What Antibiotic Is Used For Uti In Cats

If Your Cat Is Sick You May Be Told That You Should Give Her An Injectable Antibiotic But Is It Safe Heres What You Need To Know

Antibiotics are commonly prescribed to pets when they arent feeling well. But while you might immediately think of antibiotics that come in the form of pills or liquids, there is another option to be aware of.

If your cat is in need of antibiotics to combat an illness, your veterinarian might suggest an injectable antibiotic, such as Convenia. But before you agree to this treatment option, consider the pros and cons, some of which are outlined below. It turns out that, while antibiotic injections might certainly be beneficial, there are several reasons why some experts advocate against using them.

When Is Amoxicillin For Cats Necessary

At one point, amoxicillin was the updated version of penicillin . It was considered better because it would be active longer, as per PetMD. Its used in the treatment of cats with infections caused by bacteria, such as wounds , bladder infections, tooth abscesses, eye or ear infections, skin infections and respiratory infections. It can be used on GI infections, but its not effective against parasites . Antibiotics are also usually recommended after surgical procedures, but Cummings Veterinary Medical Center at Tufts University indicates its prescribed on a per-case basis.

If your cats been in a fight, got a scrape, has itchy ears or runny eyes or hes scratching like crazy, a trip to the vet will determine the best treatment. Some conditions, like urinary tract infections, are elusive. If your cat starts behaving oddly, especially by urinating outside his litter box, take him to the vet with a urine sample. Chances are hell be taking amoxicillin.

Prescription Urinary Tract & Kidney Treatment For Cats

Help fight uncomfortable feline UTIs and kidney problems with urinary tract & kidney medicine. Chewy carries many types of prescription UTI medicine for fighting infections, plus kidney disease treatment for kitties with chronic issues.

Cats who suffer from urinary tract infections usually need prescription treatment. Your vet will need to examine your kitty and will likely prescribe UTI antibiotics. UTI treatment requires a full course of antibiotics, so make sure to finish your cats prescription and administer the recommended dose every day. Younger cats may need special medicine for kittens or adult medicine in smaller doses.

Aging cats sometimes suffer from reduced kidney function or chronic renal disease. Your vet may prescribe a kidney failure treatment or other medications for kidney function support. Common kidney medications for felines include diuretics, enzyme inhibitors, electrolytes and potassium supplements. You may also need to rehydrate your cat at home using IV fluids.

Find everything you need to help treat UTIs and help cats with kidney disease feel better in the Chewy pet pharmacy. We carry prescription cat medicine for a range of ailments and kidney and urinary tract medicine for dogs, as well. Check out our selection of urinary tract & kidney medicine and find just what you need for your best friend!

Frequently Asked Questions About Prescription Urinary Tract & Kidney Treatment for Cats

What prescription cat urinary tract and kidney medicine is best?

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Does Clavamox Have Side Effects

As with any medicine, Clavamox® may cause problems. Some pets may have an allergicreaction to this kind of medicine. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include swellingof the face, itchy skin, hives, vomiting, diarrhea or breathing problems. Allergicreactions may be serious, and may happen very quickly. If you think your pet is havingan allergic reaction to the medicine, call your veterinarian right away.These kindsof problems must be treated quickly.

Penicillins may cause loss of appetite, vomiting or diarrhea1. Since Clavamox containsamoxicillin, which is a member of the penicillin family, this may be a concern whileyour pet is taking Clavamox. Be sure to contact your veterinarian if your pet has anystomach problems while on treatment with Clavamox.

Are Some Cats Predisposed To Utis

Older female cats, and cats with diabetes mellitus , develop UTIs more commonly than the general population. Cats who have bladder stones are prone to recurrent UTIs, pointing out the importance of getting a complete diagnosis whenever there are signs of disease in the urinary tract. Bladder stones must be removed or dissolved in order to restore bladder health .

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How To Get A Urine Sample From Your Cat

A sample can be obtained in one of two ways: either a free-catch sample or via a cystocentesis. Your veterinarian will let you know which type of sample they’ll want. Free catch samples are collected when a cat urinates, like normal, into a litter box with a non-absorbent litter like NoSorb or Kit4Cat. Your veterinarian may have these products to send home with you to allow you to collect a sample on your own, or they may recommend keeping your cat at the clinic for a few hours to see if the cat will use them there.

For more at-home urine collection tips, check out How to Collect Your Cats Urine Sample.

If youre using a non-absorbent litter, simply pour off the urine into a clean, dry container . The tricky thing is that these samples are not as sterile , and its hard to know if and when a cat will use the box with a new-to-them litter.

