Antibiotics do not shorten the course of diarrhea. The antibiotic is often given false credit for resolving diarrhea when it has been shown the majority of acute diarrhea cases successfully resolve without antibiotics in approximately the same amount of time.

Antibiotics cause long-lasting disruption of gut bacteria. Dysbiosis is an imbalance within the gut microbiome, which is the community of bacteria and other microorganisms living together in the gut. Dysbiosis can impact systemic health, and the imbalance resulting from antibiotics can last for weeks, months, or even years after the antibiotic has been discontinued.

Relapse of diarrhea is common after antibiotics. Even if an antibiotic appears to resolve diarrhea in the short term, relapse is common and can lead to a constant cycle of antibiotic administration and recurring diarrhea.

Unnecessary antibiotic use for diarrhea can put everyone’s health at risk. Antibiotic use can lead to the development of resistance, which reduces antibiotic effectiveness. Resistant strains of bacteria may be shared between pets and their owners, increasing the risk of resistant infections that are harder to manage. Antibiotic resistance is a major global public health concern and it is critical to limit antibiotic use to when it is absolutely necessary.