As in other areas of veterinary medicine, general principles with respect to stewardship should apply to the centres, in that antibiotic therapy (and use of all antimicrobials) should be administered:

• under veterinary direction and/or supervision only in an informed way only where clinically required, with appropriate microbiological and pathological testing where possible
• only ever after proper consideration

Antibiotic therapy should not be administered:

• to mask poor husbandry and facilities
• automatically, or as a ‘belt and braces’ approach
• routinely for groups

Antibiotics should not be left as 'stock' in large volumes at centres. The cost of antibiotic use to the centre should be discussed with staff in terms of finances, antibiotic stewardship and One Health.