Determining The Cause Of Infection
Before beginning antibiotic treatment, it is important to diagnose the source of infection. If the source of infection is a cat wound, a quick antibiotic response will halt the infection’s penetration and abscess development. If an abscess developed before antibiotic treatment, the wound should be drained by latex tube. After that, administered antibiotics will help the wound heal within 2 to 5 days.
The first signs of infection are fever, inflammation, behavioral changes and abnormal bowel movements. These are strong indicators that your cat has an infection and that antibiotics are the best treatment. Your vet can also determine the presence of infection with a culture. Lab cultures can also reveal the kind of bacteria present, which helps your vet make a more informed decision regarding which antibiotic is the most effective.
Pill Pockets For Getting Cats To Eat Medicine
Ah, pill pockets. Those tasty, kibble-lookalike products you can open up, pop a pill into, seal up, then hand over to your pet and watch as both you and your kitty get a treat at the same time.
If youve got quite a lot of medicine to be delving over, and dont want any fuss or hassle, you just want to see that medication go down, pill pockets are where its at.
I cant imagine a more convenient thing to have on hand for cats who take medication regularly.
Why Didnt My Vet Prescribe Antibiotics
If your vet didnt prescribe your pet antibiotics, there is likely to be a good reason. There are many situations when antibiotics wont cure the problem, for example if your dog has an infection caused by a virus or fungus. Always speak to your vet if you are worried – they will be happy to explain further.
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Our Final Thoughts On Antibiotics For Cats
Many antibiotics can be used in cats. However, before prescribing such therapy, the vet will perform a complete physical examination and, more often than not, susceptibility testing to determine the correct antibiotic type.
If you suspect your cat has an infection, do not wait for the symptoms to worsen, call your vet and schedule an appointment. In the meantime, keep in mind that the data in this article is for informative purposes only.
Dont: Mix Medication Into A Cats Water
Putting medication into a cats water is a really bad idea. At least I would think so. Its the option thats least likely to get your cats to ingest medication, and it could cause your cats, sadly, to dehydrate as well.
Cats are notoriously bad at drinking water. Many cats actually need encouraging to drink as much as they should.
So any change of flavour of the water, such as in the form of yucky medication going into their water supply, has a good chance of getting your cat to hate drinking to the point where he or she will stop drinking entirely, causing worse problems.
Not only that, but cats dont typically drink a whole lot of water at once, so its unlikely if your cat drinks medication mixed with water that he or she will get the right dose before he or shes done drinking.
Essentially this one is a no-go. But the next suggestion you have, is a solid could-work, under specific conditions. Lets get into those.
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Applying Ear Drops To Cats
In order to properly treat inflammatory or infectious ear conditions, topical ear medications are often necessary. Instilling ear medications into your cat’s ears can be a challenging task, especially if they are uncomfortable. Have patience and contact your veterinarian if you are having difficulties.
Is Neosporin Safe For Cats
Human medications are often toxic or otherwise dangerous for animals, especially cats. Their compact size means that even the tiniest amounts of a toxic substance could put your cat’s life at risk.
Neosporin is a staple found in many people’s first aid kits. This topical antibiotic ointment can work very well on humans but it not recommended for cats. Cases have been reported of cats having life-threatening anaphylactic reactions to some of the antibiotic ingredients in Neosporin’s ophthalmic preparations which include neomycin and polymyxin B.
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Petroleum Jelly As A Snack To Get Cats To Ingest Medication
Okay this might be a weird one, but Im going to list it anyway. I use petroleum jelly to prevent hairballs, and a few of my cats absolutely go crazy for the stuff.
I dont use much, a blob the size of two pieces of kibble once a month to once a week if the cats are coughing a lot, and things all go down a lot easier that way.
I know if I had to, I could use petroleum jelly to mask medicine because of how much my cats like it.
It wouldnt do a good job of masking bad tastes, however, so I do think there others are better alternatives. Especially if you dont know if your cat likes petroleum jelly.
Dont: Mix Medication Into Your Cats Regular Food
The issue with mixing medication into your cats food really comes down to the way you do it.
If youre placing the medication into a cats regular food meal and expecting he or she to eat the whole lot, medicine included, you might end up with your cat refusing to eat the food entirely .
This is obviously no good, as you dont want any cat to go on a food strike.
A food strike is a game your cat can win. Cats are often picky eaters, and will usually not conform to your wishes and finally give up and eat when theyre hungry.
Since theyre such picky eaters to begin with, altering the taste of their regular meal with medicine means you chance the entire meal going to waste.
Another bad alternative? Your cat might end up eating part of the food/medicine, but not ingesting the entire lot, and thus not getting all the medication he or she needs.
