A Possible Problem With Dry
Pills can easily get stuck in a cats esophagus and cause major problems.
The esophagus is the tube that leaves the mouth and brings food and medications into the stomach. Cats are at strong risk for having pills get lodged in the esophagus and not move.
Some medications, such as doxycycline, an important and frequently prescribed feline medication, are particularly toxic to the esophagus. Most vets dispense a drug like doxycycline only in a liquid form.
Recent studies about feline esophageal strictures have recommended that pet parents give about 5 ml of water to a cat after giving a pill. Yikes! You thought the pilling was bad enough? Now force a syringe full of water down your cats mouth? Good luck with that.
Heres an instructive video from Concierge Mobile Animal Hospital on how to give a cat liquid medicine as well as a pill:
How To Give A Difficult Cat Liquid Medicine
Cats are notorious for not wanting to take their medicine. But no matter how feisty your cat may be, he still needs his medication. If you’re wondering how to give a difficult cat liquid medicine, a popular strategy is to try hiding the medicine in food he likes. But there’s more than one way to help your cat if that approach doesn’t work.
Antibiotics Are For Bacterial Infections
and that means they wont work for every kind of infection. For example, colds and flus are caused by viruses and, as such, will NOT respond to antibiotics. Offering them in these cases only exposes a wider range of bacteria to these drugs, thereby increasing the chances for the development of resistant strains of bacteria.
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Antibiotics: 5 Things Cat Owners Should Know
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Some cat owners turn to antibiotics as the treatment of choice to treat a variety of problems. After all, its a scary world out there with all those superbugs, antibiotic resistance issues and drug reactions.
Treating infections is a perennially confounding and controversial topic in both human and animal medicine.
Lets review the key concerns antibiotics pose to both human and animal health.
Why?
Because antibiotics are NOT just like any other drugs.
After all, fighting infections from foreign invaders is fundamental to our ability to stave off the most obvious threats to both human and animal health. Historically high infectious disease death rates pre-antibiotics should be enough to impress anyone on that score.
Unfortunately, the preponderance of scientific evidence demonstrates that the overuse and misuse of antibiotics in both human and animal medicine has led to the emerging risk of antibiotic resistance. In other words, because of their increased exposure to these important drugs in inappropriate ways, bacteria have become extra-adept at coming up with ways to evade their effects.
Heres my list detailing the top five things cat owners really need to know about antibiotics if were to do right by both the humans and animals who need them:
You Cannot Give Your Cat Any Medication
Whether it be veterinary drugs or drugs suitable for human consumption, it is a common mistake for you to medicate your cat yourself, as the only person qualified to prescribe a drug treatment for our pets is the vet.
If you give your cat unsuitable medications you are putting their life in danger, and give them severe poisoning. Moreover, it may mask a serious illness that requires urgent veterinary attention.
This article is purely informative. AnimalWised does not have the authority to prescribe any veterinary treatment or create a diagnosis. We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian if they are suffering from any condition or pain.
If you want to read similar articles to Can I Give my Cat Antibiotics?, we recommend you visit our Other health problems category.
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Tips For Giving Medicine To Cats Who Won’t Take Liquid Medicine From A Syringe
Demos has one simple tip: See if there’s another vehicle for your cat’s meds, whether it’s a pill , injection, or a transdermal method, meaning the medicine is applied to your cat’s skin. Your cat might tolerate one of those methods more than a syringe.
As always, talk with your vet. They know you and your cat best and can figure out the best way to make sure he gets the medicine he needs.
Injectable Antibiotics For Cats: Pros And Cons
If your cat is sick, you may be told that you should give her an injectable antibiotic. But is it safe? Heres what you need to know.
Antibiotics are commonly prescribed to pets when they arent feeling well. But while you might immediately think of antibiotics that come in the form of pills or liquids, there is another option to be aware of.
If your cat is in need of antibiotics to combat an illness, your veterinarian might suggest an injectable antibiotic, such as Convenia. But before you agree to this treatment option, consider the pros and cons, some of which are outlined below. It turns out that, while antibiotic injections might certainly be beneficial, there are several reasons why some experts advocate against using them.
