The gentamicin eye drops are typically required when the cat has an eye infection. Gentamicin, also marketed as gentocin, is an antibiotic that will eliminate harmful bacteria that may be causing various eye infections. Gentamicin is a broad range antibiotic and may kill various types of bacteria. The drug is also available in the form of eye and ear drops.
Gentamicin
Gentamicin is an antibiotic that belongs to the class of aminoglycosides, which also contains other antibiotics such as neomycin, amikacin or kanamycin.
Gentamicin may be used in various types of infections that affect the:
- blood
- lungs
- urinary tract
- bladder
- skin
- ears
- eyes
Gentamicin is FDA approved for use in pets and humans as well.
Gentamicin Eye Drops
The gentamicin eye drops are prescribed to cats that have an eye infection. This topical antibiotic will eliminate the infection within 10 to 14 days.
The eye drops are only available through prescription, so your pet needs a diagnosis before the drops can be administered.
If the eye infection is severe, the vet will also prescribe some oral antibiotics.
However, the gentamicin is a powerful antibiotic and will be able to kill the harmful bacteria in most cases, without the need for oral antibiotics.
Typically, the topical treatment will give faster results than the oral treatment.
Gentamicin Dosage
The gentamicin eye drops will be applied twice or 3 times per day. 3 to 5 drops should be sufficient to gradually eliminate the bacteria from the cat’s eyes. A treatment of 1 to 4 weeks may be recommended. Always follow the recommendations of the vet regarding the amount of time the treatment is needed. If you discontinue the treatment without consulting the vet, your cat may develop resistance to the drug and when using these drops again, these may not be effective.
When the cat is also receiving oral antibiotics, the dose will be established by the vet. To prevent your cat from developing resistance to the drug, you should complete the treatment as recommended by your veterinarian.
Gentamicin injections may also be available, but are only recommended in severe cases of infection.
Gentamicin Side Effects
When applied topically, gentamicin has fewer side effects than the oral antibiotics.
Gentamicin may have a series of side effects such as:
- Eye irritation
- Corneal ulcers
- Redness
- Itching (your cat may be pawing the eye area and may even scratch his face)
If these side effects are severe, the vet should be contacted and the administration of the eye drops should be discontinued.
The treatment shouldn’t be administered if the cat is allergic to gentamicin or any of the drugs from the aminoglycoside class of drugs.
Eye exams can be performed after a treatment with gentamicin eye drops, to make sure that there is no damage to the cat’s vision.
The oral gentamicin antibiotics may cause side effects such as kidney damage, dehydration or skin rashes.