Antibiotic Use in Dogs with Gastroenteritis in Sweden
Author Information
Author(s): Ditte Ljungquist, Anna-Maria Andersson, Emelia Johansson, Johan Tham, Linda Toresson
Primary Institution: Lund University
Hypothesis
What is the level and trend of systemic antibiotic use for canine gastroenteritis in Sweden between 2020 and 2023?
Conclusion
The study found a low and significantly declining trend of antibiotic use in canine gastroenteritis in Sweden, indicating high compliance with antibiotic guidelines among veterinarians.
Supporting Evidence
- The overall level of systemic antibiotic use was 5.7% during the study period.
- Antibiotic use declined from 8.1% in 2020 to 3.9% in 2023.
- Hospitalized dogs had a higher antibiotic use (21.7%) compared to non-hospitalized dogs (2.1%).
- Mortality rates decreased significantly during the study period.
Takeaway
This study shows that not many dogs with stomach issues in Sweden are given antibiotics, and the number is getting smaller each year, which is good for their health.
Methodology
An observational multicenter cohort study analyzing retrospective data from 93,641 canine gastroenteritis consultations.
Potential Biases
Potential overestimation of antibiotic use due to concurrent diagnoses.
Limitations
The study is retrospective and may have misclassification of diagnostic codes.
Participant Demographics
Included all small animal practices in Sweden, irrespective of age, breed, severity of disease, and level of care.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.001
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 19.7–22.8
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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