMN) Veterinary Medical Center (VMC) developed a guide for infection control of common canine and feline diseases.
• UMN VMC: Infection Control Guidelines Poster for Multidrug-Resistant Organisms
  • The University of Minnesota (UMN) Veterinary Medical Center (VMC) developed a guide for infection control of multidrug-resistant organisms.
• UMN VMC: Glove Informatics
  • The University of Minnesota (UMN) Veterinary Medical Center (VMC) developed two informatics to help determine when gloves should be worn and how to choose the right glove. 
    • To glove or not to glove
    • Wear the right gloves
• Minnesota Department of Health: Healthy Animals Posters
  • Small Animal Medicine: Infection Prevention and Control Poster
  • Large Animal Medicine: Infection Prevention and Control Poster
• Minnesota Department of Health: 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene (8.5" x 11") | (11" x 17")
  • Follow these 5 easy hand hygiene steps to keep yourself and the animals you interact with safe and healthy.