Welcome to Companion Animal and Equine 

We're setting every companion animal and equine veterinary practice in the country a challenge of building a team of Antibiotic Guardians — individuals who have completed the modules within this course to help refresh your knowledge in areas of antibiotic use. 

Listen to our two Clinical Leads, Tim Nuttall and Tim Mair, introduce this learning platform and explain how you can get the most out of it!

You can read the transcript here.

Start your journey to become an Antibiotic Guardian. From first opinion to referral – these resources are for you! Use the quizzes to test your learning and complete the module.

By accessing Companion Animal and Equine modules, you are providing consent for us to contact you about the VetTeamAMR project. The VetTeamAMR project includes the Antibiotic Audit Tool, Companion Animal and Equine, Farm Vet Champions and the SMART Goals tool.  We will process your data for as long as we have your consent to do so. We are committed to the privacy of your personal information and will process your data in line with our privacy policy and the General Data Protection Regulations. Your personal information will not be shared with any third parties and you have the right to withdraw your consent to the processing of your personal data at any time.

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This course is relevant for:

  • Companion animals
  • Equine
  • Small mammals
  • Exotics

For more information about our AMR work, visit our website.

If you'd like to contact us about these learning materials or would like to suggest a further topic to include, please email ebvm@rcvsknowledge.org.

Course image How to become an Antibiotic Guardian
Companion Animal and Equine
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Description: 

This module introduces Antibiotic Guardians, and how to become one within your practice

Course image Introduction to antimicrobials and antimicrobial resistance
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This module includes all the need-to-know facts about the use of antibiotics in practice, from a reminder about what antimicrobial resistance is, to the legal and responsible use of antibiotics, this module will help you follow and create protocols for your medicine usage.

CPD: 3 hours and 20 minutes

Authors: Fraser Broadfoot, Jennifer Dow, Tim Nuttall, Pam Mosedale, Tamsin Dewe

Learning outcomes

  • Recognise the main antibiotic-resistant bacteria we are most concerned about in cats, dogs and horses.
  • Discuss the links between antibiotic use and resistance in animals and people.
  • Understand the UK strategy of categorising and monitoring antibiotic use to tackle resistance.
Course image Communication and behaviour
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Effective communication with your clients is critical in improving animal safety and antibiotic usage. Communicating is not simply just talking. This module contains a selection of webinars covering a range of communication and behaviour models that you can implement to evaluate your own communication skills and improve your communication with your clients.

CPD: 1 hour 6 minutes
Authors: Tamzin Furtado, Tessa Plagis

Learning outcomes 
  • Understand the principles behind human behaviour change.
  • Discover how to work collaboratively to manage and encourage behaviour change around antibiotic prescribing and use.
  • Explain the changing role of veterinarians from product supplier to solution provider.
  • Discover how to implement communication and behaviour models to evaluate your communication skills.
  • Discover how to improve communication with your colleagues and clients around antibiotic prescribing and use.
Course image Diagnostics
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This module covers the essentials you need to know about the diagnostic techniques used to ensure the most appropriate antibiotics are prescribed. Follow the journey of your sample through the lab, or upskill your microscopy to cultivate your in-house laboratory yield.

CPD: 1 hour 46 minutes
Authors: Tim Nuttall, Dr. Dorina Timofte

Learning outcomes
  • Understand different cytology techniques.
  • Explain how to prepare a cytology sample for in-house examination.
  • Discuss how to interpret cytology samples.
  • Explain what happens to a sample when it reaches the laboratory.
  • Demonstrate how to set up your microscope.
Course image Bronze Antibiotic Guardian
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Description: 

Access this certificate when you have completed the necessary modules to become a Bronze Antibiotic Guardian.

Course image Surgical prophylaxis and wounds
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This module includes all the need-to-know facts about the use of antibiotics in surgery and wound management.

CPD: 50 minutes
Authors: Kelly Blacklock, Claire Tomkinson and Amanda Curtis

Learning outcomes
  • Understand the prophylactic and therapeutic use of antibiotics.
  • Detail the phases of wound healing.
  • Explain wound classifications.
  • Discuss risk factors regarding wounds and infection.
  • Understand the importance of client compliance in wound healing.

