IntroductionProteus mirabilisis a multi-host pathogen that causes diseases of varying severity in a wide range of mammals, including humans.Proteus mirabilisis resistant to multiple antibiotics and has acquired the ability to produce expanded spectrum of β-lactamases, leading to serious public health problems. However, the available information onP. mirabilisisolated from feces of dogs, is still poorly understood, as is the correlation between its virulence-associated genes (VAGs) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs).MethodIn this study, we isolated 75 strains ofP. mirabilisfrom 241 samples, and investigated the swarming motility, biofilm formation, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), distribution of VAGs and ARGs, as well as the presence of class 1, 2, and 3 integrons in these isolates.ResultsOur findings suggest a high prevalence of intensive swarming motility and strong biofilm formation ability amongP. mirabilisisolates. Isolates were primarily resistant to cefazolin (70.67%) and imipenem (70.67%). These isolates were found to carryureC,FliL,ireA,zapA,ptA,hpmA,hpmB,pmfA,rsbA,mrpA, anducaAwith varying prevalence levels of 100.00, 100.00, 100.00, 98.67, 98.67, 90.67, 90.67, 90.67, 90.67, 89.33, and 70.67%, respectively. Additionally, the isolates were found to carryaac(6′)-Ib,qnrD,floR,blaCTX-M,blaCTX-M-2,blaOXA-1,blaTEM,tetA,tetBandtetMwith varying prevalence levels of 38.67, 32.00, 25.33, 17.33, 16.00, 10.67, 5.33, 2.67, 1.33, and 1.33%, respectively. Among 40 MDR strains, 14 (35.00%) were found to carry class 1 integrons, 12 (30.00%) strains carried class 2 integrons, while no class 3 integrons was detected. There was a significant positive correlation between the class 1 integrons and three ARGs:blaTEM,blaCTX-M, andblaCTX-M-2. This study revealed thatP. mirabilisstrains isolated from domestic dogs exhibited a higher prevalence of MDR, and carried fewer VAGs but more ARGs compared to those isolated from stay dogs. Furthermore, a negative correlation was observed between VAGs and ARGs.DiscussionGiven the increasing antimicrobial resistance ofP. mirabilis, veterinarians should adopt a prudent approach towards antibiotics administration in dogs to mitigate the emergence and dissemination of MDR strains that pose a potential threat to public health.