Knowledge and practice regarding antibiotic usage in dogs among pet owners in a district in South India

INTRODUCTION: Antimicrobials are vital for human and animal health; however, their improper use leads to antimicrobial resistance. Shared living spaces and close bonds between humans and pets raise concerns about transferring resistant pathogens from pets to humans. This study assessed antibiotic usage among dog owners in a South Indian district to understand their knowledge and practices. METHODOLOGY: A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted among 427 dog owners in a district in South India using snowball sampling. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered using telephonic interviews. The responses were expressed in frequencies and percentages, and Chi-square analyses were performed to establish significant associations between variables. RESULTS: Most of the respondents were aware of antibiotics, less than half were aware of antibiotic resistance, and 4% were aware of antibiotic stewardship. More than half of the respondents followed correct practices in accessing, using, and storing antibiotics. The majority said that the use of antibiotics in dogs would not affect them indirectly, but scientific evidence shows a causal effect between antibiotic use and the development of antibiotic resistance. A significant association was found between awareness about antibiotics and socio-demographic factors such as education, area of residence, and years of experience as a pet owner. CONCLUSIONS: This study emphasizes the urgency of educating dog owners about antibiotic usage and resistance. It warns against the risks of inappropriate antimicrobial use in pets, stressing its impact on public health and promoting responsible antibiotic stewardship to curb antimicrobial resistance in both veterinary and human medicine.