Giving pets oral medications is not always easy, particular when they have to be administered multiple times a day. The combination of an uncooperative patient and a busy schedule can make missed doses the rule, rather than the exception. When owners are unable to follow the recommended treatment schedule, the pet’s health can suffer.
Therefore, it isn’t too surprising that drug companies see an opportunity in developing medications that have very long durations of action. An example that is in wide use in veterinary medicine today is the antibiotic Convenia (cefovecin sodium). It is labeled for the treatment of skin infections, wounds, and abscesses in dogs and cats but can also be prescribed off label to treat susceptible infections in other parts of the body (e.g., the respiratory or urinary tract). One injection, given by a veterinarian or veterinary technician, provides up to 14 days of antibiotic therapy, which in many cases eliminates the need for owners to give their pets medications at home.
Description
Convenia, an injection used for a range of skin infections for both dogs and cats older than four months, is commonly prescribed for abscesses, wounds often caused by susceptible strains of Staphylococcus intermedius and Streptococcus canis in dogs or susceptible strains of Pasteurella multocida in cats, all conditions which can cause excessive itching, scratching, licking and/or biting. Once your pet’s skin is damaged or broken by the rubbing, chewing and/or scratching, then it can create the opportunity for bacteria to penetrate your pet’s skin.
It’s easy to dose, provides 14 days of treatment and is quite effective, working within a few hours after administering, but according to Dr. Lisa A. Pierson, it can stay in the body for more than two months. ike 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.
Features of Antibiotic Injection For Dogs
- Antibiotics are medications that can be used to treat bacterial infections.
- There are many different types – some kill a range of bacteria (broad spectrum), and others only target certain groups (narrow spectrum).
- Antibiotics are extremely useful (sometimes lifesaving) medicines, but they need to be used carefully to prevent bacteria becoming resistant to them therefore making infections more difficult to treat.
- Antibiotics should always be reserved for the people and animals that need them the most.
- Antibiotics kill bacteria and are not useful for treating other germs such as viruses and fungus.
Types of Antibiotics for Dogs
The five most-common antibiotics prescribed for dogs include:
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.
Gentamicin—Gentamicin is prescribed to treat dogs with eye infections, ear infections, and pneumonia. This medicine also is prescribed with an anti-inflammatory drug to help reduce redness and swelling.
Chloramphenicol—Chloramphenicol is an antibiotic that has a level of pH that can be safe enough for it to completely pass through your dog’s body. This makes it a top choice for treating a dog with bacterial infections in the organs.
Sulfamethoxole—Sulfamethoxole is used to treat urinary-tract infections in dogs. This antibiotic can be hard on a dog’s gastrointestinal system and it often causes side effects like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite. While your dog is taking sulfamethoxole, make sure she drinks plenty of water to stay hydrated.
Tetracycline—Tetracycline can treat a variety of bacterial infections because it prevents proteins from synthesizing. Tetracycline is used whenever another antibiotic has proven ineffective because it has the ability to break through the protection barriers the bacteria use to protect themselves.
Side effects of Antibiotic Injection For Dogs
Antibiotic side effects are uncommon but can sometimes occur, and just like humans, some pets are allergic to some of them. Let your vet know if your pet has recently started antibiotics and develops any symptoms such as:
- Diarrhoea and / or vomiting
- A rash
- Swellings
- Low energy
- A reduced appetite.
It’s particularly important to watch out for side effects if your pet is pregnant, very young, very old, or if they have any other illnesses (such as liver or kidney damage).
Antibiotic resistance
You have probably heard about ‘superbug’ bacteria such as MRSA. Superbugs are groups of bacteria that have become resistant to all known antibiotics, making them extremely difficult (sometimes impossible) to treat. The more antibiotics we use, the more bacteria get used to them and find ways to resist them. If we don’t take measures to prevent antibiotic resistance, people and animals may struggle to fight even the simplest of infections in the future.
You can help to prevent resistance by following this guidance:
- Give the correct dose of antibiotic at the right time.
- Always complete your pet’s antibiotic course (even if your pet seems better before it finishes)
- Never give your pet antibiotics unless they have been prescribed by your vet – the wrong antibiotic to the wrong pet for the wrong condition can cause more harm than good
- Give your vet any antibiotics that you aren’t using. Never put them into the bin or down the toilet means you are releasing them into the environment and creating resistance.
Prices of Antibiotic Injection For Dogs
$350 to $450