Your pet has just received a course of antibiotics. Antibiotics kill bacteria. They will not kill viruses. They function as essentially a bacteria toxin. Some bacteria are more susceptible to this toxin than others. Bacteria reproduce very quickly and in order to bring the bacterial numbers down to zero we must keep a continuous supply of antibiotics flowing through the blood stream, therefore it is very important to give every prescribed dose at consistent intervals. Every time a dose is missed the bacteria that survived the previous doses are allowed to divide and create more bacteria capable of surviving numerous doses of the prescribed drug. This will necessitate a longer course of antibiotics, or a change of antibiotics.

Depending on the location and type of infection you may receive a longer or shorter course of antibiotics. Severe or life-threatening infections will usually receive a longer dose of antibiotics than would a very mild infection or a prophylactic antibiotic course. Skin, due to its limited blood supply often will receive very long courses of antibiotics.

It is profoundly important to complete the course of antibiotics. As stated above, if we miss a dose we allow those bacteria that are the most resistant to the drug to divide and repopulate. If you give 8 days of a ten-day course and one bacterium remains that has survived all eight days, it can reproduce by division and will most likely prove very difficult to kill with the same antibiotic. This is how ‘superbugs’ are made – bacteria that were previously susceptible to antibiotics that are now resistant.

Antibiotics can cause GI upset, and therefore it is best if they are given with food. Some pets will become a bit lethargic or may show less enthusiasm for food. If these symptoms are mild it is usually best to continue giving the antibiotic and monitor the situation; if however you have any concerns please call your veterinarian. Some pets will not tolerate some antibiotics. If your pet begins to vomit or loses his or her appetite altogether, please call your veterinarian immediately. In this way we can assess the severity of the situation and make recommendations or change antibiotics. Do Not simply stop giving the medication without communicating with your veterinarian.

Antibiotic resistance is a growing worldwide concern, and we here at Animal Care Center of Green Valley take our responsibility to this global issue very seriously, and with this information we hope you will as well. Thank you.

Here is more information from the World Health Organization on the global problem of antibiotic resistance and its effects on the health of people worldwide.

http://www.who.int/whr/1996/media_centre/press_release/en/index4.html