Amoxicillin For Dogs: Uses Dosage And Side Effects
Dr. Sara Ochoa is a board-certified, licensed, and USDA-accredited veterinarian. She earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from St. Georges University in 2015.
Contents
- Amoxicillin is a commonly prescribed medication for skin infections, upper respiratory infections, and urinary tract infections.
- This medication is usually given twice a day for 10 to 14 days
- Common side effects are vomiting and diarrhea.
What Are The Uses Of Doxycycline For Dogs
As an antibiotic with a broad spectrum, doxycycline for dogs is used to treat several different conditions. The most common conditions in which the veterinarian might prescribe doxycycline are:
- Ehrlichiosis
- Severe urinary tract infections
- Infected wounds
It is very important not to use this broad-spectrum antibiotic lightly and without a veterinarian prescription and guidance. This is a very potent antibiotic, and if used in a situation when it is not needed can lead to resistance of the dog to the drug and, if potentially needed, one day for one of the diseases mentioned above not effective.
Tip : Support A Healthy Appetite
In many pets, antibiotics can cause lethargy, nausea and/or a loss of appetite, which may make your pet less interested in eating their food. But it is crucial that your pet continues to eat, because their body needs the energy to continue fighting infection and repairing damaged cells. If your pet refuses their food, dont force them to eat: wait a few hours and offer the food again. If they continue to refuse, consider adding something to the food to make it more palatable. A low-sodium beef, chicken, or bone broth is often helpful.
In addition, warming the food to bring out the aroma often makes it more palatable to cats and dogs, who rely much more on their sense of smell than their sense of taste when it comes to deciding what is tasty and what is not.
Now lets cover how to help your pet after antibiotic treatment.
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Can A Pet Owner Give Antibiotics
You may already have antibiotics at home when your dog is sick. However, it is not a good idea to give these to your dog without first seeing your veterinarian. These are prescription medications, so they should not be administered without seeking medical advice. While dogs can take many of the same antibiotics as people, they cannot always tolerate them, and the doses may be different than what an adult person would need.
Can I Give My Dog Probiotics
Yes! This is perhaps the best thing that you can do for a dog on antibiotics. Probiotics will help to keep your poochs gut flora balanced by adding in more friendly bacteria while the antibiotic is killing everything in sight. Scientific studies even show that taking probiotics may help to enhance your dogs immunity.12
Talk to your vet about which probiotic supplements are right for your dog. You can find them in powders, capsules, chews, and even in dog food.
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Getting The Best Results From Amoxicillin
I generally use a combination of amoxicillin and another agent which improves the drugs effects, called clavulanic acid, says Mahaney. The combination of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid is called Clavamox in the veterinary world, he explains, and is available in both liquid and tablet form for your pet. Generic and human formulations are also available.
Medium and large dogs both generally take the tablets, but some smaller dogs can take the tablets too. These tablets can be hidden in a moist treat, or directly inserted into the back of the mouth with a finger or pet-appropriate pilling device. Liquid amoxicillin-clavulanic acid can be a good option for some cats and very small dogs.
Is Human And Dog Amoxicillin The Same
Amoxicillin and other meds are generally the same antibiotics that humans use, said Dr. Jana Layton with Riverbrook Animal Hospital. It may seem like a way to pinch pennies. Cutting out the middleman, the doctor in this case, and going to the feed story to self-prescribe antibiotics for an infection.
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Dog Antibiotics That Are Not Safe For Humans
If your dog happens to be prescribed the antibiotics Baytril or Primor , you should know that those are both harmful to humans and should only be given to dogs.
Heres a list of commonly prescribed dog antibiotics.
Two human supplements that are not safe for dogs are Iron and Zinc.
Make sure that you dog is not given a supplement which contains benzoate preservative. This is found in certain human supplements and vitamins and can be gradually harmful if accumulated in the dogs body.
However, lets say you have osteoarthritis and youre taking glucosamine to help with the pain. You may be wondering if your dog can take the same glucosamine to help with his own joint pain.
They are commonly prescribed for dogs with osteoarthritis, hip dysplasia, and spinal disc injuries. Often dogs whove had TPLO surgery for a torn ACL will be prescribed glucosamine to help with the knee, hip, or joint pain.
Pharmaceutical grade glucosamine and chondroitin are used for humans and are found in some veterinary products. It is perfectly safe to use human glucosamine in your pet, however, products made for animals contain ascorbic acid to help in the uptake, in canines. In addition, animal products are dosed in the correct size for animals and are often flavored to make them more palatable to pets.
For what its worth, Cosequin for dogs is one of the most popular options for dog joint pain these days.
Metronidazole For Dogs: What You Need To Know
If your dog has diarrhea, a course of metronidazole might be the appropriate treatment. But for many veterinarians, this antibiotic has become a knee-jerk response to dog diarrhea based on historical practice and theories rather than scientific evidence. A growing body of research suggests that metronidazole is much less effective for some gastrointestinal conditions than was previously thought. And now we know that in addition to troubling side effects, metronidazole can cause unhealthy long-term changes in your dogs gut microbiome.
