Antibiotics are drugs that harm the body, but at the same time save lives. They are prescribed when the body cannot fight off the infection on its own.
And, of course, we are talking not only about people, but also about our pets.
Dogs also get sick and cannot always cope with the disease without medication. What antibiotics do dogs need, and can dogs take Penicillin?
When and how to use Penicillin
First of all, dog owners need to understand that it is very dangerous to use antibiotics without the recommendation of a veterinarian. Because you need to know what caused the infection and is penicillin recommended for this.
Properly calculated dosage and duration of treatment are equally important for the recovery of the pet.
If the animal has a bacterial disease, then antibiotics like penicillin, amoxicillin are used only in case of complications or their threat.
The dosage is calculated based on the weight of the pet, and in no case should you change it yourself, otherwise you can harm your pet’s health.
It is not advised to stop antibiotic treatment, even if the dog appears to be improving.
An overdose of the drug, in most cases, manifests itself in the form of vomiting and diarrhea, but sometimes more serious side effects are possible, for example, the pet may become deaf.
What If stop giving penicillin before end of the course
This attitude towards medicines leads to resistance of pathogens to antibacterial agents. That is why it is necessary to strictly adhere to the recommendations of the attending physician, which applies not only to animals, but also to people.
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What other antibiotics are used to treat dogs
Very often, owners are interested in whether it is possible to give antibiotics intended for humans to dogs. But in fact, there are no specific canine antibiotics.
In the treatment of dogs, the following groups of antibiotic drugs can be used:
Antibiotics related to the penicillin series, including those of semi-synthetic origin – Ampicillin, Flemoxin Solutab, Amoxicillin, Amoxiclav, etc.
Cephalosporins – the more effective drug against gram-negative flora.
Macrolides – In most cases, they are used for respiratory diseases and pneumonia.
Carbapenems – They are highly effective against staphylococci.
Tetracyclines – natural: They are used for tick-borne borreliosis and cystitis in dogs.
Levomycetinum – used for intestinal disorders.
Fluoroquinolones – Ofloxacin, Pefloxacin, Ciprofloxacin, Levoflox,
Levofloxacin – They are used to treat cystitis, gastrointestinal infections, and severe forms of pneumonia.
Antibiotics used for pets have various effects on infectious agents – bacteriostatic, in which they slow down and stop the growth of bacteria, or bactericidal, which kills them.
See Also: How To Treat Common Eye Injuries In Dogs
What antibiotic group is highly dangerous for dogs?
Among antibiotics, there is another group of drugs – anti-tuberculosis drugs. Humans can be treated with them, but animals may not survive after taking them.
Bottom Line
In severe infectious diseases, especially those caused by gram-negative pathogens, it is recommended to start antibiotic therapy with drugs that have a bacteriostatic effect.
This will help to avoid infectious-toxic shock, which is caused by a large intake of toxic substances released by dead bacteria into the blood.
The causative agents of infections quickly develop resistance to this kind of drugs, so they should not be abused.