Samples are ideally run within one hour of collection. Older samples, up to six hours old, can be refrigerated while theyre being transported to the veterinarian, but this can cause artifacts and crystals to develop. But the more recent a sample the better! After an hour, crystals can begin to form artificially, even under refrigeration. The older a sample, the less sure your veterinarian can be that these crystals are from your cat’s bladder versus a result of the sample sitting too long before testing.

Treating Urinary Tract Problems

If you see warning signs of a urinary tract infection in your cat, its important to see a veterinarian. If a UTI is the prime suspect, your vet may recommend a common antibiotic even before receiving results from your cats urine test.

With a vets diagnosis in hand, you still play a crucial part in helping treat your cat at home. If your vet has prescribed an antibiotic, youll need to make sure to give all the medicine for as long as recommended.

If your cat is diagnosed with a bacterial condition, it is imperative that you give the medication exactly as instructed, says Kathryn Primm, DVM at Applebrook Animal Hospital in Ooltewah, Tennessee. Otherwise, you risk only killing the part of the bacteria that are most susceptible to the drug and leaving the others to reproduce.

How long your cat is on antibiotics for a UTI is best determined by your vet. If youre having trouble giving your cat the medicine, let the vet know. Pills or liquids are options, but an unfinished round of antibiotics may give the bacteria a chance to return, and stronger bacteria can also lead to new drug-resistant strains that harm humans and pets.

If the antibiotics for your cats UTI are not working, your vet may prescribe a different antibiotic or recommend further testing to see if theres another cause for the problem. UTI treatment costs vary depending on the testing and medicine necessary to get your cat healthy and feeling better.

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Urinary Tract Infection Recovery

Although dealing with urinary issues or a bacterial infection in kitties can be really scary, the good news is that when treated early and with a proper treatment and recovery plan, the prognosis is good and most cats make a full recovery within a few weeks. Lets look at what to expect after your kitty goes through a UTI, urinary crystals, or FIC.

If your vet prescribed a course of antibiotics to treat a urinary tract disease or other infection, you should expect to see your kitty returning to normal in about 2 days and a full recovery should take 5-7 days, depending on the diagnosis. Its very important to give your cat the full course of antibiotics, even if they start feeling better.

If your cat had to have a more complicated treatment plan, there are a few things to expect. If he had to have a catheter, you will likely see some redness and swelling around the area. Monitor it to make sure no infections occur. You may also notice that your cat is licking the area as it heals. Also, after a catheter is removed, some cats may dribble urine. This is different than actually urinating, so dont worry! This is normal after a catheter.

You may also notice that your kitty is nervous to use the litter box. This is because they have associated it with the pain and stress they felt when they were facing their earlier condition. Encourage your kitty to use the litter box by keeping it extra clean at all times and removing any distractions .

What Are The Side Effects Of Convenia

One concern regarding penicillin or Cephalosporin-based medications is the risk of allergy in either the patient or anyone handling the drug. Thankfully, because Convenia is injectable, it is not a risk to the pet parent, whereas tablets could be. As with any medication, there is a risk of an allergic or anaphylactic reaction, but this risk is very minimal.

Slightly more common side effects include vomiting, diarrhea, or reduced appetite, but these are still relatively rare. There are also occasional reports of neurological signs like seizures or incoordination however, these are very rare. There have been instances where Convenia has been reported to interfere with the bone marrow and its production of red and white blood cells, but again this is a very rare side effect.

Because Convenia is stored in the refrigerator, some cats react to the cool sensation when the injection is given. Otherwise, the injection is not expected to be painful, but there are occasional reports of inflammation of the area where the injection has been given.

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Is Cat Amoxicillin The Same As Human Amoxicillin

Amoxicillin comes in a liquid suspension, tablet, and capsule forms. The most common form given to cats is the liquid suspension or the tablets, both in specific veterinary preparations.

While human amoxicillin is actually the same medication, the dosage forms available for people may be problematic for use with cats. The lowest tablet dosage for people of 125mg will be much too high for most cats.

The generic human liquid suspension could be used, however the volume of medication in some available preparations may be far more than what is needed for a cats typical dosage period, making them less practical.

Benefits And Uses Of Antibiotics For Cats

Preventing and fighting off bacterial infections is the mainstream use of antibiotics. Namely, a cat that sustained trauma to the skin can be given antibiotics to prevent wound infection, while in case of an abscess, the treatments goal would be to eliminate the already present infection.

However, medications from this group can also be used to combat parasites . For example, antibiotics are an integral component of the treatment plan in cats with Coccidiosis, Giardiasis, and Hemobartonellosis.

Antibiotics can also be prescribed in cats with viral diseases . In such cases, antibiotics are not used to fight off the viruses but to prevent complications and secondary bacterial infections.