Generally, an antibiotic injection can be fast acting, which means it might help your pet feel better soon after she receives the shot. And one shot might be able to do the work of many days worth of antibiotics that would be given by mouth. So, you can see how this might be a convenient solution if your kitty is diagnosed with a condition that this type of medication is designed to treat.
One of the main reasons why antibiotic injections are so popular is because cats could be difficult to medicate when you have to give them oral antibiotics every day. Some cats might become agitated or downright aggressive when theyre being medicated, while others might feel frightened and hide as soon as they realize that its time to take their medicine.
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Three Crucial Words: Take As Directed
In other words
- DONT skip doses or fail to use the entire course of antibiotics as prescribed to your cat. Giving an antibiotic willy nilly or stopping short of the whole course can prove far worse than not using antibiotics at all.
- DONT start using an antibiotic you happen to have âleft over from the last time.â This is a really bad idea not only because of what Ive explained in #1, #2, and #3 above, but also because you should never have any antibiotics ever âleft overâ to begin with.
Antibiotics Arent Without Their Risks To Cats
Historically, both human medical and veterinary professions have been too quick on the draw when it comes to antibiotics. Indeed, in too many cases we still elect to shoot first and ask questions later, which not only means were using antibiotics in ways that court antibiotic resistance, but were making our patients sick in the process.
Ever heard the old quip suggesting that the disease is sometimes worse than the cure? Because antibiotics are fraught with side effects ranging from mild gastrointestinal upset to deadly autoimmune diseases, its especially important to take the use of these drugs very seriously and only when absolutely necessary.
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Tip : Add A Prebiotic Supplement
Antibiotics are not picky when deciding which bacteria to eliminate: they may wipe out bacterial pathogens, but along with it, your pet might lose lots of beneficial bacteria in their gut that aid in fighting inflammation, reducing cancer risk, and support a healthy weight. A prebiotic supplement like, FOS , psyllium husk powder, or inulin serves as a valuable food source to help support the growth of these beneficial bacteria.
When Is Amoxicillin For Cats Necessary
At one point, amoxicillin was the updated version of penicillin . It was considered better because it would be active longer, as per PetMD. Its used in the treatment of cats with infections caused by bacteria, such as wounds , bladder infections, tooth abscesses, eye or ear infections, skin infections and respiratory infections. It can be used on GI infections, but its not effective against parasites . Antibiotics are also usually recommended after surgical procedures, but Cummings Veterinary Medical Center at Tufts University indicates its prescribed on a per-case basis.
If your cats been in a fight, got a scrape, has itchy ears or runny eyes or hes scratching like crazy, a trip to the vet will determine the best treatment. Some conditions, like urinary tract infections, are elusive. If your cat starts behaving oddly, especially by urinating outside his litter box, take him to the vet with a urine sample. Chances are hell be taking amoxicillin.
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How To Give Medicine To A Cat
Hard truth: There is no one technique that enables all people to give pills to all cats. Heres my best advice.
As a veterinarian, Ive been tasked with medicating thousands of cats over the years. And whether Im trying to show people how to give medicine to a cat or medicating my own beloved felines, its a challenge!
Many fabulous cats have shared my household over the past 40 years. I lost count at 50 .
Quite a few of these cats lived in my home or shared a big feline life in my big barn of a veterinary hospital because their families had given up on them.
And why did these people give up on them?
Because often they didnt understand exactly how to give medicine to a difficult cat or they simply didnt want to bother with it.
I am here to tell you this is a serious topic indeed, and one thats close to my own heart. Many cats are euthanized because people cant give their cat a pill. Thats not good.
How To Give A Cat Liquid Medicine
If you’re wondering how to give a cat liquid medicine, you’re certainly not alone. The idea of depressing a medicine-filled syringe into your cat’s mouth probably isn’t a welcome sight on anyone’s to-do lists.
