Content
- What is amoxicillin
- Uses of Amoxicillin for Cats
- Can you give amoxicinlin to kittens?
- Amoxicillin dosage for cats
- Contraindications of amoxicillin for cats
- Side Effects of Amoxicillin for Cats
Amoxicillin is an antibiotic very commonly used in veterinary and human medicine. So you might have it in your medicine cabinet at home; however, this does not mean that you can give cats amoxicillin without any veterinary supervision. Not all antibiotics work for all bacteria, and not all infections are bacterial. For this reason, it is essential to use antibiotics responsibly, as we will explain in this PeritoAnimal article.
Next, we'll explain what is amoxicillin for in cats, in which cases its administration is recommended and its possible side effects.
What is amoxicillin
Amoxicillin is a beta-lactam antibiotic very well known and broad spectrum. This means that it is effective against a good number of bacteria. It belongs to the group of aminopenicillins and has a bactericidal effect. In other words, it kills bacteria, and more specifically, it acts against certain Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. If given orally, it reaches its maximum plasma concentration in an hour or two. It is mainly eliminated by the kidneys. Furthermore, it is excreted in milk in small amounts. Amoxicillin is often found associated with clavulanic acid.
THE amoxicillin for cats it can be found in the form of a paste, oral suspension or tablets. In this way, it is possible to choose the most suitable format to administer to your cat. There is also an injectable version.
Uses of Amoxicillin for Cats
As it is an antibiotic, amoxicillin is used to fight infections produced by bacteria. Given the broad spectrum of amoxicillin, it is common to use it in different types of infections. It is suitable, for example, for the treatment of abscesses and sores. Bacteria that are usually present in these cases are demonstrably sensitive to amoxicillin. These types of injuries are more frequent in cats with access to the outdoors and without neutering, as it is more common to fight with other males. It is also used to treat other skin problems.
Likewise, it is valid for the treatment of urogenital tract infections, more common in male cats due to the characteristics of their anatomy, and respiratory level infections. In the latter case, it is common for the disease to be caused by a virus. Amoxicillin does not work against them, but is used to fight or prevent secondary bacterial infections that can arise by taking advantage of the weakness they cause. A typical example is the rhinotracheitis. Thus, it is possible to use amoxicillin for cats with colds caused by viral agents, as is the case with rhinotracheitis, as, as mentioned, bacterial infection can also occur. In these cases, the most common is the administration of amoxicillin + clavulanic acid. Finally, it can also be prescribed for digestive infections.
In any case, antibiotics should only be used as recommended by the veterinarian. Only this professional can choose which one is the most suitable for your cat's infection. The ideal would always be to do a culture to find out exactly which bacteria are present, and thus decide on the antibiotic to eliminate them. However, the cat is usually treated based on the type of infection, and only if it is suspected that the antibiotic is not working will a culture be decided.
Can you give amoxicinlin to kittens?
Yes, it is possible to use amoxicillin in kittens with any of the mentioned conditions. In fact, rhinotracheitis is very common in kittens, which is why prescribing this medication is quite common. Of course, especially in kittens, it is essential that the veterinarian recommends the use of amoxicillin, as the consequences of poor handling in them can be worse.
Amoxicillin dosage for cats
First, special care must be taken with antibiotics. You should never administer them on your own, and whenever your veterinarian prescribes them, you should respect as much as possible the dose, frequency and days of administration. It has been proven that the misuse of antibiotics, for example, when they are taken unnecessarily, in inadequate doses or in fewer days than prescribed, causes bacterial resistance. This means that the antibiotics we are familiar with may no longer be effective. If there are more and more resistant bacteria, more and more powerful antibiotics will be needed, and there may even come a time when we don't have any that work. This is, of course, a serious problem for human and animal health, and measures are already being taken around the world.
The amount of amoxicillin for cats, that is, the recommended dose, is determined according to the cat's weight and shape. of amoxicillin chosen. It oscillates within a range of safety and efficacy that the veterinarian must choose depending on the characteristics of each clinical case.
Amoxicillin can be administered between one and three times a day, and taken with food. Pills can be broken for ease of administration. Amoxicillin treatments last for at least five and up to seven days, although they can be prolonged depending on the infection. In any case, if during the first few days of treatment no improvement is noticed, the veterinarian must be notified.
Contraindications of amoxicillin for cats
amoxicillin interacts with some medications. Therefore, if your cat has taken or is taking any other medication, it is necessary to inform the veterinarian, if this information is unknown to him. In the case of pregnant or lactating cats, the veterinarian must evaluate the possibility of use according to the risks and benefits, since there are no studies on safety in these cases. Obviously, if your cat has previously had an allergic reaction to amoxicillin, it is not recommended to give it again.
Side Effects of Amoxicillin for Cats
Amoxicillin is an antibiotic that, if administered as directed by a professional, does not usually cause any adverse side effects. If occasionally some digestive changes such as diarrhea, vomiting, or loss of appetite, the veterinarian should be advised, although it is not necessary to discontinue treatment. Symptoms disappear when it is finished.
In addition, some cats may experience reactions of hypersensitivity, with the appearance of skin rash, fever and, in the most severe cases, anaphylactic shock. In these cases, it is necessary to immediately go to the veterinarian and modify the treatment.
On the other hand, if the cat consumes a very high amount, poisoning can occur that would affect the kidneys and liver, respiratory problems and heart problems. In these cases, which are very infrequent, it is necessary to take the cat to the veterinary center.
As you can see, amoxicillin in cats should be prescribed by a veterinarian due to the reasons mentioned above. Likewise, the dose of amoxicillin for cats will be defined by the professional, so we insist that it is not appropriate to self-medicate animals without any kind of veterinary knowledge.
This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.
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