Like humans, dogs and cats develop bacterial infections that require a treatment program involving antibiotics. Antibacterial medications are essential for treating these infections because they destroy the infected organism while leaving your pet’s healthy cells intact. Some antibiotics work by preventing bacteria from building cell walls, thereby stopping their ability to reproduce, while others work by starving the bacteria to prevent the infected organism from being able to turn glucose into energy. Here are the most-common antibiotics used in veterinary medicine to treat infections in dogs and cats and their uses.
Description
Amoxicillin (brand names: Amoxil®, Amoxi-Tabs®, Amoxi-Drop®, Bimox®, Moxatag®, Novamoxin®) is an aminopenicillin antibiotic used to treat certain bacterial infections. Most commonly it is used to treat skin, respiratory, and urinary tract infections. Its use in cats and dogs to treat certain bacterial infections and at certain doses, as well as use in ferrets, birds, and reptiles is ‘off label’ or ‘extra label’. Many drugs are commonly prescribed for off label use in veterinary medicine. In these instances, follow your veterinarian’s directions and cautions very carefully as their directions may be significantly different from those on the label.
Amoxicillin is given by mouth in the form of a tablet, capsule, or liquid suspension. It can be given with or without food, however, if vomiting occurs when dosed on an empty stomach, give future doses with food. Give the medication for the entire prescribed duration unless otherwise directed. Measure liquid forms carefully, and shake well before administering. This medication will take effect quickly, in about 1 to 2 hours. While effects may not be noted outwardly, gradual improvements are usually noticeable after a few days.
Dosing amoxicillin for cats
- Follow the timetable.One of the most important things about amoxicillin for cats is to make sure you give the medication at the designated time and for the entire duration it’s prescribed even if your cat’s symptoms are gone. If you stop the medication before the prescribed end-date, you are making your cat susceptible to an even worse ailment that might be impossible to treat. The World Health Organization states that antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest threats to global health!
- Never self-prescribe.Let’s say your cat seems to have an infection similar to the one he had last year and you have some amoxicillin from one of your illnesses in the house. Amoxicillin for cats isnotthe same as amoxicillin for people. Vetinfo reports it could be toxic to your cat. Confirm every ailment’s originsbeforetreating it. It could be a viral infection, in which case, amoxicillin is useless.
- Get a second opinion.If you feel that your cat is taking a lot of antibiotics, and not really improving, go to another veterinarian. Along with a possible misdiagnosis, amoxicillin for cats and other antibiotics come with side effects. So being on them for a prolonged period of time without any improvement could be a red flag that something is wrong.
Potential side effects of amoxicillin for cats
Antibiotics, including amoxicillin, can cause a range of side effects for cats. Since every cat is an individual, each cat will respond differently to amoxicillin. PetCareRX mentions the following as the most prevalent side effects to antibiotics: rashes, fever, kidney or liver damage, diarrhea and vomiting. Also, antibiotics can be particularly difficult on the digestive system, so confirm if your cat should take amoxicillin with or without food.
In addition, Vetinfo indicates that your cat could have dangerous complications if amoxicillin is taken while other antibiotics are in his system. And some cats are allergic to it. Monitor your cat closely while taking any medications, and alert your vet to anything out of the ordinary — health or behavior wise.
Specification
- Drug Name: Amoxicillin
- Common Name: Amoxi-Tabs®, Amoxi-Drops®, Robamox®
- Drug Type: Beta-lactam antibiotic
- Used For: Bacterial infections
- Species: Dogs, Cats
- Administered: Tablets, Oral liquid
- How Dispensed: Prescription only
- Available Forms: 50 mg, 100 mg, 125 mg, 150 mg, 200 mg, 250 mg, 400 mg, 500 mg, and 875 mg tablets
- FDA Approved: Yes
How It Works
Amoxicillin kills bacteria by preventing them from building a proper cell wall while they grow. It accomplishes this by inhibiting the linking of peptidoglycan chains that are a major component in both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria’s cell walls Amoxicillin/Clavulanate—This antibiotic combo is related to Penicillin and is used to treat a broad spectrum of bacterial infections, including skin infections, infections in the respiratory system, gastrointestinal infections, and genitourinary infections.
Prices of Amoxicillin For Cats
$23.00 – $30.00