Antibiotics For Pets Over The Counter

How Will Heartburn Medications Affect My Pet

All of these medications can affect how other medications are absorbed by your pets body, so definitely ask your veterinarian if theres any drug interactions you should be concerned about.

Diarrhea and a lower appetite than usual are possible side effects for cats and dogs with Pepcid or Prilosec, but these medications are generally well tolerated. If you notice excessive sleepiness or vomiting after starting your pet on any antacid medication, contact your vet right away.

Bacterial Infection In Cats And Dogs

Cats and dogs are susceptible to various bacterial infections caused by a range of bacteria. These include:

• Skin infections, such as deep and superficial pyodermas, which are usually caused by Staphylococcus bacteria. Symptoms include itching and irritation, pustules , sores and patches of hair loss.
• Urinary tract infections such as cystitis. Symptoms include blood in the urine, abnormal or frequent urination in inappropriate places, blockage of the urethra usually caused by Staphylococcus and Proteus bacteria.
• Pneumonia is a lower respiratory tract infection usually due to the bacteria Bordetella bronchiseptica and Streptococcus zooepidemicus as well as others also fungal or viral infection. The infection causes inflammation of the lung tissue, with symptoms including difficulty breathing, fluid on the lungs, cough, fever and loss of appetite.
• Upper respiratory tract infections include infections of the nose throat and sinuses. Kennel cough is a form of bronchitis that is common infection in dogs and is caused by the bacteria Bordetella bronchiseptica. Infection with other bacteria such as Streptococcus, cause symptoms including congestion, cough and inflammation.
• Enteritis is inflammation of the small intestine and can be caused by bacterial infection with a range of different bacteria, including Salmonella, Shigella, Staphylococcus and Escherichia coli. Symptoms include, vomiting, diarrhoea, dehydration and fever.

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Which Heartburn Medications Are Safe For Pets

Pepcid is a commonly prescribed heartburn medication to relieve tummy troubles for dogs and cats. Pepcid lowers the amount of stomach acid the body makes and helps relieve acid reflux. This medication works best before the first meal of the day on an empty stomach. Pepcid should start working within 1 to 2 hours.

Proton pump inhibitors like Prilosec are another popular type of human heartburn medication. Prilosec treats heartburn and ulcers in dogs and cats. Do not crush Prilosec or allow your pet to chew it because it is a long-acting medication that works throughout the whole day. Its best to give Prilosec to your pet in the morning on an empty stomach before their first meal of the day. The medication should start working within 1 to 2 days.

Common antacids can also help with stomach ulcers in pets, but they need to be given many times a day to work. Speak with your vet about how much to give your dog or cat, as it will most likely be different than the human dose listed on the package. Side effects can differ depending on the type of antacid your pet is taking but diarrhea or constipation are possible.

Is Hydrocortisone Cream Safe For Pets

Hydrocortisone cream, when used sparingly, is an option to relieve your pets itching. OTC hydrocortisone is a mild corticosteroid that helps reduce swelling, redness, and itchiness. Its readily available and inexpensive.

You should only be applying this medication once or twice a day, but double check with your vet if youre unsure on how long you should be using it. Its best to avoid hydrocortisone sprays or gels that contain alcohol when it comes to cats and dogs because alcohol can be harmful if licked off the skin.

Hydrocortisone cream should be a temporary solution until your vet can figure out why your pet is itchy. Sometimes, this itching is caused by fleas or ticks so be sure to discuss preventative pest control options with your vet at your next visit if you havent yet.

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How Do Otc Pain Meds Affect Your Dog

Weve given you a long list of dog-friendly over-the-counter medications but want to make sure you know the detrimental effects that OTC pain relievers can have on dogs. Be sure to read our guidelines on pain meds for dogs to understand the dangers they can pose. Dont forget to talk to your vet before treating your dog with any unprescribed medications to make sure they are safe for your pet, even these common OTC products.

Have you ever given your dog anything from your medicine cabinet? Did it work?

My Dog Had A Bad Reaction To A Drug How Do I Report This Side Effect

FDA encourages pet owners to work with their veterinarian to report problems with any animal drug. Problems include undesired side effects associated with a drug, and product defects. Adverse events also include a lack of effectiveness and unfavorable reactions in people who handle the drug. Product defects are problems such as defective packaging or the drug has an abnormal appearance.

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Why Didnt My Vet Prescribe Antibiotics

If your vet didnt prescribe your pet antibiotics, there is likely to be a good reason. There are many situations when antibiotics wont cure the problem, for example if your dog has an infection caused by a virus or fungus. Always speak to your vet if you are worried – they will be happy to explain further.

