What Are Potential Side Effects of Antibiotics in Dogs?
Antibiotics can save lives, but they can also cause some side effects. If your vet has prescribed antibiotics for your dog, its because the benefits of antibiotic therapy outweigh the potential risks. In general, antibiotics may cause the following side effect in dogs:
Contact your vet if your dog is experiencing side effects from antibiotic therapy. Your vet may adjust the dose or switch to a different antibiotic.
There are specific adverse effects that veterinarians keep in mind when prescribing antibiotics:
Antibiotics cant distinguish beneficial bacteria from harmful bacteria, so they may disrupt the bodys microbiome balance. This can lead to gastrointestinal upset and skin issues like yeast infections. Probiotics may help replace a dogs beneficial bacteria and prevent problems caused by microbiome imbalance. Talk to your veterinarian about the appropriate use of probiotics for your dog.
While antibiotics are life-saving, they do not treat viruses. Historically, people and pets with viruses were prescribed antibiotics to prevent secondary infections—a practice that is no longer recommended. Antibiotic overuse in both human and veterinary medicine has enabled some bacteria to adapt and evolve into antibiotic-resistant superbugs that dont respond to traditional antibiotic therapy. This can make antibiotic therapy less effective for individual dogs. Even worse, it can pose a public health threat by making it more difficult to treat humans and other animals with diseases caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This is why your vet will only prescribe antibiotics when necessary and at the most appropriate dose based on recommended guidelines.
Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections in dogs and are among the most common types of medications prescribed for dogs. Infections can occur in any part of the body, including the skin, mouth, eyes, ears, urinary tract, lungs, and other organs. There are many different types of antibiotics available, as well as many different classes. Each class works in a different way against bacteria.
Not all antibiotics have the same side effects, though many share similar ones. Fortunately, most antibiotics are generally safe and rarely have serious effects on dogs. However, adverse effects can still occur. Here are some of the most common side effects of antibiotic use in dogs.
If your vet has prescribed antibiotics for your dog, ask about the potential side effects and whether or not there is a way to prevent them. Contact your vet if you notice any side effects giving antibiotics.
How long does itching last after antibiotics?
The rash is not contagious and usually begins to fade after 3 days but may take up to 6 days to disappear. People taking amoxicillin may also develop hives.
3 Problems With Antibiotics For Dogs
Theres a pretty good chance your dog will need to take antibiotics at some point, just like youve probably needed them for yourself. Antibiotics can save lives by destroying infection-causing bacteria, and humans have been using natural forms of them since ancient times. Since their scientific discovery and development during the 19th and 20th centuries, antibiotics have become a staple of modern medicine—both human and veterinary.
There are several different classes of antibiotics available for use in animals, including penicillins, cephalosporins, cephamycins, aminoglycosides, quinolones, sulfonamides, tetracyclines, and macrolides. The type of antibiotic used to treat a cut on the paw is not necessarily the same one needed to treat a UTI. Your veterinarian will choose the best class and type of antibiotic for the type of infection your dog has. The following are some of the more common antibiotics used in veterinary medicine: