College Connection Spring 2026 | Page 5

College Connection | Spring 2026

Opportunities to enhance antimicrobial stewardship

Since 2014, the College Council has included the broader objective of One Health in setting its strategic priorities. Among the many tactics identified to advance this priority, this has included the topic of antimicrobial resistance( AMR) and the opportunity to promote antimicrobial stewardship( AMS).

The strategic plan includes the objective, Promoting the importance of One Health. One of the current tactics is to complete research related to veterinary prescribing behaviours and antimicrobials that informs a set of recommendations for a stewardship strategy involving veterinarians and veterinary technicians.

In fall 2024, the Legacy Council considered a suggested set of project objectives and resulting deliverables and accepted the recommendation to begin a research project.

ACER Consulting was engaged to complete the project and Legacy Council received their report in November 2025. The report,“ Opportunities for the Enhancement of Antimicrobial Stewardship in

Companion Animal and Equine Medicine in Ontario,” presented a set of recommendations for the College to focus its work on enhancing stewardship practices among veterinary professionals. It also builds a deeper understanding of AMS in Ontario’ s companion animal and equine veterinary sectors by exploring prescribing practices, behavioural and systemic drivers, and opportunities for regulatory and professional leadership.

The report includes the following key findings:

• the awareness and adoption of AMS varies across species and practice types

• veterinarians’ personal beliefs, knowledge and confidence influence AMS

• perceived client expectations for antibiotics influence AMS

• limited access to affordable and timely diagnostics influence AMS

• focus groups confirmed gains in AMS awareness but challenges related to economics, client expectations, and access to practice guidance

The report identifies strategies to help normalize AMS as a core element of veterinary professionalism, enabling responsible antimicrobial use while maintaining high standards of patient care and practitioner autonomy.

Opportunities for the Enhancement of Antimicrobial Stewardship in Companion Animal and Equine Medicine in Ontario” is available on the College website.

Summaries from recent discipline hearings

The outcomes of discipline hearings are public information and provide a greater understanding of the veterinary profession’ s accountability to the public. Findings are posted on cvo. org, the Public Register, and CanLii.

Dr. Harjinder Singh

As a result of a professional misconduct hearing, the member’ s licence was suspended for three months. The issues in the case included failure to make a proper diagnosis, failure to rule out the possibility of comorbidities, discharging an animal without providing options for ongoing care, and failure in communications with the client.

The remediation in the penalty includes pre- and post- remediation assessment, a one-day mentorship on the medical issues in the case, and a course or additional mentoring on appropriate client relations, auxiliary supervision, and informed consent. As well, the member must pay costs to the College of $ 5,000.

Dr. Navtej Brar

As a result of a professional misconduct hearing, the member’ s licence was suspended for one month. The issues in the case included failure to properly perform a physical examination, insufficient pain control, failure to make or retain required records, and failure to appropriately monitor a dog post-operatively.

The remediation in the penalty includes pre- and post- remediation assessment, a one-day mentorship on the medical issues that arose in the case, and a course on medical recordkeeping. As well, the member will complete a peer review of his medical records. The member must pay costs to the College of $ 5,000.

Read a complete summary from the discipline hearing at:

cvo. org / discipline-orders

Public confidence in veterinary regulation cvo. org 5