Because metronidazole works well for certain conditions that cause diarrhea , its become the most frequently used antibiotic for dog diarrhea in general. But in too many of these cases, metronidazole may be the wrong choice. Several studies have found, for instance, that metronidazole doesnt actually help inflammatory bowel disease or acute diarrhea in dogs.
So is metronidazole the right diarrhea treatment for your dog? Or will it do more harm than good? Were here to help. Well discuss some appropriate and inappropriate uses of this drug, point out some of the current research that contradicts the older assumptions, and give you some questions to ask if your veterinarian suggests metronidazole for your dog.
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What Are The Alternatives To Metronidazole
Ask your veterinarian whether medications that treat specific aspects of your dogs GI condition would be appropriate alternatives to an antibiotic. Such symptomatic treatments include anti-nausea medications, proton pump inhibitors , motility inhibitors , bile acid sequestrants , and vitamin B12 . Some of these approaches may also cause changes to your dogs gut microbiome, but those changes will be much less radical than the effects associated with metronidazole.
Since diarrhea often indicates a disruption in the balance of your dogs gut bacteria, the prebiotic fibers inulin and psyllium may help by feeding those bacterial populations while also firming up the stool. S. boulardii is another supplement that can help resolve gut imbalances by supporting healthy bacteria.
If your dogs microbiome is significantly out of balance, our Gut Restore supplements for dogs can help by seeding the gut with a whole community of healthy dog-specific bacteria.
In their Facebook Live event, Becker and Habib mentioned a supplement for diarrhea in cats and dogs called DiaGel, whose active ingredient is carvacrol. A phytonutrient , carvacrol is a compound with antimicrobial properties that is present in the essential oils of oregano, thyme, and several other plants. Though we havent found any scientific studies that specifically discuss carvacrols effect on diarrhea in cats and dogs, some encouraging research on this compound has been done in other animals and in humans.
Inappropriate Uses Of Metronidazole
Because past research has found metronidazole to be effective against certain causes of diarrhea in dogs, it has become many veterinarians go-to treatment for diarrhea in general. The problem is that there isnt much scientific evidence that metronidazole actually helps some of the conditions its being used for. And yet, even without strong scientific evidence of its effectiveness, metronidazole has become the most commonly prescribed antimicrobial agent for acute diarrhea in dogs. Here are three common situations in which research has found metronidazole to be the wrong choice.
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Side Effects And Intolerance To Amoxicillin
The most common side effect of amoxicillin, Mahaney says, is digestive tract upset.
According to Mahaney, amoxicillin is not recommended for dogs that have previously exhibited clinical signs of intolerance or an allergic reaction. He says that intolerance can include signs such as digestive upset , lethargy, or changes in behavior. Signs of an allergic response can include digestive upset, as well as skin reactions such as redness, swelling, or hives. A potentially fatal type of allergic reaction, called anaphylaxis, is also possible in rare cases and can cause difficulty breathing, low blood pressure, seizures and coma.
Any antibiotic can cause side effects, says Dr. Adam Denish of Rhawnhurst Animal Hospital in Elkins Park, PA. I wouldnt single out amoxicillin in general for negative interactions, Denish says, most are just minor. However, it would be prudent to tell your veterinarian if any side effects occur. In some cases, we discontinue the drug or adjust the dose. However, its very important to not stop or start any types of medicine without discussing it with your pets doctor.
Our Final Thoughts On Amoxicillin For Dogs
Remember that this article is informational, and reading it does not mean you should skip calling the vet. Antibiotic resistance is an ever-increasing problem in both human and veterinary medicine.
To ensure you are not part of the problem, follow your vets instructions carefully. Once you have the prescription from your veterinarian, you can go to Chewy, and choose the Amoxicillin formulation you need. to cart.
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Antibiotics For Dogs: Reviewed For 2021
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Antibiotics for dogs help treat a range of bacterial infections. Whether you get antibiotics with or without a vet prescription, you can trust that they will help restore your dog to health. Antibiotics might come in liquid, pills, or ointment.
Antibiotics have been commonly prescribed for skin infections. Dog antibiotics have a different dosage than antibiotics for human use. Antibiotics for teeth are also commonly prescribed for dogs.
There are also natural antibiotic options that you can choose if you prefer not to use mainstream pharmaceutical products. Regardless of whether you require drops, tablets, or some other form, weve addressed the best options.
Question: Can Your Dog Take Human Antibiotics
If your dog needs an antibiotic, its likely to be one of the pet antibiotics below, said Dr. Phillips. Amoxil : This broad-spectrum antibiotic can treat many different types of bacterial infections in dogs from respiratory issues to gastrointestinal problems.
