Do we really need antibiotics? Evidence-based approaches to GI disease
20 Nov 2026
RVC Clinical Theatre 2
This lecture will examine the role of antimicrobial therapy in canine and feline gastrointestinal disease and challenge the longstanding assumption that antibiotics are routinely required. Drawing on current evidence and antimicrobial stewardship principles, the session will review the indications for antibiotic use in acute diarrhoea, chronic enteropathy, and other gastrointestinal disorders, while exploring non-antibiotic alternatives and supportive treatment strategies. Attendees will gain practical guidance on when antibiotics are warranted, when they should be avoided, and how to optimise patient outcomes while minimising antimicrobial resistance
- 1. Evaluate the evidence supporting antibiotic use in common canine and feline gastrointestinal diseases.
- 2. Identify clinical scenarios in which antimicrobial therapy is indicated and those in which it is unlikely to provide benefit.
- 3. Discuss the impact of antibiotic use on the gastrointestinal microbiome and antimicrobial resistance.
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