After a nibble or two, your cat might walk away from the meal dissatisfied with the taste, and youll never know how much medicine he or she actually consumed.
Or, if the medicines not mixed in evenly, you never know, your cat could eat around the medicine entirely. Cats are clever.
Unless
The trick to making the mix of food and medicine work is masking the medicine into a snack, rather than a full fledged meal.
How you deal with this if youre trying to use your cats regular food: take away the food for a few hours , wait until your cat is good and hungry, then play with your cat quite a bit until he or she is tired.
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Can You Comfort Your Cat Without Going To The Vet
If your kitty is lethargic, not eating or breathing with its mouth open, she really does need to be seen immediately by a veterinarian. However, if she is eating and stays active, a little supportive care may help her to feel much better.
Feeding canned cat food is not only healthy, but it is a little less scratchy on the throat going down. Also, if kitty is quite congested, warming the food slightly or adding warm water as a gravy will make it smell more appealing and help entice your cat to eat.
Bringing the cat into the bathroom while you take a warm shower can also help loosen up some of the congestionlike a giant, humid steam bathand help to make kitty more comfortable.
As far as any over-the-counter drops or supplements are concerned, these are generally not helpful or necessary, unless specifically recommended by your veterinarian for a specific case/reason. Most upper respiratory infections run their course in about 10-14 days.
However, some kitties do suffer from chronic infections and are then prone to periodic flare-ups or ongoing congestion. These are the exception rather than the rule.
We consider upper respiratory infections in cats to be very contagious, and it is not uncommon for a normal-looking kitten to be adopted from a shelter, only to start sneezing within a few days, followed shortly by all of the other cats in the house.
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What Are The Benefits Of A Natural Antibiotic For Cats
Though prescribed antibiotics are needed in many situations, there are a number of cats that would benefit from more of a natural approach. Similar to humans, antibiotics can have a negative effect on our pets. Some cats are more sensitive to the addition of prescribed medications and can experience complications with anything that throws off their natural balance.
Cats can experience gastrointestinal upset, allergies to the antibiotics themselves, and even resistance to medications over time. Because of this, many cats will have better luck with a natural substance that has antibacterial properties instead.
So if your cat has sensitivities to antibiotics or you are just wanting to take a natural route in terms of their care, it may be time to explore the option of natural antibiotics for minor infections your furry friend may face!
Understanding The Medication Instructions
When your veterinarian prescribes a new medication, make sure you completely understand the instructions before you leave the office. He will likely explain the route of medication into the body how often the medication should be taken , duration of treatment , and other special considerations . You should also ask how you can expect your pet to respond to the treatmentand how quickly he will be feeling better.
Some medications dont have very strict dosing instructionsfor example, your veterinarian may simply say you should administer the drug as needed. Other times, you may be able to give a medication once a day even though the package says twice a day. But since other dosing guidelines must be followed precisely, you should always ask your veterinarian before making adjustments. And dont hesitate to speak up if the dosing instructions dont work with your schedulein some cases your veterinarian may be able to recommend another medication that can be given on a different timetable. For example, if your work schedule does not permit dosing every 8 hours, your veterinarian may be able to recommend a medication that can be given less frequently.
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Keep Reading To Get A Better Understanding Of The Antibiotics Available And What Each Of Them Treats
Amoxicillin: A good all-around antibiotic, amoxicillin for cats works to stop bacterial growth and is typically used to treat a variety of infections. Its available in capsule form and is administered orally. Amoxicillin for cats can also be given with food and comes in multiple dosage forms for fussier pets.
Cephalexin: A prescription antibiotic, cephalexin capsules are used for specific bacterial infections, including skin wounds and abscesses, and cat UTI treatment. Cephalexin for cats is available in both capsule and liquid form and is administered orally. It may be given with a small amount of food.
: An antibiotic used for deep skin and mouth infections, including dental and bone bacterial ailments, clindamycin also treats some protozoan infections. Clindamycin for cats is available in capsule or tablet form and is given orally. If you are using the tablet or capsule forms, ensure your pet has some water to wash it down, or it could cause damage to their esophagus.
: Used specifically to combat diseases spread by ticks, doxycycline is a prescription antibiotic that treats infections including Lyme disease, salmon poisoning, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Doxycycline for cats is available in both capsule and tablet forms and is administered orally. It may be given with food and cats should have at least a teaspoon of water.
How Do Antibiotics Affect Your Pet’s Gut
The bacteria and other microbes in your pets digestive tract are referred to as its gut microbiome. When an infection is present in or on your pet your veterinarian may prescribe an antibiotic to help fight off the infection.
Unfortunately, oral antibiotics cannot differentiate between the bad bacteria that may be causing a bacterial infection and the good bacteria that support your pets health, so it wipes out both beneficial and harmful bacteria.