Course image Infection control and biosecurity
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This module provides guidance on different aspects of infection control. Aimed at veterinary professionals, the series will help you to improve your infection control and biosecurity practices, helping you instigate responsible antimicrobial use.

CPD: 5 hours
Authors: Alan Radford, Tim Nuttall, Pam Mosedale, Sairead Wild, Liz Branscombe

Learning outcomes
  • Understand what enveloped viruses are, and the biosecurity we need to develop in practice
  • List organisms of concern within the veterinary environment, and how they are transported.
  • Discuss what policies and procedures you could put in place to help improve your infection control and biosecurity in practice.
  • Explain different disinfectant types and what they may be used for.
  • Explain how you could audit your infection control and understand why it is important.

Course image Silver Antibiotic Guardian
Companion Animal and Equine
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Description: 

Access this certificate when you have completed the necessary modules to become a Silver Antibiotic Guardian.

Course image Canine and feline
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This module covers the key points of antimicrobial resistance in canines and felines, including antibiotic use in a range of clinical presentations, and how tackling antimicrobial resistance is a team effort.

CPD: 2 hours 51 minutes
Authors: Dr. Genever Morgan, Fergus Allerton, Sivert Nerhagen, Heidi Sjetne Lund, Craig Breheny, Tim Nuttall

Learning outcomes
  • Understand the DEFRA testing requirements for raw pet food.
  • Define the bacterial risks associated with raw pet food and the considerations for clinical practice.
  • Delve deeper into the clinical presentations that relate to the animals and cases you see in your setting to understand the appropriate use of antimicrobials in these conditions.
  • Discover the importance of client compliance in helping to reduce the reliance on antibiotics.
  • Discover the fundamental role nurses have in tackling antimicrobial resistance.

Course image Equine
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This module covers antimicrobial resistance more specifically in horses, including antibiotic use, clinical presentations and useful tools to use in practice.

CPD: 2 hours 27 minutes
Authors: Cajsa Isgren, James Crabtree, Emily Floyd, Richard Coppack, John Pringle, Luis M. Rubio-Martinez, Sarah Smith

Learning Outcomes:
  • Recognise the common pathogens in equine practice.
  • Discuss the diagnosis and appropriate treatment of bacterial placentitis and endometritis.
  • Understand the different physiology of foals and how this relates to antimicrobial use.
  • Discuss the diagnosis and appropriate treatment of common respiratory tract diseases.
  • Discuss the general principles of equine skin disease.

Course image Small mammals, avians and exotics
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This module covers antimicrobial resistance more specifically in our more exotic species.

CPD: 2 hours 42 minutes
Authors: Henrietta Kodilinye-Sims, Molly Varga, Benjamin Kennedy

Learning outcomes
  • Discuss the effective use of antibiotics in avians.
  • Explain how to apply Reduce, Refine, Replace principles to your backyard hen cases.
  • Discuss the prescribing legalities with using antibiotics in backyard hens.
  • Understand the considerations for prescribing antibiotics in rabbits and small mammals.
  • Understand the considerations for prescribing antibiotics in reptiles.
Course image Gold Antibiotic Guardian - Canine and feline
Companion Animal and Equine
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Description: 

Access this certificate when you have completed the necessary modules to become a Gold Antibiotic Guardian.

Course image Gold Antibiotic Guardian - Equine
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Access this certificate when you have completed the necessary modules to become a Gold Antibiotic Guardian.

Course image Gold Antibiotic Guardian - Small mammals, avians and exotics
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Access this certificate when you have completed the necessary modules to become a Gold Antibiotic Guardian.

Course image Useful resources
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Here is your Aladdin's Cave of resources that will help support you to prevent patient complications. This module includes further CPD, resources, downloads and tools to help the team combat antimicrobial resistance, together.

CPD: 3 hours 37 minutes
Authors: RCVS Knowledge, VetTeam AMR working groups
Course image Platinum Antibiotic Guardian
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Access this certificate when you have completed the necessary modules to become a Platinum Antibiotic Guardian.