The UK has launched a world-first study to monitor antibiotic resistance in healthy cats and dogs, aiming to better protect both animals and humans from disease-resistant infections.
Pioneering research for pets
Announced by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), the four-year project will establish the first dedicated antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance system in household pets. It marks a major step in the UK’s One Health strategy, which recognises the link between human, animal and environmental health.
Pet owners to play key role
With over half of UK adults owning pets, the risk of resistant bacteria passing between animals and humans is high. This new study will gather faecal samples from healthy cats and dogs through voluntary contributions from households and veterinary practices across the UK.
The data will help experts understand the spread and scale of AMR in pets—an area currently under-researched, with most monitoring limited to clinically ill animals.
SRUC to lead the pilot
Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) will lead the pilot study, bringing experience from international surveillance efforts. Professor John Berezowski, who is heading the research, said the initiative is “critical for a better understanding of the transmission and maintenance of AMR in our pets.”
Closing the data gap
VMD CEO Abi Seager called antimicrobial resistance “one of the most serious global health threats we face,” and said the study will address long-standing surveillance gaps identified by the Public Accounts Committee.
The programme is funded by the Integrated Security Fund’s Biosecurity Portfolio and also supports work on data-sharing between veterinary labs and the University of Liverpool to improve AMR monitoring in animals under veterinary care.
The study complements human-focused AMR research by UKHSA and will feed into the UK’s five-year National Action Plan on AMR.
