K I D S   P A G E

Home Page

Printable version Printable version

Animated Hedgehog Animated Peacock Animated Lizard

Information For Action www.informaction.org

A N T I B I O T I C S
A G R I C U L T U R E

What are antibiotics and what do they do?

Antibiotics are a type of medicine discovered about fifty years ago. They kill germs inside us called bacteria.


Are they given to animals as well as humans?

Yes.

Is this a good thing?

No, because when animals are given so many antibiotics, it makes the bacteria inside them get used to the antibiotics. This can lead to:

Can’t vets stop people from giving animals antibiotics when they are not needed?

No. Although our pets at home need to see a vet when they are sick, farm animals' antibiotics can be bought by farmers without a prescription from the doctor.


Where are these antibiotics used the most?

In places called ‘factory farms? where a lot of animals are housed within a small space. The people who run these farms try to prevent the animals from getting sick by giving them antibiotics which they do not need.


What can you do to help?


Remember?

You and your pets need a prescription to take antibiotics, and it should be the same for farm animals. If this doesn't happen, super-bugs will develop and we will all become very sick.