Perceptions of antimicrobial use and resistance among pet owners in Chile: A cross-sectional One Health survey.

Background and Aim: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) presents a critical global health threat, compromising the efficacy of treatments across human, animal, and environmental health domains. While efforts have predominantly focused on livestock and human medicine, the role of pet owners remains underexplored, despite their direct involvement in antimicrobial administration and influence on veterinary decisions. This study aimed to assess perceptions, knowledge, and practices regarding antimicrobial use and resistance among pet owners in Chile, providing a baseline to inform future education and policy initiatives under a One Health framework. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey targeting adult dog and cat owners was conducted from May 19 to 21, 2023, in Santiago, Chile, during a large public pet-focused event. Using a validated questionnaire, data were collected on demographics, pet characteristics, knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to antibiotics and AMR. A total of 378 valid responses were analyzed. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests were applied to examine associations, particularly between education level and reported practices. Results: Most respondents were female (74.4%) with professional degrees (64%) and aged between 21 and 50 years. Dogs were more commonly owned (73.8%) than cats (26.2%). While 86.2% reported their pet had received antibiotics, only 68.2% recalled veterinarians confirming proper administration understanding. A strong majority agreed that antibiotics should only be used for bacterial infections and opposed acquiring them without a prescription. Notably, 92.4% stated that they would stop treatment early if improvement was observed. Approximately 52% had used human antibiotics for pets, and 38% were open to substituting prescribed veterinary antibiotics with human ones. No significant association was found between education level and antibiotic use behaviors (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Findings reveal important gaps in owner understanding and adherence to antimicrobial guidelines, particularly regarding treatment completion and human antibiotic use in pets. Strengthening veterinarian-owner communication, promoting species-specific antibiotic use, and enhancing awareness of AMR's broader implications are essential. These insights support targeted educational efforts and integration of pet owner perspectives into national AMR strategies to advance One Health goals.