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ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE
GROWING FORWARD 2
PROJECT PROGRESS REPORT
Ontario Veterinary Stewardship
of Antimicrobial Use in
Food-Producing Animals
As you are likely aware, the College has
been sponsoring a Growing Forward 2 (GF2)
Project focused on the stewardship of Ontario
veterinarians with respect to the use of
antibiotics in food-producing animal practice.
To accomplish this objective, the College has
been holding facilitated discussion sessions,
led by project managers Dr. Barbara Leslie
and Dr. Ken Leslie, from February through to
April 2015.
In the fall of 2014, the project team
conducted a survey to seek the opinion of
Ontario veterinarians on their current opinions
and practices related to antibiotic use in food
producing animals – this survey was inclusive
of cattle (dairy, beef and veal), sheep, goats,
swine and poultry.
These meetings have been generously
coordinated to be in tandem with the
meetings of the species associations, so as
to encourage attendance. Attendance to date
has been outstanding.
The survey had an outstanding response
rate, with over 61 percent of veterinarians
contacted responding. The results of
the survey have now been analyzed. As
promised, the College wants to share
the survey findings with the veterinarian
community.
The purpose of these facilitated discussions
is to hear from veterinarians on their reaction
to the results of the College’s research, and
to seek input on what might be some next
steps the profession in Ontario could take to
give additional leadership to this important
global issue.
The information gathered will be assembled
into themes and used as the basis for a set of
recommendations.
The draft recommendations will be brought
forward for public consultation in June 2015.
One major question emerging from this
process has been about antimicrobial use
and related resistance in companion animals.
This is a valid observation and likely to be
included in Council conversation in the fall as
new steps in the bigger picture of veterinary
stewardship are anticipated.
Now Available
INFORMED
CLIENT CONSENT
LEARNING MODULE
The College recently launched a selfstudy module, which assists veterinarians
in understanding the requirements and
expectations surrounding informed client
consent.
The Professional Practice Standard Informed Client Consent is central to the
delivery of veterinary care. The policy
document was revised last fall, so be sure to
take a moment to review the standard.
The standard provides clarity on what
informed client consent means in the context
of the Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship
and how compliance with professional
expectations for informed owner consent is
demonstrated.
Read the Standard at
www.cvo.org/consent
PROFESSIONALS
HEALTH PROGRAM
1-800-851-6606
http://php.oma.org
The Professionals Health Program is
a free, confidential service. The PHP
provides prompt advice and support to
veterinarians and/or their family members.
This project was funded in part through Growing Forward 2 (GF2), a federal-provincial-territorial
initiative. The Agricultural Adaptation Council assists in the delivery of GF2 in Ontario.
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