Companion Animal Owners' Knowledge, Attitudes and Perceptions Regarding Antibiotic Use in Portugal

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Public Health
• Antimicrobial Stewardship

Background:

• Limited research exists on companion animal owners' knowledge, attitude, and perception (KAP) of antibiotics.
• Veterinarian motivations for antibiotic prescription are well-studied, but owner perspectives are less understood.
• Understanding owner KAP is crucial for effective antimicrobial stewardship in companion animals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the knowledge, attitude, and perception (KAP) of Portuguese dog and cat owners regarding antibiotics.
• To assess owner understanding of antibiotic use, antimicrobial resistance, and the One Health concept.
• To identify areas for improved communication between veterinarians and pet owners.

Main Methods:

• A nationwide online and in-practice survey was conducted among Portuguese dog and cat owners.
• A total of 423 valid submissions were analyzed after database curation.
• The survey assessed owner knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions concerning antibiotic use and resistance.

Main Results:

• While 97.9% knew what antibiotics were, significant misconceptions existed regarding their use for viral (23.5%) and fungal (19.2%) infections.
• Owners prioritized antimicrobial effectiveness over cost (87.7%) and recognized antibiotic resistance as a major issue (87%).
• Awareness of resistance dissemination and the One Health link was low; only 25.3% recognized dissemination potential, and 55.6% were neutral on shared human-animal antibiotic importance.

Conclusions:

• Portuguese pet owners exhibit gaps in understanding antibiotic use and their role in antimicrobial resistance.
• There is a need for enhanced communication from veterinarians to pet owners about the One Health implications of antibiotic use.
• Interventions promoting antimicrobial stewardship require addressing owner knowledge and perceptions.