The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) has today launched Australia's first nationally endorsed Antimicrobial Prescribing Guidelines for Horses - a landmark step in tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and supporting evidence-based prescribing across the veterinary sector.
Developed in partnership with Animal Medicines Australia (AMA), with additional funding from AgriFutures Australia, the guidelines provide veterinarians with practical, best-practice recommendations to ensure antimicrobial use in horses is responsible, effective, and aligned with global efforts to reduce drug-resistant infections.
Equine Veterinarians Australia (EVA) past President, Associate Professor Laura Hardefeldt, a renowned expert in antimicrobial stewardship, said the guidelines are both timely and essential.
"Equine veterinarians face unique challenges when it comes to antimicrobial use," Assoc Prof Hardefeldt said.
"These guidelines offer practical, science-based solutions tailored to our field. They empower our clinicians to deliver the best care for horses while fulfilling our shared responsibility to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This resource will help to ensure those decisions support both equine welfare and public health."
The publicly available guidelines, which were developed with input from leading veterinary experts, cover a range of conditions commonly seen in equine practice and provide clear, evidence-based recommendations for the judicious use of antimicrobials.
These equine guidelines are a comprehensive addition to the AVA-AMA Antimicrobial Stewardship Project, which encompasses antimicrobial prescribing guidelines for pigs, poultry, sheep, dairy cattle and feedlot cattle.
AVA President Dr Gemma Chuck emphasised the importance of veterinary leadership in the fight against AMR.
"Antimicrobial resistance is a threat that crosses the boundaries of both human and animal health," she said.
"These equine prescribing guidelines serve as a crucial resource to help the veterinary community uphold its commitment to responsible antimicrobial stewardship."
The AVA encourages all veterinarians who work with horses to familiarise themselves with the new guidelines and integrate them into their clinical practice. Prescribing guidelines for other species are available here.
