Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of antibiotic use and antimicrobial resistance for pet cats and dogs in Singapore: A cross-sectional study.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Antibiotic use in pets can contribute to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in both humans and pets. Despite increasing pet ownership in Asia, there is a paucity of data on pet owners' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding antibiotic use for pets. Hence, the aim of this study was to explore the knowledge, attitudes and practices of antibiotic use and AMR for pets amongst cat and/or dog owners in Singapore. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey among 1080 pet owners from 16 veterinary clinics between March 2023 and December 2023 evaluated pet owners' knowledge of antibiotic use, understanding of AMR, and antibiotic practices for their pets. RESULTS: Majority of pet owners were female (63.9%), higher educated (86.9%), owned dogs only (62.2%) and currently working (76.4%). Nearly half (46.3%) of all pet owners had poor knowledge of antibiotic use for pets, with cat owners demonstrating poorer knowledge than dog owners (55.2% vs. 43.3%, P < 0.001). While only one-third (33.9%) of all pet owners used antibiotics inappropriately, two-thirds (67.1%) demonstrated poor AMR knowledge. Cat owners more frequently administered antibiotics in the form of liquids, whilst dog owners in the form of tablets. CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the importance of targeted educational interventions to improve pet owners' knowledge and antibiotic use, which are crucial in addressing the wicked problem of AMR via a One Health approach.