title: Prescribing antimicrobial agents for dogs and cats via university pharmacies in Finland--patterns and quality of information.
abstract: The aim of our study was to evaluate antimicrobial use in dogs and cats in Finland. Information on veterinary prescriptions was gathered from University Pharmacies (n=17) over a one-month period, April 2001. A total of 2719 prescriptions for veterinary use were delivered, of which the majority were for dogs (70%, n=1898) and cats (14%, n=384). The most prescribed therapy group was per-oral antimicrobial agents (53%, n=1449), of which 16% (n=237) were medicines approved for humans. The most commonly used substances for dogs and cats were betalactams, 66% and 78%, respectively. The proportion of fluoroquinolones was 3-5%. The average duration of the treatment periods was 10 days with the exception of treatment of cats with macrolide-lincosamides, where the mean period was 20 days. Indication was mentioned only in 37% of the prescriptions.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Helsinki University, Finland.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hölsö
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rantala
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lillas
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eerikäinen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Huovinen
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kaartinen
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000145:classification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D002415:Cats; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D004285:Dogs; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D010594:Pharmacies; D011996:Records; D019155:Veterinary Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000145:classification / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D019155:Veterinary Drugs