Antimicrobial prescribing guidelines for horses in Australia
The growing problem of antimicrobial resistance also affects equine veterinarians with increasing frequency. Antimicrobial stewardship and responsible prescribing are essential for a future in which effective antimicrobials are available, as it is unlikely that new antimicrobials will become available for use in horses. While antimicrobials are commonly used to treat equine infections, complications with therapy are also relatively common. Antimicrobial-associated diarrhoea, immune-mediated diseases, and nephrotoxicity have been reported as sequelae of antimicrobial therapy in equine practice. This does not indicate that clinicians should avoid using these drugs, only that knowledge of the potential for adverse effects is critical when deciding on the most appropriate antimicrobial to use and can assist in avoiding serious side effects, wherever possible, or at least in detecting and responding to them early. These guidelines comprehensively outline key features of infectious diseases in horses, diagnostic testing, and therapeutic guidelines for use in treating horses in Australia.
Authors
- K Thomas
- Glenn Francis Browning (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0903-2469)
- Denis Verwilghen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4174-6007)
- Benjamin D. Reynolds (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2306-8054)
- Catherine Whittaker (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3902-6051)
- Edwina Wilkes (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8410-5894)
- Laura Y. Hardefeldt (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5780-7567)
- Stephen W. Page (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5312-2149)
- Gaby van Galen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0689-7141)
- Allison J. Stewart (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2464-3954)
- Gary Muscatello
- Jacqueline M. Norris (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0003-6930)
- Christy Burden (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6409-5238)
- James Rudkin Gilkerson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1801-4817)
- Jenni Bauquier (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7453-9162)
- Jennifer Clulow
- R. Cuming
- L Begg
Institutions
- The University of Sydney (AU)
- Charles Sturt University (AU)
- The University of Queensland (AU)
- The University of Melbourne (AU)
- Stratasys (Israel) (IL)
- Racing Victoria (AU)
- Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (AU)
- UNSW Sydney (AU)
- Goulburn Valley Equine Hospital (AU)
- Advanced Medical Institute (Australia) (AU)
- Newmarket Equine Hospital (GB)
- Victoria University (AU)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Australian Veterinary Journal
- Published
- 2025-09-03
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1111/avj.70003
- Citations
- 2
- Primary Topic
- Veterinary Equine Medical Research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 5.46
Funders
- Australian Veterinary Association
- University of Melbourne
- Agrifutures Australia