Are There Other Antihistamines For Pets

Dramamine is another antihistamine that can relieve dizziness or help prevent motion sickness. Its side effects are similar to Benadryl. Several second-generation antihistamines like Zyrtec and Claritin also work well in pets and may cause less drowsiness. Ask your vet which type of antihistamine would be the best option for your pets condition.

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Read The Client Information Sheet

Some approved animal drugs have a Client Information Sheet written specifically for pet owners in a user-friendly, question-and-answer format. The handout gives you detailed information about your pets medication and the side effects it can cause, helping you use the medication as safely and effectively as possible for your pet. You can get a Client Information Sheet from your veterinarian.

Not all approved animal drugs have Client Information Sheets available. Generally, theyre written for medications where owner involvement is important for safe and effective use.

What Is A Veterinarian

The federal definition of a veterinarian-client-patient relationship has three parts:

• The veterinarian has assumed responsibility for making medical judgments about the health of an animal or animals and the need for medical treatment. In turn, the client has agreed to follow the veterinarians instructions
• The veterinarian has sufficient knowledge of the animal or animals to develop a general or preliminary diagnosis of the medical condition and
• The veterinarian is readily available for follow-up in case of undesired side effects or the treatment doesnt work. Such a relationship can exist only when a veterinarian has recently seen and is personally acquainted with the keeping and care of the animal or animals. This means a veterinarian has recently examined the animal or animals, made medically appropriate and timely visits to the premises, or done both.

For a veterinarian to legally prescribe a drug for an extra-label use, it must be done within the context of a valid VCPR that, at a minimum, meets the three requirements described above. States may impose their own separate and additional requirements for a valid VCPR.

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How Does An Animal Drug Get Approved By Fda

The approval process for an animal drug is a collaborative effort between the drug company and FDA. In a nutshell, the steps of the approval process are:

• The drug company collects information about the safety and effectiveness of a new animal drug. The company may need to conduct studies to get this information. For any studies that are performed, the company analyzes the results.
• Based on the collected information, the drug company decides if there is enough proof that the drug meets the requirements for approval. The company must prove that the drug is safe and effective for a specific use in a specific animal species. If the drug is for food-producing animals , the company must also prove that its safe for people to eat food from treated animals, such as meat, milk, and eggs.
• If the drug company decides the drug meets the requirements for approval, the company submits a New Animal Drug Application to FDA. The application includes all the information about the drug and the proposed label.
• A team of FDA personnel, including veterinarians, animal scientists, biostatisticians, chemists, microbiologists, pharmacologists, and toxicologists, reviews the application. If the agencys team agrees with the companys conclusion that the drug is safe and effective when its used according to the proposed label, FDA approves the drug and the drug company can legally sell it.

Medications To Induce Vomiting In Dogs

To be effective in emptying the stomach, it is important to induce vomiting as soon as possible, certainly within 2 hours. Make sure to check with a veterinarian or poison control center to confirm that it is recommended to induce vomiting, as often, especially with the ingestion of certain chemicals or sharp objects , inducing vomiting is NOT advised.

When it comes to inducing vomiting, the options to attempt this at home are very limited, and some veterinarians dont recommend any of them. In my opinion, the only option to induce vomiting in dogs is by administering fresh hydrogen peroxide at a dose of 0.5 to 1.0 ml per pound. To put this simply, ½ to 1 tsp per 5 pounds of body weight or 1 oz. for a 30 to 60 pound dog. Do NOT use salt water or syrup of Ipecac under any circumstance! If the hydrogen peroxide doesnt work, some recommend repeating it once, and if that doesnt work you need to take your dog to an emergency or urgent care facility.

Next time you open your medicine cabinet to pull something out to use for your pet, PLEASE do your homework firstcheck with your veterinarian, an emergency facility, poison control, or even, often reluctantly, Dr. Google. Many products you have may be okay, but you have many that may not be!!

– Dr. Jeff Werber

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All Antibiotics For Livestock Will Soon Require A Vets Prescription

Cattle, and all other livestock, will soon require a vets prescription for injectable antibiotics.

No longer will producers who need injectable antibiotics for their cattle be able to just grab them at their local feed store or order them online.

The Texas A& M AgriLife Extension Service wants producers to be aware that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is continuing the phasing in of a law that requires a prescription for any antibiotic use in animals raised for human consumption, as well as for all companion animals.

What Is An Approved Animal Drug

An approved animal drug has gone through FDAs drug approval process. During this process, the agency reviews information submitted by the drug company about the animal drug. If the information meets the requirements for approval, the agency approves the animal drug. FDAs approval means the drug is safe and effective when its used according to the label. FDAs approval also ensures that the drugs strength, quality, and purity are consistent from batch to batch, and that the drugs label is truthful, complete, and not misleading.

