What Is Colitis In Dogs
Colitis literally means inflammation of the colon. It is sometimes referred to as large bowel disease, as the colon can also be referred to as the large bowel or large intestine. The term “large bowel disease,” though, can be a bit of a misnomer a disease is characterized by a specific set of symptoms with a very specific cause.
Can I Substitute Human Antibiotics For My Dog
Some topical antibiotic ointments for humans could possibly be used safely on dogs, its always best to get over the counter antibiotics for dogs so you dont end up making your pup sicker. Neosporin, a topical antibiotic for humans, has ingredients that have been approved for use in pets, but one ingredient is a problem for dogs.
Ointments Creams And Sprays For Dogs
Many of the OTC ointments and creams are ok to use on your pets, but you need to make sure they dont lick them off. Some of the favorites are antibiotics like Neosporin, Bactine, Mupirocin, and Polysporin .
For anti-fungal products, one can use anything with the effective active ingredients like Miconazole, Ketoconazole, Clotrimazole, Tolnaftate, or Terbinafine.
Finally, for anti-inflammatory products, there are many with 0.5% or 1% hydrocortisone, either by itself or mixed with an antibiotic. Again, check with your vet, and whatever you use, make sure to apply a very thin layer, and dont let you dog lick the medication!!
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What To Do If You Have To Give Your Dog Antibiotics
Vets are constantly prescribing antibiotics to dogs. The problem is antibiotics can harm your dogs microbiome and increase the risk of chronic disease.
The good news is you can resolve many problems like diarrhea or ear infections without antibiotics. But sometimes theres no other option and your dog needs antibiotics.
If you have to give your dog antibiotics there are things you can do to prevent damage and further problems
Best Overall: Salutempet Forte Health Natural Herbal Supplement
SalutemPet Forte Health Natural Herbal Supplement, our overall best, is organic and gives your dog maximum immune support. Some of the natural ingredients includes oregano, clove, garlic, and cranberry, to combat inflammation in all areas.
This remedy provides chemical-free relief for UTIs, kennel cough, and other conditions without vet prescription. Dogs of all breeds and sizes will see effective, safe relief because the remedy enters the bloodstream quickly.
All ingredients used have been grown, harvested, and processed in the United States using sustainable methods. The only flaw we noticed was that some dogs refused this supplement when added to their food, requiring us to get in into them with a bit of a struggle.
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Are There Any Drug Interactions I Should Be Aware Of
The following medications should be used with caution when given with amoxicillin: bacteriostatic antimicrobials, methotrexate, probenecid, or warfarin. Be sure to tell your veterinarian about any medications that your pet is taking.
Amoxicillin may also interact with certain urine glucose tests and cause false positive results.
How To Give Your Dog Antibiotics
You will need to give your dog antibiotics following the directions that your vet gives you. These will also be displayed on the packet. Be sure to finish the entire course of antibiotics.
Antibiotics can come as:
- tablets or liquids best disguised in a tasty treat, like cheese, unless your vet has told you to give them without food
- creams, sprays or drops you may need the help of someone else to apply these, and be sure to have some tasty treats handy!
- injections or through a drip this option would always be handled by your vet
NOTE: Learn how to give your dog a tablet, drops and creams in our advice on caring for your sick dog. Our top tip is to give a treat, followed by another treat with the tablet in and end with another treat in quick succession. If you are struggling to give your dog their medication, speak to your vet who may be able to offer help.
In some cases, your vet may request a follow-up appointment, but others wont. So, if your dogs condition hasnt improved after the course of antibiotics, be sure to speak with your vet.
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How Do I Know If My Dog Is Constipated
Dogs can have many bowel movements ranging from soft to hard, small and round, or large and sausage-shaped.
But if your dog hasnt had a bowel movement in more than three days, he may be constipated. If your dog is attempting to defecate but is instead having the signs listed above, this increases the likelihood that your pet is constipated.
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.
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Why You Should Consider Alternatives To Antibiotics
Antibiotics destroy your dogs intestinal flora.
Recent research shows that much of the beneficial bacteria in the gut is destroyed forever even if you give your dog probiotics after antibiotic use.
Dr Martin Blaser of New York Universitys Langone Medical Center spoke to this.
He argues that the long term impact of antibiotics on gut bacteria is so serious medicine should consider restricting antibiotics for pregnant women and young children.
