The most commonly used antimicrobial treatments for dogs and cats are not evidence-based, writes Scott Weese, DVM. Most antimicrobial treatment durations currently used in dogs and cats are probably way too long when we compare them to what’s done in human medicine for comparable conditions. Some of the differences are striking.
Weese says a new systematic review entitled “Shorter versus longer durations of antibiotic treatment for pneumonia in dogs and cats: a systematic review and meta-analysis” should help us revise our treatment guidance for pneumonia in dogs and cats.
Source: Worms and Germs, January 23, 2026. Link. Despite a notably small number of studies for the systematic review, “meta-analysis showed no significant difference in outcomes (both clinical cure and recurrence) between animals treated with shorter (10-14 days) versus longer (21-28 days) courses of antimicrobials.”