Can you give your dog too much antibiotics? Find Out Here

Why does my dog need antibiotics?

Vets will prescribe antibiotics for your dog if they have been diagnosed with a bacterial infection that they think is unlikely to clear up on its own or if they think it could spread to other animals.

Without treatment, bacterial infections can become more serious and lead to complications.

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Here are 3 reasons to reconsider using antibiotics …

Dr Alexander Flemming, who discovered the antibiotic penicillin, immediately saw the drawbacks of the drug. In 1945 he cautioned people. He said the misuse of penicillin could lead to mutant forms of bacteria that would resist the drug. He was absolutely right.

An estimated 14% of the staphylococcus strains isolated from human patients in a London hospital had developed resistance to penicillin by 1946. That was just three years after the miracle drug was introduced.

And penicillin was just the stepping stone to other microbe killers. Within three decades, several more drugs were introduced to combat bacteria and infections. This included amoxicillin, tetracycline, and streptomycin. By the 1970s, there were over 100 human antibiotics on pharmacy shelves.

Britain’s most senior medical adviser, Dr Sally Davies, says the threat from infections resistant to antibiotics is serious.

“There are few public health issues of potentially greater importance for society than antibiotic resistance. It means we are at increasing risk of developing infections that cannot be treated.”

Drug resistance arises when drugs knock out susceptible infections. They leave hardier, resilient strains behind. The survivors then multiply and over time become unstoppable superbugs. Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one example.

“In the past, most people haven’t worried because we’ve always had new antibiotics to turn to,” said Alan Johnson, consultant clinical scientist at the Health Protection Agency. “What has changed is that the development pipeline is running dry. We don’t have new antibiotics that we can rely on in the immediate future or in the longer term.”

The overuse of antibiotics is creating a worldwide threat of infection with potentially catastrophic results. But antibiotics also have more immediate problems.

At first glance, this might seem like a good thing. After all, that’s what they’re designed to do, right? The problem with antibiotics is that they’re indiscriminate killers. Good bacteria, bad bacteria, any bacteria that aren’t resistant to the antibiotic will be killed.

Let’s look at why that’s a problem by looking at your dog’s microbiome.

There are little communities of microbes throughout your dog’s body called the microbiome. They’re made up of microorganisms like bacteria, fungi and viruses. They live in your dog’s ears, on his skin, in his mouth, and in his respiratory tract. The vast majority of these bacteria (or microbes) live in your dog’s digestive system. The microbiome is so important to your dog’s health that it’s called the “forgotten organ”.

Your dog’s microbiome plays a key role not just in his nutrition, but in his health and happiness. The majority of the immune system resides in the gut and is reliant on beneficial bacteria. They produce vitamins, help in hormone production and compete with harmful bacteria.

The microbiome supports and protects your dog in these ways:

  • Protects against pathogens like parvovirus, distemper, yeast, E coli, salmonella, lepto and Lyme.
  • Forms a protective barrier against drugs, toxins, allergens and carcinogens.
  • Affects your dog’s mood and reflects stress and can disturb communication between the brain and the gut. This affects critical functions like the immune system.
  • Produces B vitamins, which metabolize carbohydrates, proteins and fats.
  • Produces short-chain fatty acids. These are used for the absorption of calcium, magnesium, iron and other minerals.
  • Is a critical part of the immune system that holds the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) forming 90% of the immune system.
  • Antibiotics kill the friendly bacteria in your dog’s microbiome. And that can lead to long-term illness, disease and perceived allergies.

    Your dog’s microbiome has another important role and that’s helping with digestion. That’s because beneficial bacteria in the microbiome help your dog produce enzymes for digestion. And that helps him better digest the nutrients in his food. It also leads to the production of B vitamins, including B12. In fact, the gut is the only place where B12 is manufactured.

    Once your dog’s food gets digested, nutrients move through the intestinal wall into your dog’s bloodstream. This provides energy support to cells throughout his body.

    Antibiotics will deplete vitamins B1, B2, B6, B12 C, E, K inositol and magnesium. This can lead to a list of health problems including:

  • Anemia
  • Diarrhea
  • Behavioral changes
  • Poor wound healing
  • Allergies
  • Weakened immune health
  • Oxidative stress
  • Nerve degeneration
  • Yeast
  • Irritable bowel syndrome
  • Leaky gut
  • If your dog is vitamin deficient it could show up as skin issues, lethargy, sickness and disease. Problems get worse when additional doses of antibiotics are given to treat problems caused by the initial dose.

    If you feed your dog a processed diet enriched with synthetic vitamins and minerals, you could have even more issues. That’s because these nutrients aren’t as bioavailable as the real thing. And why it’s critical to protect your dog’s vitamin stores.

    How to give your dog antibiotics

    You will need to give your dog antibiotics following the directions that your vet gives you. These will also be displayed on the packet. Be sure to finish the entire course of antibiotics.

    Antibiotics can come as:

  • tablets or liquids – best disguised in a tasty treat, like cheese, unless your vet has told you to give them without food
  • creams, sprays or drops – you may need the help of someone else to apply these, and be sure to have some tasty treats handy!
  • injections or through a drip – this option would always be handled by your vet
  • NOTE: Learn how to give your dog a tablet, drops and creams in our advice on caring for your sick dog. Our top tip is to give a treat, followed by another treat with the tablet in and end with another treat in quick succession. If you are struggling to give your dog their medication, speak to your vet who may be able to offer help.

    In some cases, your vet may request a follow-up appointment, but others won’t. So, if your dog’s condition hasn’t improved after the course of antibiotics, be sure to speak with your vet.

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