Table of Contents
Introduction
Penicillin is among the few medicines that can be prescribed both to humans and dogs. In fact, this was the first ever antibiotic made available to humans during World War II.
But for both humans and dogs, you can’t buy this over the counter and needs to be prescribed by a doctor or a vet, respectively.
When your dog needs penicillin, many of you will probably wonder, how it works, what exactly does it cure, and most of all, how much penicillin to give a dog. Read on to find out.
What is penicillin?
To those who have not one ounce of idea about what penicillin is, allow me to enlighten you. Penicillin is a drug, an antibiotic to be exact. It is used to treat all sorts of infection, be it internal or external, that is caused by bacteria.
As stated, this can also be prescribed to humans. Initially, it was proven effective against positive-gram bacteria but later on was found to be easily influenced by stomach acid and as a result, is wasted inside the body.
Side Effects
Just like any other drug, Penicillin can have negative side effects. While they might be rare, it is important for you to know what these are.
In worst cases, the side effect can even be greater than the initial infection. Your dog can experience flatulence or diarrhea and vomiting and in some dogs, fungi can even develop.
There is also the risk that bacteria can grow resistant to the drug. This happens when the treatment is administered over a long period of time or when there is sudden discontinuation of the treatment.
Furthermore, your dog can also feel itchiness; can experience hair loss and irritable bowel movement.
Other side effects may include:
- Weakening of immune system
- Kidney damage
- Liver damage
- Halitosis
- Skin lesions
Some dogs can also be allergic to Penicillin and will have instant allergic reactions. These can involve difficulty in breathing.
In some instances, they might even go into shock. You’re going to have to take them to a vet immediately as they will need professional medical help in these types of situations.
How does it work?
Penicillin cures an infection by preventing bacteria, the very cause of the infection, from being able to create a cell wall. This cell wall is what ultimately causes the infection. This is achieved by having the linking of the major parts of a cell wall, obstructed.
What does it cure?
In general, there are four types of bacteria that cause external and internal infections in dogs. These tiny microbes are fungi, viruses, bacterial infections, and parasites.
As a standard procedure, in order for the vet to know what correct drug to prescribe, he will need to find out what kind of bacteria is causing your dog to be unwell.
The most common infections that can be treated by penicillin include, but are not limited to, urinary tract infection, respiratory infections, kidney infections, and skin problems.
To enable the correct diagnosis, sometimes your vet will take a small blood sample for testing but in the majority of instances, the vet has enough knowledge to analyze your dog’s symptoms and know what to prescribe.
Albeit, the vet will have to undergo a urine test process, in order, to determine if your dog’s urine has been contaminated or has been infected with any bacteria.
How much penicillin to give a dog?
Dosage of medicine can be determined by a dog’s weight and age, among other things. So how much is the ultimate amount that will fight your dog’s bacteria? Penicillin can come in many forms.
Oral medication is used to treat canine urinary infections. On the other hand, it is also available as an injection, especially when treating heavily ill pets. Although penicillin is available both to dogs and humans; do not give your dog the same drug as for humans.
As a prescribed drug, it cannot be bought over the counter without a prescription. Meaning that the truth is that the ultimate amount is to be determined by your vet, and by him only, depending on your dog’s condition.
Self-prescribing your dog based on self-knowledge or internet info can lead to more damage. Upon noticing any signs of discomfort, do not hesitate to consult his vet immediately for further treatment.
Conclusion
Penicillin, an antibiotic used to cure infections, is among the few drugs that can both be prescribed to humans and dogs. But never self-prescribe your pet or give him your own Penicillin drug.
As any with drug, Penicillin may cause your dog to experience side effects, so consult with his vet immediately.
Check out a related article, “Best Dog Flea Pills Reviewed.”
If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please don’t hesitate to leave them down below.