Dog antibiotics treat bacterial infections, not viral infections. Usually, dogs with bacterial diseases cannot transmit their disease to other dogs. However, certain diseases transfer through saliva. Therefore, if your dog takes antibiotics for some diseases, it might be best to keep the dog away from others.
Common Diseases Treated with Dog Antibiotics
Diseases like Leptospirosis, bacterial forms of Kennel Cough, and infections frequently respond well to dog antibiotics. The key to recovery involves catching the disease in its earliest stages and ensuring your healthy dog receives vaccinations that prevent many common dog diseases.
Understanding Kennel Cough
Kennel Cough is viral or bacterial. Dog antibiotics only help with the bacterial form. If you suspect your dog has kennel cough, you should keep it quarantined until the disease clears up. Puppies often develop pneumonia from this disease making it difficult for a puppy to recover.
Viral forms of Kennel Cough rarely respond to antibiotics. Keep your pet comfortable and make sure fresh water is available. Allow your dog to rest in a warm, dry room and check on him/her frequently.
Information about Leptospirosis
Leptospirosis affects canines, cattle, horses and pigs. An infected animal's mucus, saliva and urine spread the disease until a dog fully recovers. It is best to quarantine other animals and make sure no animals have access to the area where your animal urinates.
Dogs diagnosed with Leptospirosis require IV fluids and antibiotics. The bacterial disease spreads quickly to the kidneys. Symptoms include:
- Diarrhea
- Fever
- Jaundice
- Vomiting
Many dogs that recover from Leptospirosis develop kidney damage from the disease. Catching Leptospirosis in the early stages allows for a faster recovery.
Less Common Bacterial Diseases
Brucellosis is a sexually transmitted bacterial disease that kills unborn puppies. One of the biggest hazards is that humans are susceptible to the disease. Dog antibiotics do not always cure the disease. Successfully treated cases rely on a combination of two or more antibiotics. It is best not to breed your male dog if it tests positive for Brucellosis. Always ask for negative Brucellosis tests before breeding your female.
Brown Dog Ticks and Lone Star Ticks transmit Ehrlichia, a bacterial disease that attacks the liver, lymph nodes and spleen. Haemobartonellosis also transmits through tick bites. Dog antibiotics like doxycycline, oxytetracycline and tetracycline treat these diseases successfully. Tick control is the best way to prevent them. These diseases cannot pass from one dog to another, but other dogs bitten by ticks in that same area are at risk.
Quarantining Pets on Dog Antibiotics
It's important to quarantine your animal until the disease passes. Save others the cost of treatment and the stress of having a sick pet.
Preventative vaccinations help prevent the spread of many of these contagious diseases. Make sure your puppy or dog's vaccinations are up to date.