Antibiotics for Dogs

Antibiotics for dogs are commonly used when a dog has an infection, particularly a bacterial infection. There are many types of antibiotics available for dogs and they should only be administered under a veterinarian's supervision since these types of medication are made from bacterial sources and attack infections in a dog in different ways. Using an antibiotic too much can cause bacteria in a dog to become immune to the effects of the medicine.

Amoxicilin and Cephalexin

Amoxicillin and Cephalexin are antibiotics that are related to penicillin. Cephalexin is used to treat many different types of infections, but is typically used for infections of the bone, wounds or skin. Side effects of Cephalexin in dogs include irritation where the medicine was applied and gastrointestinal problems. Typical doses of Cephalexin range from 10 mg to 15 mg for every pound of a dog’s weight to be administered every 8 to 12 hours, per a veterinarian’s recommendation.

Amoxicillin is used to treat infections of a dog’s respiratory, gastrointestinal and genitourinary systems. This antibiotic can also be used to treat skin infections. Dogs rarely experience side effects while taking Amoxicillin. Dogs typically will take 10 mg of Amoxicillin for every pound of body weight every 8 to 12 hours.

Gentamicin

Gentamicin is an antibiotic used to treat eye infections, pneumonia and ear infections in dogs. This medicine is often combined with anti-inflammatory drugs or drugs to combat fungal infections. Gentamicin may be prescribed in the form of a tablet, but is usually sold as a topical spray.  

Sulfamethox

Sulfamethox is an antibiotic used for a variety of infections, including a dog urinary tract infection. It is recommended that dogs that take Sulfamethox drink a lot of water. This drug does have side effects that include vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite and nausea.

Doxycycline and Tetracycline

Tetracycline is a type of antibiotic that does not allow proteins to synthesize, which offers protection against many types of bacterial infections. Tetracycline can go through many obstacles within a dog’s body that can make it otherwise difficult to treat an infection. Barriers in a dog’s body include eyes and the nervous system.

Doxycycline, which is part of the tetracycline family, is used for a variety of bacterial infections for its ability to hinder protein growth and production. Like tetracycline, Doxycycline can break through barriers in a dog’s body that bacteria are hiding behind.

Chloramphenicol

Chloramphenicol has a pH that can go through many parts of a dog’s body to combat maleficent bacteria and parasites. This antibiotic took years of research to create and it is famous for its ability to go into a dog’s organs to fight off infections, similar to antibiotics in the tetracycline family.

Sulfadimethoxine

The sulfadimethoxine family of antibiotics, also called sulfa drugs, is mostly used to treat parasitic infections that are made up of single cells that can cause gastrointestinal problems in dogs.

There are several types of antibiotics available to a dog to treat infections caused by bacteria, fungi and parasites. Antibiotics should be used with a veterinarian’s support and a dog should take all of the medication prescribed to him even if it seems he is doing better sooner than expected.

 

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