Dog Pneumonia is a bacterial respiratory disease that affects dogs and is caused by the bacteria called Pasteurella Bordetella. This bacteria infects the dog’s respiratory tract, including its lungs. As a result of this infection, there is inflammation in the tissue of your dog’s lungs which can lead to scarring on them.
If you have a dog with pneumonia, your veterinarian may prescribe antibiotics. The goal of these medications is to kill the bacteria that have invaded your pet’s body and caused the infection. Antibiotics are also used to prevent bacterial infections from spreading throughout the body.
There are two basic types of antibiotics: broad-spectrum and narrow-spectrum. Narrow-spectrum antibiotics target specific bacteria and are used when you know which bacteria are causing the infection. Broad-spectrum antibiotics can kill a variety of different types of bacteria, but they also have the potential to damage good microorganisms in your pet’s body (such as those found in its gastrointestinal tract).
It’s important to note that antibiotics do not kill viruses, which cause most respiratory infections in dogs. This means that if your pet has a viral infection, antibiotic therapy will not be effective against it.
There are a few different types of antibiotics that can be used to treat pneumonia in dogs. The most common types are erythromycin, amoxicillin, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. These medications will typically be prescribed by your veterinarian and used for two weeks at a time, but if your dog does not improve within that time frame, you should contact your vet to discuss other treatment options.
What is Dog Dog Pneumonia?
Dog Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs. It can be caused by a virus or bacteria, and it can be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term). Either way, it will cause your dog to have difficulty breathing and may eventually lead to death if not treated quickly.
Causes of Dog Pneumonia
There are many causes of dog pneumonia. Some of the most common include:
- Bacterial infection
- Viral infection
- Parasite infection
- Allergic reaction
Signs of Dog Pneumonia
The signs of dog pneumonia can be quite obvious. If your dog isn’t acting normally, take him to the vet as soon as possible.
Some of the symptoms of pneumonia are:
- Coughing and difficulty breathing
- Loss of appetite and nausea (vomiting)
- Depression/lethargy or lack of energy
- Pale gums
Effects of Dog Pneumonia
There are several symptoms of dog pneumonia that you should watch for, including:
- coughing
- difficulty breathing or fast breathing
- loss of appetite or sudden weight loss
- fever or chills
How Dog Pneumonia Antibiotics Works
How Dog Pneumonia Antibiotics Works
A dog has a bacterial infection in the respiratory system, which may be causing them to have difficulty breathing. The dog will likely be coughing, sneezing, and possibly having trouble eating or drinking. If you suspect that your dog has pneumonia then you should call your vet immediately for treatment. The vet will need to run some tests on the dog to diagnose whether or not they do have pneumonia and then determine if antibiotics are needed to treat it or if other treatments are available that would work better for the specific case of your pet’s illness.
Common Examples of Dog Pneumonia Antibiotics
Common examples of dog pneumonia antibiotics are:
- Amoxicillin
- Ampicillin
- Erythromycin
- Clavamox (also known as Augmentin)
- Metronidazole
1. Amoxicillin
Amoxicillin is a penicillin antibiotic. It’s the most commonly used antibiotic for dog pneumonia, and it works well to treat bacterial infections.
Amoxicillin treats a wide range of bacterial infections, including respiratory ones such as those associated with bronchitis and pneumonia. In addition to its use in dogs, amoxicillin may also be used in cats; however, due to their higher rate of nausea and vomiting compared with dogs, cats tend not to do as well on this drug.
2. Ampicillin
Ampicillin is an antibiotic used to treat a wide range of bacterial infections. It is a penicillin antibiotic, which means it works by fighting bacteria in your body.
Ampicillin is used to treat ear infections, urinary tract infections, and some respiratory tract infections.
3. Erythromycin
Erythromycin (or E-Mycin, as it’s sometimes called) is a macrolide antibiotic that can be used to treat bacterial infections. It has been shown to be effective for treating pneumonia and skin infections, as well as eye infections. However, this drug isn’t known specifically for its use in dogs with pneumonia.
4. Clavamox
- Administering Clavamox: If your pet is experiencing severe coughing, it’s a good idea to administer the antibiotic orally rather than via injection. To do so, mix two teaspoons of the powder with eight ounces of water and give your pet about half a teaspoon every 12 hours for five days. If your dog doesn’t seem to be getting better after three days, talk to the vet about increasing the dosage or altering its schedule (for example, giving it every six hours instead of every 12).
- When Not to Administer Clavamox: Clavamox is generally safe for dogs of all ages but should not be given if they are pregnant or lactating moms because it can cause anemia in puppies if given during their first week of life.
5. Metronidazole
Metronidazole is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that is used to treat many different types of infections. It’s particularly useful against anaerobic bacteria, such as Clostridium difficile (C. diff), which can cause life-threatening diarrhea in dogs. Metronidazole also treats parasitic infections like giardiasis and trichomoniasis, as well as some types of cancer. In addition, it’s sometimes prescribed for heartworm prevention if given with other medicines or by itself at the beginning of the year before your pet starts taking preventative medication from his veterinarian.
How To Administer Dog Pneumonia Antibiotics
Most antibiotics are administered by mouth, which means you can give your dog the medication just like you would take it. This includes:
- Give the antibiotic to your dog with food. Some medications need to be given on an empty stomach, while others should be taken with food. When in doubt, ask your veterinarian or pharmacist if the medication needs to be taken on an empty stomach or not.
- Give the antibiotic with water (if indicated). If there is no reason why your dog shouldn’t drink water while taking a certain antibiotic, then you can administer it by mixing it into his drinking bowl or giving him an additional bottle of plain water for drinking during the day.
- Give the antibiotic with food and water simultaneously (if indicated). For example, if you were told that one of our recommended drugs should be taken three times per day but your pet could only tolerate two doses at once without vomiting due to severe side effects from taking too much medicine at once, then we definitely wouldn’t recommend making up for a lost time by administering all four doses simultaneously.
When To Administer Dog Pneumonia Antibiotics
If your dog is in severe pain or has a high fever, you should get him to the vet as soon as possible. If he’s not showing any signs of pain or fever but has a cough that persists for more than a few days, you can wait to see if it passes on its own.
If your dog’s symptoms are atypical or seem severe (e.g., they’re coughing up blood), call your vet right away and ask if they recommend antibiotics.
These are the most commonly used antibiotics for dog pneumonia
Amoxicillin
Amoxicillin is a penicillin antibiotic that can be used to treat pneumonia. Amoxicillin should not be given to dogs with a history of allergies to it or other antibiotics in the penicillin family.
The dose for treating pneumonia is 25 mg per pound of body weight every eight hours for an adult dog and 50 mg per pound of body weight every eight hours for a puppy.
Ampicillin (also called ampicillin sodium) is another antibiotic that can be used to treat pneumonia, especially if you have multiple pets who live together and one may be carrying an infection they all share. Like amoxicillin, this drug should not be given to dogs with known allergies or previous reactions/sensitivities. The dosage guideline is 10–20 mg/lb once daily by mouth as needed (for example: if your pet has had his annual exam recently and does not appear ill now, but you want some protection against infection during cold weather).
In Conclusion
Dog pneumonia is a common condition in dogs, and it can be treated with antibiotics. These medications work by fighting the bacteria that cause your pet’s symptoms. If your dog has been diagnosed with this condition, talk to your veterinarian about which antibiotic will be most effective for their case.