What antibiotics can be given to cats

For the treatment of inflammatory processes that are caused by bacteria in the body, antibacterial drugs or antibiotics are used. They help to effectively and quickly cope with the infection. Antibiotics are also widely used in veterinary medicine.

These drugs are used to treat cats, but they should be used with extreme caution. It is necessary to strictly adhere to the recommendations of the veterinarian. Uncontrolled use is fraught with grave consequences, including death. For this reason, you should not self-prescribe antibiotics to a cat, ignoring the advice of a specialist.

Today, many different antibacterial drugs are produced. They differ in their origin - synthetic or natural.But they all have a similar effect - neutralization and destruction of infectious pathogens and fungi. They can be prescribed for the purpose of treatment and in order to prevent complications, due to surgical interventions and injuries.

What it is?

Antibiotics are a scientific discovery that happened by chance. They were invented by the English scientist Fleming, who once witnessed how penicillin fungi destroy golden staphylococci in a petri dish. This incident, which happened once in a laboratory, completely changed the world of medicine. However, the healing properties of some mushrooms were known long before it. Arab healers used a fungal mold to treat purulent wounds. Some evidence suggests that Maya Indians also used fungus for treatment.

Antibiotic action

Different drugs act differently on infectious pathogens. Some neutralize them, preventing reproduction. Others simply destroy them.

By type of exposure, antibiotics are divided into 2 types:

Type 1 - having a bactericidal action.Destroy the causative agent of infection.

2nd have a bacteriostatic or neutralizing effect.

How exactly the drug fights infection is extremely important. Bactericidal drugs are contraindicated in certain types of bacteria, for example, their use for representatives of the feline family is dangerous when dealing with staphylococci. This is fraught with obstruction of the urethra. When these bacteria die, they can precipitate in the bladder cavity. This leads to the formation of sand and stones. However, sometimes it is impossible to do without them. For example, when it comes to deadly feline diseases, pyometra or sepsis, as well as several others. Their action is much more effective when applied topically to treat purulent wounds and ulcers.

In severe cases, both types of antibiotics can be used in large doses, but treatment should be under the supervision of a veterinarian. Sometimes used drugs with prolonged action. Such antibiotics do not act so quickly, but the period of their exposure is longer.

About release forms

Antibacterial drugs are used topically and internally.Topical antibiotics are available in the form of ointments, powders, sprays, and liquids. For example, for the treatment of bacterial conjunctivitis, they are used in the form of drops or eye ointments.

Antibiotics, which are used to treat internal and common infections, are available in the form of mixtures, solutions for injections, infusions, and tablets. In diseases of the upper respiratory tract sprays and drops can be used. Genital infections are treated with suppositories.

Types of drugs

Traditionally, antibiotics are usually classified according to their chemical origin, depending on the active ingredient. This applies to drugs of any type of action.

All antibacterial drugs are divided into groups:

• Penicillin;
• Cephalosporin;
• Tetracycline;
• Levomitsetinovaya;
• Macrolides;
• Aminoglycosides;
• Glycopeptides;
• Lincosamides and others.

Given the large variety of antibiotics on the pharmacological market, it becomes clear why the advice of a specialist is required to select the necessary drug. Most cat owners are not qualified doctors, so self-treatment is unlikely to bring the desired result.Even if the drug is chosen correctly, then it should be used under the supervision of a veterinarian.

Important! Any antibiotics can be addictive. With the systematic use of the same drug, viral pathogens no longer properly respond to it, therefore, its effectiveness is reduced and such treatment does not give effect.

When initially the dosage is less than necessary, the bacteria quickly adapt to the active substance and take on new forms that are resistant to drugs. This complicates further treatment.

Any antibiotics can provoke individual reactions in the animal's body. This is another cause of complications due to antibiotic therapy. In some cases, professional selection of drugs is necessary to determine their effectiveness even before the start of treatment. To do this, tests are taken and the effectiveness of antibiotics in specific cases taken under laboratory conditions is checked before the start of treatment.

Pros and cons

It was with the advent of antibiotics on the world pharmacological market and their widespread use in medicine that caused the well-known saying: “We treat one, cripple the other”.Despite their effectiveness, they have many side effects and contraindications.

Pros:

• low toxic effect on the body;
• good effect with a small dosage;
• begin to act immediately after admission;
• antibacterial effect persists after penetration into the body;
• neutralize toxins that are waste products of bacteria.
• have antimicrobial effects in a wide range.

Minuses:

• addictive;
• high toxicity in some drugs;
• kill bacteria useful to the body along with malware;
• their use is often accompanied by dysbiosis;
• Individual allergic reactions and other unpredictable side effects are not excluded.

Important! Any drugs are prescribed individually after examination and diagnosis of the cat. Independently determine the cause of the disease and the pathogen is almost impossible. Help in this situation can only be a qualified specialist with the necessary knowledge and experience.

Most Popular Antibiotics

An indication for the use of antibacterial drugs is the presence of infectiousinflammatory processes in an animal. However, it is almost impossible to find the cause of such a condition on your own. For example, a cat has a purulent process in the wound. Many in this case use tetracycline ointment. But sometimes other infectious agents, such as fungi, are the cause of the inflammation. Then you need a completely different action of the drug.

For this reason, in the case of the use of antibiotics, prior consultation with a veterinarian is necessary. Today, most drugs have complex compositions and often include several active substances at the same time. In addition to them, they also contain excipients that may be contraindicated for representatives of the feline family.

Possible side effects

Antibiotics are widely and effectively used to combat any infectious pathogens. However, they have many contraindications and side effects from use. Together with the "bad" microbes, they kill those bacteria that are simply necessary for a living organism for normal life.

Regardless of the form in which these drugs are used, they somehow bring some harm. For this reason, their use is often accompanied by the appointment of additional drugs, the action of which is aimed at restoring microflora.

When harmful bacteria die, the remains of their vital activity are excreted naturally by the liver and kidneys. If these organs are not completely healthy, then the use of antibiotics can provoke pathological conditions in them. For this reason, taking these drugs should be started only after a preliminary examination.

Proper selection and adequate assessment of the general condition of the animal make it possible to minimize the risk of side effects. In case of liver diseases, hepatoprotectors and agents that help reduce the burden on the kidneys may additionally be indicated.

Many representatives of the cat family have a tendency to allergic reactions to various external stimuli, including antibiotics. If the cat suffers from individual intolerance to the active ingredient of the drug or auxiliary components, then it will be necessary to cancel it and to prescribe alternative medicines.Since allergy is a rather unpredictable thing and can manifest itself in different ways, up to anaphylactic shock, the responsible owner must have antihistamines in a form suitable for use in cats in the first-aid kit.

During the period of taking antibiotics, the immune system weakens, for this reason the risk of the development of allergic phenomena increases, even to those substances to which no reactions had previously occurred. It may manifest as vomiting or stool disorder. If you are suspicious of individual intolerance, taking the drug should be excluded and consult with your veterinarian for an alternative treatment.

How to avoid problems?

To minimize the risks and to obtain the effect of treatment is possible only in the case of skilled care. In no case can not independently use drugs of antibacterial action without consulting with a specialist.This can cause adverse health effects for the animal and the threat to its life.

If the antibiotic and the method of its administration are chosen correctly, the effect of treatment will be maximized, and the risk of side effects will be minimized.

Video: how to give a pill to a cat