New, groundbreaking research to protect both animal and human health from antibiotic-resistant infections is underway to develop the world’s first dedicated surveillance system in healthy dogs and cats, the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has announced.

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) is developing the world’s first dedicated surveillance system for antibiotic-resistant infections in healthy dogs and cats. The research aims to understand the levels of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in household pets across the UK, aiming to protect public health and the health of pets. Pet owners will contribute to the study, which will involve faecal samples from households and veterinary practices. Scotland’s Royal College will conduct the pilot study over four years.