Also Check: Urinary Tract Infection Antibiotics For Dogs

When To Use Antibiotics For Cats

You need to give your cat antibiotics whenever managing bacterial infections. The exact location of the infection does not matter, and involved tissues do not matter.

Antibiotics are used for something as simple as an eye infection to something as complicated as a bone infection. The difference in the treatment would be antibiotic type and length of use.

Managing Multiple Episodes Of Uti:

In dogs and cats, if UTI occurs only once or twice yearly, each episode may be treated as an acute, uncomplicated UTI. If episodes occur more often, and predisposing causes of UTI cannot be identified or corrected, chronic low-dose therapy may be necessary. Low antimicrobial concentrations in the urine may interfere with fimbriae production by some pathogens and prevent their adhesion to the uroepithelium. In dogs, recurrent UTIs are due to a different strain or species of bacteria ~80% of the time therefore, antimicrobial culture and susceptibility is still indicated. Antimicrobial therapy should be started as previously described and when urine culture is negative, continued daily at the total daily dose. The antimicrobial should be administered last thing at night to ensure that the bladder contains urine with a high antimicrobial concentration for as long as possible.

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What About Treating Your Cat With Alternative Medicine

Take your cat to the veterinarian immediately any time he appears ill or injured. However, there are holistic approaches that can be effective in keeping your cat healthy in the first place, according to Dr. Shawn Messonnier, author of the Natural Health Bible for Dogs & Cats and Nutritional Supplements for the Veterinary Practice.

While we do not advocate using natural alternatives over traditional medications, learning more about supporting your cats immune system can help devise a lifelong healthy strategy. Amoxicillin for cats has many benefits, some side effects and should always be taken as directed by a professional vet. Communicating closely with your veterinarian is the best way to ensure your cats amoxicillin treatment is doing the trick to ensure his path to health and well-being.

Thumbnail: Photography by Elenica / Shutterstock.

This piece was originally published in 2017.

What Are The Benefits Of A Natural Antibiotic For Cats

Though prescribed antibiotics are needed in many situations, there are a number of cats that would benefit from more of a natural approach. Similar to humans, antibiotics can have a negative effect on our pets. Some cats are more sensitive to the addition of prescribed medications and can experience complications with anything that throws off their natural balance.

Cats can experience gastrointestinal upset, allergies to the antibiotics themselves, and even resistance to medications over time. Because of this, many cats will have better luck with a natural substance that has antibacterial properties instead.

So if your cat has sensitivities to antibiotics or you are just wanting to take a natural route in terms of their care, it may be time to explore the option of natural antibiotics for minor infections your furry friend may face!

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My Veterinarian Sent A Sample Of Urine To A Laboratory For What She Called A Culture And Sensitivity Test What Is This

All urinary tract infections are NOT created equal! Even though the most common organism to cause UTIs in cats is Escherichia coli , there are several other organisms that may be involved. The only way to identify which specific bacteria is causing the UTI, is to grow it in a laboratory. At the same time, the laboratory can also test which antibiotic is best suited to treat the infection.

“The only way to identify which specific bacteria is causing the UTI, is to grow it in a laboratory.”

Often, a veterinarian will prescribe an antibiotic that is among the most commonly used for treating UTIs in order to try to provide immediate relief to the cat. They may also prescribe pain medications , and may recommend a diet change.

Once the culture and sensitivity results are received, an appropriate antibiotic will be prescribed. After the course of antibiotics is given, it is important to recheck the urinalysis to confirm that the infection is resolved. If it is not, then it will be important to look for other issues that may contribute to a persistent UTI.

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Remedies And Treatments For Cat Urinary Tract Infection

Urinary tract diseases are common in cats and can cause discomfort and distress. If left untreated, a UTI can lead to partial or complete blockage of the urethra. This can lead to kidney failure or rupture of the bladder, which could be deadly.

Depending on the severity of the infection, a cat UTI can be treated using at-home remedies and treatments.

Cranberries

While cranberries are known as a UTI treatment in humans, they can also be used to treat a cat UTI. The acidity of cranberries can lower the pH of your cats urine, which can help treat a UTI and stop it from coming back.

Many cranberry juices are high in sugar. Instead, you can find cranberry capsules , supplements, or powder to add to your cats diet.

Before giving your cat cranberry, you should first test the pH levels in your cats urine. While the acidity of cranberries may help with some UTIs, in other cases, it could make the condition worse. Only provide cranberry supplements if your cats urine is too alkaline.

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Apple cider vinegar can also lower the pH in your cats urine, eliminating and preventing any harmful bacteria. Add half a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to your cats food each day. To reduce the bitter taste, you can mix it in with chicken or beef broth. Just make sure the broth doesnt contain onions, as this is toxic to cats.

Glucosamine and Chondroitin

Bone Broth

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