Antimicrobials include antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and medications to control parasites, such as fleas and worms.

Vets must now conduct a physical examination of all animals before prescribing all these antimicrobials to ensure they are the right course of treatment, and to prevent unnecessary use.

• To protect these drugs for the future — using too many, too often can cause bugs to become resistant to them
• To protect our planet — some chemicals in these drugs can harm the environment, for example, if your dog goes into a river after being treated with flea medication

Your veterinary team will explain what this means for your pet. Most pets will have had an examination by a vet before drugs are prescribed, so there will be no change.

However, for regular flea and worm treatments, we may need you to bring your pet in for a check up to ensure they are healthy and to make sure we’re continuing to prescribe the right treatment at the right time.