There are ways to make it easier, however, including some that let you avoid the syringe altogether. But if you have to use the syringe, preparation and flavoring agents can make the process a little tastier for your cat.
“You’re kind of programming them to have a positive experience,” Randy Wheeler, DVM and executive director of the , tells Daily Paws.
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Active Ingredients In Antibiotic
Which antibiotic you choose will depend on what kind of infection your cat has and what kind of antibiotic works best against it.
Its important to note that antibiotics is a broad term used by scientists to describe any drug or chemical substance that fights bacteria or viruses, it doesnt mean all drugs with antibiotics in the name will be effective against bacteria.
How Do Antibiotics Affect Your Pets 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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Can Pets Take Human Antibiotics
Although antibiotics will work to fight bacteria, whether its used on a human or animal, its important to not give antibiotics prescribed to people, says Dr. Phillips. Some antibiotics work better in some species over others and dosages may be different. Side effects can also vary greatly between species.
For example, Dr. Phillips said, Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid is a commonly used antibiotic in both pets and people under several brand names. But the ratio of amoxicillin to clavulanic acid varies significantly between products that are intended for humans and those that are intended for pets. These kinds of differences can make a big impact on the effectiveness of the antibiotic.
Bottom line: if you think your dog or cat may need pet antibiotics, its best to see a vet and get a prescription to keep your pet safe and get them healthy once again. In some cases, your vet may send you to a human pharmacy to pick up the medication. In others, your pet will need a specially formulated Rx.
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How To Administer Prescription Antibiotics To Pets
By Mel Lee-Smith
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Getting our pets to take their medicine can be tricky at best and seemingly “impawssible” at worst. Antibiotics may be a little easier to administer, since many pets feel under the weather from their infection and may not put up much of a fight.
Antibiotics come in a wide range of forms, including capsules, powders, liquids, and chewables. We’ll share some tips for administering each type of antibiotic to both dogs and cats.
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Giving A Cat Pills Or Capsules
Hold the cats head from the top using your left hand if you are right-handed. The cats cheekbones provide a convenient handle to hold the head firmly without causing discomfort.
Tilt the head back and the cat will often drop its lower jaw open.
Hold the pill or capsule with your right hand between your thumb and index finger. You can use a remaining finger on your right hand on the lower incisors to keep the lower jaw open. Keep your finger over the small incisor teeth and not over the sharp fangs . Drop the pill or capsule as far back over the tongue as possible, then immediately close the mouth and blow on the cats nose to encourage it to swallow.
If the cat does not open its mouth when you tilt back the head, hold the pill as before and place your middle finger of the same hand over the small incisor teeth not over the sharp fangs to open the lower jaw.
Pull open the lower jaw. Keep your middle finger in place to hold the lower jaw open , then either drop the pill or capsule as far back on the tongue as possible or use your index finger and thumb to push the pill over the back of the tongue.
If you use your thumb and index finger to push the pill over the base of the tongue, your fingers will be inside the cats mouth, and you must work rapidly to avoid getting bit.
Close the mouth and stroke the cats neck or blow sharply on its nose to encourage swallowing.
Can I Give My Cat Antibiotics
See files for Cats
Cats are susceptible to many diseases and many bacterial ones, perhaps they are in a risk group because among their main features they are independent, which means that they have a life outside the home, where the owner has no control, which increases their risk of bacterial infection.
Like humans, cats should receive treatment if they have a disease of this nature, and treatment in the case of a bacterial infection must be antibiotic drugs.
But does that mean that I can give antibiotics to my cat? This is the question we answer in this AnimalWised article.
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Give A Taste Introduction
“To give liquid medication, you may be given a dropper or syringe to administer. You can begin by letting your cat taste the liquid to see if they take it by choice,” explains Dr. Freeman. “If they refuse it, you will have to use a similar technique as for oral pilling.” Some liquid medicines come in different flavors that may be more appealing to your cat, so you should always ask your veterinarian if that is an option. Your cat may love the taste of tuna. Offering her some tuna-flavored liquid medication may be all it takes for her to take it willingly and without stress.
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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