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Cold And Cough Medicine

Most OTC cold medications contain decongestants that are not safe for dogs, so steer clear. Many OTC cough meds, however, like Robitussin DM, contain ingredients that are relatively safe for dogs. Check with your vet before administering a cough medicine.

WARNING: If your dog is coughing, it could be a sign of a more severe problem like respiratory infection, heartworms or cardiac disease, so we advise that you have your pup examined by a vet before giving them human meds for coughing.

Can Pets Take Human Antibiotics

Although antibiotics will work to fight bacteria, whether its used on a human or animal, its important to not give antibiotics prescribed to people, says Dr. Phillips. Some antibiotics work better in some species over others and dosages may be different. Side effects can also vary greatly between species.

Even in classes of medicine that are prescribed to both humans and animals, certain medicines may be toxic for pets due to differences in metabolism between people and dogs or cats. Veterinarian oversight is critical to making sure the right antibiotics are used on pets.

For example, Dr. Phillips said, Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid is a commonly used antibiotic in both pets and people under several brand names. But the ratio of amoxicillin to clavulanic acid varies significantly between products that are intended for humans and those that are intended for pets. These kinds of differences can make a big impact on the effectiveness of the antibiotic.

Bottom line: if you think your dog or cat may need pet antibiotics, its best to see a vet and get a prescription to keep your pet safe and get them healthy once again. In some cases, your vet may send you to a human pharmacy to pick up the medication. In others, your pet will need a specially formulated Rx.

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How Will Benadryl Affect My Pet

Benadryl should work within 1 to 2 hours to relieve allergy symptoms and wear off within 24 hours. The most common side effect is drowsiness, but some dogs and many cats can actually become more excited after a dose. If your pet takes medication for seizures or mood, this sleepy feeling may be more noticeable or last longer. Dry mouth, less frequent urination, and lower appetite are also common side effects.

Always check with your pets veterinarian about the dose you should give. Do not follow the human directions on the OTC packaging, as pet instructions will most likely be very different. Too much Benadryl can lead to trouble breathing, coma, seizures, or even death.

Dangerous Drugs For Dogs

The most common human medications to cause poisoning in dogs include:

NSAIDS

The nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are widely used and readily available many of these can be purchased over the counter. These drugs are used to treat pain, inflammation, and fever in people. Examples of NSAIDs include aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, and indomethacin. In dogs, orally ingested NSAIDs are rapidly absorbed. Most achieve peak concentrations in the blood within three hours. The most commonly seen side effects of these medications are gastrointestinal irritation and damage to the GI tract.

At recommended dosages, NSAIDs have little effect on the kidneys, but in cases of overdose renal damage has occurred. The simultaneous use of two NSAIDs can lead to kidney dysfunction. Additionally, NSAID overdose has caused clotting problems and liver disease. These drugs can also react with other drugs.

Acetaminophen/Tylenol

Another readily available human medication often used to treat pain and inflammation in dogs is acetaminophen. This drug, sold as Tylenol and other brand names, can be obtained both over the counter and in some prescription preparations. Exposure to dogs usually occurs through administration of acetaminophen by uninformed but well-meaning owners intending to treat fever, pain, or inflammation in their animal. Poisoning can occur from a single exposure to a large dose or from chronic exposure to a low dose.

ADHD Medications

Blood Pressure Medications

Sleep Medications

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Best Liquid Dog Antibiotic For Ears: Curaseb Cat & Dog Ear Infection Treatment

• Treats Ear Infections, Inflammation, Redness, Itchiness and Head Shaking caused by Unwanted Foreign Visitors
• Flushes Away and Gently Deodorizes Smelly Ears from Wax, Dirt, Sticky Discharge and Accumulated Biofilms
• Perfect for Routine Ear Cleaning Especially After Swims and Baths
• No Sting Veterinary Formula is Safe for Dogs, Puppies, Cats & Kittens
• Made in the USA in Federally Regulated Manufacturing Facility in Small Batches for Quality and Safety

Curaseb Cat & Dog Ear Infection Treatment allows you to dispense a safe dosage that helps effectively combat ear infections and inflammation. Another valuable benefit that this product offers is effective deodorizing, neutralizing odors that come from wax and biofilm.

In addition to combating infections, we like how useful it is for routine cleaning and does not sting. We were impressed by the product being manufactured in smaller batches for better quality.

The one problem that we encountered was that the cap never reattaches after use. If you dislike the idea of having this strong-smelling product spilling, you may want to consider a different option.

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