Patterns of Human Medication Use in Animals: A Prospective Observational Study in Saudi Arabia.

Backgrounds: Pets relate to the public in significant ways, impacting the physical and mental well-being of their owners. Inappropriate usage of medications in animals poses substantial public health concerns when used in food-producing animals. Methodology: A population-based cross-sectional online survey was conducted throughout Saudi Arabia from December 2022 to April 2023. This study aims at the extra-labeled use of drugs among pet owners in KSA. Findings: A total of 347 pet oweners were included in the study. Cats (63%) and birds (30.54%) were the common pets, and 59.65% of pet owners gave regular vaccines to the pets. Only 10% of participants used human medications on pets. Antibiotics and topical agents were the most commonly used human medications in animals, and approximately half of the participants reported using them with a reduced dose. This practice can lead to suboptimal treatment outcomes and exacerbate antimicrobial resistance. Although 53% of participants acknowledged that only veterinarians are authorized to prescribe animal medications, nearly half believed that pet owners can also administer human drugs to animals. Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of promoting responsible medication practices and enhancing pet owners' awareness to safeguard animal and human health.