Antibiotics

These are very useful drugs, but they have to be used carefully.  If used unnecessarily, the bacteria will become resistant, which would seriously affect pets and people.

Antibiotics fight off bacteria, which can cause problems such as infected wounds after a bite.  Antibiotics are only active against bacteria – they have no effect on parasites, fungal infections or viruses.  Moreover, many healthy pets and people can fight off bacterial infections without the need for antibiotics.

If antibiotics are used where they are not needed, a few bacteria might not be stopped in their tracks.  These will develop resistance to that particular drug and further use will allow this resistance to spread. Eventually the drug will become ineffective. This is already happening among the so-called 'super-bugs' such as MRSA, MRSP, ESBL-E. coli and Pseudomonas.

This is why your vet will not prescribe antibiotics in every case; they will save these drugs for occasions when they are really necessary. You can help by not asking your vet for antibiotics.

What to do if your pet is prescribed antibiotics?

It is important to give the whole course of treatment, even if you think that the infection has gone. Talk to your vet instead of stopping medicines just because your pet seems better.  If you don't get rid of all of the harmful bacteria the infection may recur and/or resistant bacteria may spread.  It's also important to give the correct number of tablets or capsules at the right time each day (this is usually every 12 or 24 hours).

To summarise: if your pet needs antibiotics you will be told the dose, when to give the drugs, and how long to give them for. Don't change anything without speaking to your vet first!