Early evidence from my lab and others hints that, sometimes, our friendly flora never fully recover. These long-term changes to the beneficial bacteria within peoples bodies may even increase our susceptibility to infections and disease. Overuse of antibiotics could be fuelling the dramatic increase in conditions such as obesity, type 1 diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, allergies and asthma, which have more than doubled in many populations.
Previous studies looked at farm animals and antibiotic use. They showed an increase in antibiotic resistance in animals who take the drugs. This resistance also extended to the people who worked on the farms where those animals live.
Even when farmers stop using the drugs resistance persists for years. Thats because mothers pass drug-resistant flora down to their offspring for generations.
And these arent the only problems with antibiotics.
Anti = Suppression
So its best to save antibiotics for serious, even life-threatening illnesses.
Best Liquid Dog Antibiotic For Ears: Curaseb Cat & Dog Ear Infection Treatment
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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How Can I Treat My Dogs Bacterial Infection Naturally
Pet owners have many options for treating their dogs bacterial infection naturally. The top natural antibiotics for effectively treating a dogs bacterial infection include manuka honey, turmeric, coconut oil, and apple cider vinegar.
If you want an extremely easy way to treat your best pals bacterial infection, consider giving it turmeric supplements.
Is Amoxicillin Safe For Dogs
Basically it is possible to administer to dogs and cats also formulations of amoxicillin for human use, which turns out to be economically much more advantageous than veterinary drugs, but one must also know how to deal with Amoxicillin dose for dogs: the tablets are not equal, they do not contain the same quantities of active ingredient, which in animals must be strictly lower . If you have this intention, ask your veterinarian.
Amoxicillin should never be administered without a veterinarians prescription. It is necessary to follow the indications of the same for the dosages. Amoxicillin 500mg dosage used in humans can be fatal in pets. In dogs and cats, the typical dose of amoxicillin ranges from 5 to 12 mg per pound , two or three times a day. How long? It depends on the infection to be treated, on the individual response to the drug and on the development of any adverse effects. It is important: even if your doggy seems to be better after only a couple of days of this therapy, it is necessary to continue it until the end, that is, until the prescribed veterinarian has established it, in order to avoid relapses or prevent the development of resistance.
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Sneak It Into Food Or Pill Pockets
Antibiotics in the form of pills are usually the hardest to get your dog to take. Some pills that are given to dogs have a strong scent that drives them away. Therefore, you should mask the scent with another treat or food.
Pick something that you know your dog already loves, preferably a food that he cant resist. Then rub it all over the pill. I have found the best luck with peanut butter.
Once you do that, let your dog smell the food in your hand and give him some . When your dog finishes his treat, immediately get him excited for a second one and then sneak in the pill. The hope is that he will think he is getting another treat.
If you want to increase your chances of success with this tip, toss your dog a third treat after the antibiotic. However, dont feed your dog too much peanut butter, as it can cause upset stomach in dogs.
Some dogs are not as easy to fool as others, so the above trick doesnt always work. If your dog is going to spit out the treat you can always try pill pockets.
There are dog treats specifically made to hide pills like antibiotics. They are great because they usually have a strong scent, such as pork or chicken. All of these options are delicious to dogs, so the hope here is that your dog will gobble it up before noticing that youve hidden a pill inside.
The pill pockets also make it a lot harder for your dog to dislodge the pill from the rest of treat.
Home Treatment For Common Ailments
For some, vet visits and pet insurance can be too costly. This leaves many a pet owner having to play doctor and treat their poorly pooch themselves. There are many aspects of a dogs health that the owner can cover themselves.
This can mean no need for the high charges of a vet, and sometimes you can get the exact same results as the professionals. A few of these home treatments include:
Worms Your dog can get these from the grass, while out on a dog walk. Some of the common ones are, hookworms, whipworms, roundworms, and tapeworms. It helps to know what type of worm a dog may have, because treating each type can be different. With the help of the internet, you could soon have your remedy and a much lower cost than a vet visit.
Fleas This can be another annoying health hazard that your pooch can pick up from a walk. There are ways to pre-protect your dog for months at a time. Again, do your research. In the end, it will cost less than a vet bill and make for a happy, non-itchy pooch.
Obesity We can all tackle this one by giving our dog only healthy food that a dog should eat, and not high fat or sugary treats, feeding twice a day, ensuring Fido only gets a few treats a couple of times, even then only as a reward. You can then check online for the normal weight, on what your dogs breed or size is. No costly vet bills for this one, just a keen eye and a healthy diet.
