When a beloved pet gets an ear infection or a bad scratch, the first thing you want is a treatment that works. For decades, antibiotics have been the wonder drugs of both human and veterinary medicine. But a silent threat is growing: antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

We are currently living through an era of "superbugs," where bacteria and other microbes are evolving to outsmart the drugs we have to kill them. While the global health community has made progress tracking AMR in human hospitals and livestock farms, our closest companions—the dogs, cats, and horses living in our homes and barns—have remained a dangerous blind spot. All antimicrobial drug use puts pressure on bacteria to develop mechanisms of resistance to these drugs. Without clear data on how we use these drugs in pets, it is difficult to see the big picture of emerging resistance—much like trying to track a storm without a radar.

Now, supported by a 5-year cooperative agreement from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), researchers at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) are building out that radar system. Led by Jennifer Granick, an associate professor at CVM and co-director of the Antimicrobial Resistance and Stewardship Initiative (ARSI), this project aims to enable a comprehensive understanding of antibiotic use in companion animal health, to preserve the "miracle" of antibiotics for everyone.

Inspired by existing models in England, Granick has been a visionary in this space in the U.S., spearheading the creation of CAVSNET, or the Companion Animal Veterinary Surveillance Network. Before CAVSNET, pet health data was trapped in thousands of incompatible electronic health record systems from clinics and hospitals around the country—a digital "Tower of Babel" that made national tracking impossible.

Granick’s work, which started with an internal grant from CVM and was then supported by a previous cooperative agreement from the FDA, has built the first true bridge across these systems. And the scale of that bridge is already immense: a recent national analysis by the team captured data from over 1,200 clinics and nearly 8 million systemic antibiotic prescriptions. This means that for the first time, researchers can begin to see a fuller picture of how and why antibiotics are being prescribed in veterinary clinics across the country.

“Because humans and animals are treated with the same antimicrobial drugs and live in the same environments, contributions and impacts of healthcare and the veterinary profession on AMR are intertwined,” explains Granick. “As antimicrobial use drives the development of AMR, all sectors that use antimicrobials must take measures to track and improve antimicrobial prescribing so that bacterial infections in animals and humans alike can be successfully treated.”

The new phase of research moves beyond simple tracking and into deeper analysis for actionable insights. By building this massive data infrastructure, CAVSNET acts as an engine for specialized research that was previously impossible. For example, Granick’s team is also undertaking a new study, funded by the Morris Animal Foundation, which utilizes CAVSNET’s big data to investigate feline upper respiratory infections—similar to previous work they’ve done on canine respiratory infections. Much like a human cold, these infections are often viral and can resolve on their own with watchful waiting. By using CAVSNET to see how often antibiotics are prescribed versus following evidence-based guidelines, Granick’s team can finally see what is working on the ground and tailor recommendations for education and resources that help veterinarians provide the best possible care.

The new FDA cooperative agreement provides the long-term support needed to further develop CAVSNET as a national radar for pet health. The grant will support three ambitious goals:

• Annual national estimates: Providing the first ever yearly data on how often systemic antibiotics are prescribed in U.S. companion animal practices.
• Contextual mapping: Linking prescriptions to specific clinical conditions, answering not just what was given, but why.
• Closing the gaps: Using a mix of advanced AI to "read" vet notes and deep-dive manual surveys to identify where the biggest data gaps exist—particularly in equine medicine and surgical procedures.

The FDA’s support will allow Granick’s team to continue building and expanding this infrastructure that protects the entire ecosystem of health. With standardized veterinary data, researchers have evidence they can use to develop better antibiotic prescribing practices for pets, conserving one of the most precious resources in animal and human medicine. Ultimately, Granick’s team is giving veterinarians the tools to be better stewards of our shared medical heritage, ensuring that the next time a child or a kitten needs a life-saving pill, that pill actually works.