For some cats and dogs, this may cause an ongoing imbalance in their gut that down the line could contribute to health conditions like chronic diarrhea, vomiting or constipation.
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When Should You See A Vet
You should visit your vet often. Though natural antibiotics can work their magic in many cases, there are situations that require veterinary care. Though we always recommend discussing the addition of any new supplement with your veterinarian regardless, there are a few ways to know if its time to take your cat to the vet for their current infection.
- Lack of appetite or not eating
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea that lasts longer than 24 hours
- Lethargy
- Changes in breathing
- Any other drastic change in behavior
If you notice any of the above symptoms in your feline companion, its best to visit your vet for a veterinary strength treatment.
Though natural supplements and remedies have their place in our cats lives, sometimes an issue will require more aggressive care.
Were not the only ones that can benefit from a natural approach to medicine when we start to feel under the weather. So can our cats. Be sure to review these top five natural antibiotics for cats that we listed above, and you can rely on a natural approach to your cats health.
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What Is Prescription Cat Food
Prescription cat food is formulated for specific health issues your cat may have. There are certain health conditions that will benefit from prescription cat foods. These foods are formulated by veterinary nutritionists. Your cat my turn his nose up at first when you introduce a new food, but its all for the best.
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Dont: Use Milk Or Cheese To Get Your Cat To Ingest Medication
Some cats adore the taste of milk and/or cheese, and while cats are lactose intolerant, some cats can have quite a bit of it before they feel any of the effects.
Still, you shouldnt ever give cats milk or cheese to mask medicine, because, as Dr. Tawnia Shaw, DVM pointed out in an interview with PetMD: some medicines do not do well if taken with high calcium foods. Doxycycline, an antibiotic, for example, gets bound to the calcium and then does not get absorbed.
Is it possible your particular medication is fine if its taken with milk or cheese? Yes but I dont think its ever worth the risk.
There are other snacks that are a lot better options if you really need to try something besides your cats main meal.
Sneaky Ways To Get Antibiotics Without A Prescription
Now keep in mind this information alone wont necessarily cover you if you need to survive a major health crisis. . However, these tips will definitely help you kill that nasty infection even when the grocery store shelves are all empty.
There are three different ways you can legally obtain antibiotics without a prescription. These are
1 Pet Stores
Now this option might have made you scratch your head. But hear me out.
Any pharmacist worth his/her salt will tell you that human antibiotics treat illnesses in fish. And, interestingly enough, you dont need a prescription to purchase antibiotics for fish.
Unfortunately, these antibiotics often dont come in convenient ready-to-swallow pills. However, they still contain the same chemicals one would find in a standard pharmacy. And, even more amazing, these antibiotics can help your body to fight an infection.
Its crazy that pharmacies inflate the cost to nearly 10 times the price of some of these fish antibiotics. However, you can get them for cheap at any pet store.
2 Bodegas
Bodegas are a Spanish term for ethnic convenience/grocery stores. These are found throughout the United States. However, theyre typically in heavily-populated Latino areas.
Certain bodegas sell antibiotics to customers. And the ones that do dont require a prescription.
According to CoreyNahman.com:
3 Mexico
Mexico is one other location that can potentially help preppers stock up on antibiotics. According to CoreyNahman.com:
***LAST RESORT***
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Are Medications Always Necessary To Treat Diarrhea In Cats
No. It is important to identify the cause of diarrhea. A change in diet, new food intolerance, or a stressful situation can also cause diarrhea. Often in these cases, the diarrhea should resolve in a few days. Its important to offer your cat plenty of water while they have diarrhea to prevent dehydration.
Diet changes can help manage symptoms in cats that have long-term diarrhea. A bland diet with boiled rice or pasta and chicken is a common recommendation. The vet may also prescribe a specially formulated diet to balance your cats dietary fiber. Probiotics may also be recommended by the vet to support your cats gut health.
Tooth Infections And Bad Breath
One of the products used for the treatment of tooth infections, bad breath and general mouth diseases in cats is aloe vera. Toothpaste made of aloe vera is used for both cats and dogs with excellent results in all cases.
The use of aloe vera may, however, affect some pets due to the latex in the ingredients. As such, only go for the toothpaste without latex as an ingredient.
Bee propolis is also widely used in the treatment of mouth diseases caused by bacteria. As an antibiotic with antibacterial properties, this remedy is also great for treating bad breath in your pet.
Chlorella has significant amounts of magnesium which makes it very effective in combating bad odor and bad breath in pets.
Another antibiotic by the name of sage, which belongs to the labiate family, is used in the treatment of bad breath, the health of teeth, liver conditions, neuralgia, and rheumatism.
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