Veterinarians are using antibiotics in a precautionary manner when treating cats because they don’t have a quick test that can determine if antibiotics are really necessary. In short, there is a need with respect to both animals and humans to develop a test which can distinguish between bacterial and viral illnesses.
The reason why I’m mentioning this is because the problem affects both cats and their caretakers and it currently leads, in my opinion, to overprescription of antibiotics by veterinarians when treating domestic cats. On the basis that I’m correct, in the long term, it could lead to anti-microbial resistance or, in other words, antibiotics won’t work anymore which the experts say could take us back to the Dark Ages of medicine. The problem can also lead to obesity in the here and now apparently.
It may also be the case that younger, less experienced veterinarians are more inclined to play safe and prescribe antibiotics whereas more experienced veterinarians may be more skilled at distinguishing the difference between viral and bacterial illnesses and be more confident not to was prescribed antibiotics.
Although personally I have the distinct impression that veterinarians prescribe antibiotics as a precautionary measure as mentioned above. I don’t think that this is sensible and it is what I would describe as blunt veterinary treatment. It’s imprecise and ultimately unsafe.
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Spot on, Michael. Antibiotic overuse is rampant in both animals and humams. 😓