The animal must remain on antibiotics until the intestinal lining has healed enough to defend itself from further infection. Never use systemic antibiotics for fewer than 3 days in a row. Systemic antibiotics are all those given orally or by injection.
Dosing instructions
A typical dosage used by many vets is 5 to 10mg per pound. This means a 50-pound dog would need to take 500mg twice a day. This is usually given for 10 to 14 days. Sometimes this may even be given longer.
Even if your pet feels or looks better after a few days of the course, the bacterial infection may not have resolved completely. Stopping a course of antibiotics early risks bacteria failing to be eliminated from your pet and may result in a return of the illness. Acceleration of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).
Your dog's condition should improve within a few days. However, be sure to give your dog the full course of antibiotics according to your veterinarian's instructions to prevent reinfection and antibiotic resistance.
Typically, a minimum of three weeks of oral or injectable antibiotic therapy is required. If the proper antibiotic is chosen to kill the bacterial infection, the signs will subside within a week. However, if the antibiotic is stopped, these infections will flare up again and the results may be worse than first noticed.
Conversely, using antibiotics for prolonged periods of time, even at the proper dosage, can cause problems such as fungal infection or toxicity. Always follow the label or a veterinarian's instructions as to length of treatment.
Recovery from actinomycosis and other bacterial infections can take weeks to months. Your dog will need to be on a long course of antibiotics. Other medications may be prescribed for pain management. Your dog will need to be hospitalized for several days if surgical treatment is necessary.
Antibiotics can't distinguish beneficial bacteria from harmful bacteria, so they may disrupt the body's microbiome balance. This can lead to gastrointestinal upset and skin issues like yeast infections. Probiotics may help replace a dog's beneficial bacteria and prevent problems caused by microbiome imbalance.
The side effects that antibiotics cause, says Dr. Carlson, include the very uncomfortable leaky gut syndrome, diarrhea, vomiting, itching skin, yeast infections, behavioral issues, and more. However, gastrointestinal disorders, such as leaky gut syndrome, are the most common side effects of dogs on antibiotics.
In many pets, antibiotics can cause lethargy, nausea and/or a loss of appetite, which may make your pet less interested in eating their food. But it is crucial that your pet continues to eat, because their body needs the energy to continue fighting infection and repairing damaged cells.
According to the Infectious Disease Society of America's guidelines, the duration of treatment for bacterial infections should be 5 to 10 days. A meta-analysis completed in Britain determined that a 5-day course is as effective as a 10-day course.
If you forget to give your dog their antibiotics, give them that dose as soon as you remember and then continue their course as normal. But, if it's nearly time for their next dose, then skip the missed antibiotics and never double up to make up for a missed dose. Contact your vet for further advice.
Even if you are not feeling sick, the bacteria may still be present in your body, and you could start feeling sick again if you stop your antibiotic early. Another problem that may occur if you stop your antibiotic earlier than prescribed is antibiotic resistance.
To help your dog recover from antibiotic damage, feed a raw, whole food diet, and give probiotics with soil-based organisms and S. boulardii, a probiotic yeast that has been shown to heal the gut after antibiotics.
Antibiotics for dogs can kill the good bacteria, as well as the bad. In this case, there will be an internal imbalance of gut bacteria which might show itself as diarrhoea. The effects of this may not appear until sometime after, so it's important to keep an eye on your pooch.
Add a small serving of Greek yogurt on top of your dog's food. If your dog is taking antibiotics, offer him a few spoonfuls of Greek yogurt several hours after taking his medicine. You can buy probiotics made for canines and serve these instead of Greek yogurt.
Frequent urination or even trouble urinating at all could be a sign that your dog is experiencing antibiotic-resistance. Your dog's kidneys could be working overtime to compensate for the antibiotics not working, which could become a medical emergency.
Wrap up the capsule or tablet in a piece of cheese, or hide it in a small amount of canned dog food. (Don't try this one if your dog has to take it on an empty stomach.) Be sure to feed only a small amount so your dog takes the whole antibiotic. Some antibiotics, like tylosin, come in powder form.
Probiotics help promote the growth and survival of beneficial bacteria. So it makes sense that giving probiotics during and after a round of antibiotics would help balance your dog's microbiome. Probiotics with Lactobacillus bacteria can be very beneficial for your dog.
Antibiotics can certainly cause stomach upset in some animals. The most common side effects are vomiting and/or diarrhea. If she is not eating, be sure to contact your veterinarian, as sometimes infections can worsen even while under treatment with antibiotics.
Dogs are vulnerable to a range of bacterial infections that can affect the respiratory system, skin, ears, urinary tract, and kidneys. Most bacterial infections can be quickly cleared up with the right course of antibiotics or anti-inflammatory medication.
Top Antibiotics for Dogs
Amoxicillin/Clavulanate—This antibiotic combo is related to Penicillin and is used to treat a broad spectrum of bacterial infections, including skin infections, infections in the respiratory system, gastrointestinal infections, and genitourinary infections.
Traditionally, clinicians and health authorities advocate that patients should complete their full course of antibiotics as prescribed, even when their symptoms have improved, to prevent relapse of infection and the development of antibiotic resistance.