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What Is The Strongest Natural Antibiotic For Dogs
Many experts would say that the strongest natural antibiotic for dogs is oregano oil. A safe alternative antibiotic for pups, this oil has been shown to successfully treat viral infections, bacterial infections, colds, parasites, and much more. If you want, you can also use this oil to significantly improve your pups oral health.
According to many experts and pet owners, olive leaf extract and apple cider vinegar are tied for the second strongest alternative antibiotics for pups. You can talk with a vet to get more recommendation regarding the strongest alternative antibiotics for your dog.
Antibiotics And Other Prescribed Medication
In reality, only a vet should prescribe medication. The wrong medication, or the wrong dose, could make your dog even more poorly. The problem comes when there is no pet insurance, and no money to pay for the advice of a vet.
It is possible to research symptoms online. There are more and more pet medications becoming available this way. For many illnesses, especially infections and viruses, it can involve taking of a course of antibiotics.
The question arises: can you give dogs human antibiotics?
Lets first note that, as with the treatment of worms, different illnesses require different types of antibiotics. Some work internally, while others work on the external part of the body.
The most common types of antibiotics used for dogs are:
- Enrofloxacin and Amoxicillin for breathing difficulties, urine infections, wounds and skin infections
- Metronidazole for tummy upsets and teeth/gum diseases
You might just happen to have some Amoxicillin left from your own prescription, and thinking of giving that to your dog. Can you give dogs human antibiotics?
The short answer to that is, yes, but in reality it is more complicated.
Human antibiotics are different than animal antibiotics. They may contain Xylitol, which can be harmful to your dog. Check the ingredients and if Xylitol is present, then under no circumstances give this to your dog.
For a useful chart, go to The Dog Place. This will guide you with dosages on various human medications that are safe for your pet.
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How To Give A Dog A Pill Using Foods That Are Safe
Reviewed for accuracy on May 22, 2019, by Dr. Katie Grzyb, DVM
When youre trying to figure how to give a dog a pill, the truth is that theres no one-size-fits-all solution. Some dogs are very easy to pill, while others will spit out the pill 50 times before you get them to swallow it.
Pet parents will often use food to get reluctant pets to take their prescription pet medication. But did you know that certain foods can be unsafe for your dog or inadvertently affect the potency of the medication?
If you need to administer medication to your pet, check out this list of foods to avoid when giving dogs pills.
Can Dogs Take Human Medications
Dogs can take some of the same medications that we take as humans, including some antibiotics.
However, its worth noting that there are some human drugs that can make your dog sick, or even worse, that could possibly kill him.
So you always need to check each individual medication first. You can find some of this information online, but for peace of mind you should ask your vet.
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Best Antibiotic Ointment For Dogs: Sulfodene 3
Sulfodene 3-Way Ointment for Dogs is effective for treating skin conditions that cause itching and pain, frequently leading to infection. This ointment provides an effective barrier against germs, flies, and water.
This product is effective in treating issues with a bacterial or fungal basis. We liked how versatile it was in treating different types of infections.
One complaint we had was that this product contains some essential oils that are known problems for some dogs. Also, the dogs that we used the ointment on seemed to dislike the smell.
Should I Use Conventional Antibiotics Or Natural Antibiotics For My Dog
Natural antibiotics are great for mild infections caught in the early stages. Conventional antibiotics can cause side effects like hives, rashes, yeast infections, itchy skin, and stomach upset.
Natural antibiotics can be used to prevent infection of wounds and used to clean the ears. Conventional antibiotics can kill the good bacteria in the body, which can lead to secondary infections.
Natural antibiotics can treat infections that have become bacteria-resistant or for dogs who are very sensitive to antibiotics. Viral infections cannot be treated with conventional antibiotics, and natural antibiotics for dogs often have antifungal properties in addition to antibiotic properties.
Dog Pneumonia.Pneumonia can be fatal if left untreated in dogs and cats. Conventional antibiotics are recommended to treat pneumonia caused by a bacterial infection, as they can cause death through breathing difficulty that can prevent the brain from receiving oxygen and sepsis.
The vet can perform tests to find the specific bacteria causing the infection and choose a tailor antibiotic. In severe cases, hospitalization is needed.
Dog Ringworm. Ringworm is a fungal infection that affects the skin of dogs. It can affect any area, including the ear. Natural remedies can be used in the early stages of the infection. If the ringworm is not responding to treatment, then conventional antibiotics will need to be used.
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