What antibiotics can be given to a cat? The most common answer to that question is that it should be a broad spectrum penicillin-type drug such as amoxicillin or ampicillin. These are supposed to be effective on a wide range of infections and microorganisms. So now that we have the common answer, let's pursue the non-so-common ones.
Some other cat antibiotics used for specific infections include Aminoglycosides, Cephalosporins, Tetracyclines and Erythromycin. These operate under the assumption that if the cells are kept from building proteins, they are not reproduced and the strain of the infection dies. These antibiotics must be given as an injection.
There is a down side to their use, however. Because cat antibiotics hinder cell function, there are side effects. Tetracyclines and Erythromycin can damage the kidneys and/or liver as well as produce hair loss and, possibly, light sensitivity. Aminoglycosides may cause swelling, and again, liver or kidney damage. Cephalosporins do the least damage; they can cause diarrhea or an allergic reaction. There are a couple of antibiotics that impinge on the growth of newborn or unborn kittens. For example, tetracycline and griseofulvin should not be given to pregnant or lactating queens.
Often steroids are combined with antibiotics especially in topical ointments used for the eyes and ears. Corticosteriods are anti-inflammatory and can diminish the intensity of swelling and redness. They, too, have some undesirable side effects in that they can lower natural immunity, which can weaken the animal's capacity to fight infection. Use of these medications should only occur with the direction of a veterinarian; this is especially true for eye compounds, which ineptly used may cause blindness.
Urinary-tract infections are wide spread in cats. The most common treatment for this combines the ordinary amoxicillin with the not-so-ordinary clavulanate in a product named, not so ingeniously, Clavamox. The clavulanate arrests the growth of infection while the amoxicillin annihilates any bacteria. This useful medication can also produce nasty unpleasantries such as dizziness, nausea and loose stools.
Conjunctivitis is especially common in cats, and veterinarians often prescribe an ointment containing PolymyxinB and Oxytetracycline as well as Terramycin. Many forms of this unguent can be purchased on the open market without a prescription; however, veterinary advice is strongly counseled because of the potential for blinding the animal with poorly diagnosed or badly administered medication.
Another area prone to infection in a cat is the ear where skin and yeast infections are prevalent. Usually ointments and creams are used for this; however, drops are sometime prescribed for inner ear diseases. For the outer ear, an antibiotic that contains anti-inflammatory or antifungal attributes is usually used.
From this discussion, one can surmise that cat antibiotics are commonly used to treat bacterial infections in cats as well as to prevent one from occurring. Conversely, just because a cat is ill does not mean it needs antibiotics. Indiscriminate use of antibiotics in cats is just as inappropriate as their haphazard use in people, and the outcome is about the same. The development of resistant bacteria occurs in populations of cats or people or, for that matter, any other animal.
Ideally, the choice of whether to use cat antibiotics should come from the results of a laboratory culture. From that test, the right choice of medications can be made which will be the antibiotic most capable of killing the bacteria that has been identified. As in all medications, antibiotics should only be used to benefit the cat that has the problem.
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