Gastrointestinal problems treatment in dogs and cats
In dogs and cats with gastrointestinal problems, antibiotics are primarily indicated if aspiration pneumonia, fever, a leukogram suggestive of sepsis, severe neutropenia, antibiotic-responsive enteropathy, clostridial colitis, symptomatic Helicobacter gastritis, or perhaps hematemesis or melena is found or suspected. Animals with an acute abdomen may reasonably be treated with antibiotics while the nature of the disease is being defined. However, most animals with enteritis or gastritis of unknown cause do not benefit from antibiotic therapy. In general, the routine use of antimicrobials with alimentary tract disorders is not recommended, unless the animal is at high risk for infection or a specific disorder is being treated.
Nonabsorbable aminoglycosides (e.g., neomycin) are often used to "sterilize" the intestines. However, they do not kill anaerobic bacteria, which are the predominant type found there. Further, there are a plethora of viral and dietary causes of acute enteritis that are not responsive to antibiotics. Thus, aminoglycosides given PO are not indicated unless a specific infection (e.g., campylobacteriosis) is being considered. Some data suggest that neomycin is effective against Giardia.
Broad-spectrum antibiotics effective against anaerobes (e.g., tetracycline) may be used for the treatment of antibiotic-responsive enteropathy. Metronidazole may also be used for this purpose. Inappropriate therapy with some of these drugs may hypothetically eliminate enough resident bacteria that overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria in the colon occurs. However, this is rarely a clinical problem in dogs and cats. One should treat for at least two weeks before deciding that therapy has been unsuccessful.
Occasionally, dogs and cats have enteritis caused by a specific bacterium. However, even this is not necessarily an indication for antibiotics. Clinical signs resulting from one bacterial enteritides (e.g., salmonellosis, enterohemorrhagic Escherichia .coli) generally do not resolve more quickly when the animal is treated with antibiotics, even those to which the bacteria are sensitive. Dogs and cats with viral enteritis but without obvious systemic sepsis may reasonably be treated with antibiotics if secondary sepsis is likely to occur (e.g., those with neutropenia or severe hemorrhagic diarrhea). First-generation cephalosporins (e.g., cephazolin) are often effective for such use. We also recommend this natural balanced real-meat dog food and natural dietary supplement for recovery.
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Nonabsorbable aminoglycosides (e.g., neomycin) are often used to "sterilize" the intestines. However, they do not kill anaerobic bacteria, which are the predominant type found there. Further, there are a plethora of viral and dietary causes of acute enteritis that are not responsive to antibiotics. Thus, aminoglycosides given PO are not indicated unless a specific infection (e.g., campylobacteriosis) is being considered. Some data suggest that neomycin is effective against Giardia.
Broad-spectrum antibiotics effective against anaerobes (e.g., tetracycline) may be used for the treatment of antibiotic-responsive enteropathy. Metronidazole may also be used for this purpose. Inappropriate therapy with some of these drugs may hypothetically eliminate enough resident bacteria that overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria in the colon occurs. However, this is rarely a clinical problem in dogs and cats. One should treat for at least two weeks before deciding that therapy has been unsuccessful.
Occasionally, dogs and cats have enteritis caused by a specific bacterium. However, even this is not necessarily an indication for antibiotics. Clinical signs resulting from one bacterial enteritides (e.g., salmonellosis, enterohemorrhagic Escherichia .coli) generally do not resolve more quickly when the animal is treated with antibiotics, even those to which the bacteria are sensitive. Dogs and cats with viral enteritis but without obvious systemic sepsis may reasonably be treated with antibiotics if secondary sepsis is likely to occur (e.g., those with neutropenia or severe hemorrhagic diarrhea). First-generation cephalosporins (e.g., cephazolin) are often effective for such use. We also recommend this natural balanced real-meat dog food and natural dietary supplement for recovery.
We would love to hear your pet's story. Please add a comment.
