Treating Bacterial Infections in Cats with Vetropolycin

Bacterial infections in cats can give rise to a huge variety of different diseases, but nearly all bacterial infections can be treated with one branch of drugs, called antibiotics. One such antibiotic medication that is commonly used to treat cats with bacterial infections is Vetropolycin. If your cat is suffering from some type of bacterial infection, vetropolycin is a great treatment option for you to consider giving your cat. It is rare for a population of bacteria to develop a resistance to vetropolycin, so it is a reliable drug that can be used over and over.

Uses for Vetropolycin

The most common clinical use of vetropolycin for cats is the treatment of superficial bacterial infections in the cat's eyelid and conjunctiva, or the thin, clear membrane that covers and protects the white part of the eye. It is also sometimes used to treat certain specific species of bacteria that commonly affect cats, such as Staphylococci, Escherichia coli and Haemophilus influenzae, as well as many strains of the Proteus and Pseudomonas groups of bacteria.

How Vetropolycin Works

Vetropolycin is a combination of three different antibacterial drugs: Bacitracin, Neomycin and Polymyxin.

Bacitracin is made from a mixture of similarly structured cyclic polypeptides that are naturally produced by some groups of the Bacillus subtilis species of bacteria. It works by interfering with the dephosphorylation of a pyrophosphate called C-55 isoprenyl, which bacteria use to transport materials that are to be used in the production of cell walls through the inner cell membrane. This weakens bacteria by preventing them from making cell walls, which is a major defense against the cat's immune system.

Neomycin is in a branch of antibiotics called the aminoglycoside antibiotics. It inhibits bacterial growth by interfering with the bacteria's production of proteins that are essential for bacterial growth and reproduction.

Polymyxin is an antibiotic that includes a cyclic peptide and a long hydrophobic tail. It works by binding to a chemical called lipopolysaccharide that is present in the outer membrane of some kinds of bacteria. Once attached to the bacterium, the hydrophobic tail component of the Polymyxin chemical causes crippling damage to the membrane.

How to Administer Vetropolycin

Since some of the ingredients in vetropolycin are toxic to cats if taken internally at high enough doses, the medication is only available in topically applied ointment form. First, clean the infected area, and then apply the ointment liberally. If you are using vetropolycin to treat an ocular bacterial infection in your cat, carefully apply a thin film of the medication over the cornea, and repeat application three to four times every day.

Side Effects/Warnings

In rare cases, cats are allergic or hypersensitive to vetropolycin. You can tell if your cat has an allergy or hypersensitivity to vetropolycin if the ointment causes burning, inflammation or itching. If your cat exhibits an allergy or hypersensitivity to vetropolycin, discontinue treatment immediately.

If your cat is suffering from a bacterial eye infection, the best treatment currently available is vetropolycin. It is one of the most effective topically applied antibacterial medications.

 

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