Medication without veterinary prescription in pets in Lima, Peru (2020)

The aim of this the study was to describe the reasons related to the medication of pets without veterinary prescription among clients of veterinary services in Metropolitan Lima, Peru in 2020. A descriptive cross-sectional observational study was developed that collected information through virtual surveys. In total, 408 clients were surveyed, of which 22.3% (91/408) mentioned consulting other media before visiting the veterinarian when their animal showed any signs of illness and 34.8% (142/408) mentioned having offered medicines without a veterinary prescription. The drugs that were used most frequently were analgesics / anti-inflammatories (32.4%, 46/142), antiparasitic (23.3%, 33/142) and antibiotics (19.0%, 27/142). Moreover, 87.7% (126/142) of the respondents who administered medication to their pets without a prescription, had the perception that this practice could have negative consequences on their animal. Of the total respondents, 62.5% (255/408) did not know or mentioned not having heard about “antimicrobial resistance”. It is concluded that in Metropolitan Lima there is the practice of medication for animals without a veterinary prescription and this requires the development of sensitization and awareness campaigns so that these practices do not affect animal health and welfare and public health.