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How To Give Antibiotics To A Dog
Antibiotics should generally be given with food, so one of the easiest ways to give your dog an antibiotic pill or capsule is to hide it in a piece of food. Ask the prescribing veterinarian if you can crush the pills or open up a capsule to better hide the taste of the pill. Certain formulations of dog antibiotics may be flavored so that dogs will simply take them like a treat.
This video from Willard Vet shows how to give a dog a pill if you cannot hide it in food.
Some antibiotics are dispensed in a liquid form and have to be squirted into the mouth using a dropper or syringe. It may be tempting to mix these medications into your dog’s water bowl, but this isn’t recommended.
Make sure that you finish all the antibiotics prescribed for your dog and see your veterinarian for a recheck if that was recommended. The vet may need to assess your dog to decide if a longer course of antibiotics is necessary to clear the infection. If you think that your pet is having side effects from the antibiotic, contact your vet to discuss whether a change in the medication is necessary.
Are There Any Supplements I Can Combine With Metronidazole To Improve The Outcome For My Dog
Certain probiotics may help support better outcomes and reduce side effects. In a study of shelter dogs with diarrhea, a combination of probiotics and metronidazole led to better overall results than metronidazole alone. When silymarin was combined with metronidazole in another study, dogs had better appetite, less intermittent vomiting, and less weight loss than when receiving metronidazole alone.
If you and your veterinarian determine that a course of metronidazole or another antibiotic is warranted in your dogs case, theres still a lot you can do to help your dog feel better during and after treatment.
Many antibiotics cause diarrhea as a side effect, but adding the yeast Saccharomyces boulardii to your pets food can reduce the risk of antibiotic-caused diarrhea. S. boulardii is a probiotic that works by supporting beneficial gut bacteria and inhibiting the growth of pathogenic bacteria. AnimalBiomes new Gut Maintenance Plus product, which was specifically designed to help resolve antibiotic-caused diarrhea in cats and dogs, contains S. boulardii in addition to the prebiotics Bio-Mos® and PreforPro®.
And if you and your veterinarian do decide on metronidazole, putting the medication in an empty food-grade capsule will protect your dog from the drugs bitter taste and reduce the risk of nausea.
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Tip : Add A Prebiotic Supplement
Antibiotics are not picky when deciding which bacteria to eliminate: they may wipe out bacterial pathogens, but along with it, your pet might lose lots of beneficial bacteria in their gut that aid in fighting inflammation, reducing cancer risk, and support a healthy weight. A prebiotic supplement like psyllium husk powder or inulin serves as a valuable food source to help support the growth of these beneficial bacteria.
Dosage Of Doxycycline For Dogs
Dosing of doxycycline for dogs is different depending on the infection.
For general infections, doxycycline is given 3-5 mg/kg orally every 12 hours for 7-14 days.
For infections of the urinary tract and soft tissue infection, wounds that wont heal, doxycycline is given 4.4-11 mg/kg orally every 12 hours for 7-14 days.
For acute infections with Ehrlichia Canis, doxycycline is given in two schemes, depending on the clinical symptoms of the dog, either 5mg/kg orally every 12 hours for 14-16 days or 10mg/kg orally every 24 hours for 14-16 days.
For chronic infections with Ehrlichia Canis, doxycycline is given10 mg/kg orally every 24 hours for 30-42 days.
For the treatment of granulocytic anaplasmosis in dogs, doxycycline is given 5 mg/kg orally every 12 hours for 14 days.
For the treatment of Lyme disease, doxycycline is given 10 mg/kg orally every 24 hours for 21-28 days.
For the treatment of Leptospirosis, doxycycline is given 5-10 mg/kg orally every 12 hours for 14 days.
These diseases are the main reasons veterinarians prescribe doxycycline for dogs. Be aware that this is a potent and heavy drug, and you must comply with all directions on how to give the antibiotic provided by your veterinarian.
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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
When To Use Antibiotics On Your Dog
When your dog is feeling poorly, it can be very upsetting for both your pup and you, and its very usual to ask, where did my dog pick up this infection?
The more obvious infections are those from open wounds, such as cuts and grazes caused whilst playing or running through parks and trails.
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Even a tiny cut needs to be looked after to prevent infection. If your dog has a mild injury, such as a scratch or graze, you should gently clean it with a saline solution.
If in doubt about whether your pet may need treatment then take a trip to your veterinarian surgery.
Keeping wounds clean, away from lapping tongues and scratching paws is a real challenge but at least you have a good visual of whats going on!
Where its much harder to see what the cause of your dogs illness is, is when they have a respiratory infection or gastrointestinal infection, basically, anything going on, on the inside.
These types of illnesses can be picked up in much the same way as we get sick passed through the air, through the environment, from another pet who is already unwell, or if your pets general immune system is low, allowing it to be prone to picking up illnesses.
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