House cats can contract a variety of infections, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s okay to open up your medicine cabinet and reach for a bottle of penicillin to treat the contagion. The inner workings of a cat aren’t the same as ours, so giving your pet any type of medication made specifically for humans must be done with caution and most importantly, with the consent of your cat’s veterinarian.
Cat owners mistakenly believe that if a drug such as penicillin is safe enough for humans to consume, it should be just as safe for their feline friend, but that’s absolutely incorrect. In today’s economy, scheduling a trip to the vet can be incredibly expensive; so many owners take it upon themselves to find ways to treat whatever it is their cat is experiencing and the medication readily available in your household also becomes medication for your cat.
The practice of diagnosing and treating your cat on your own is incredibly dangerous that you might end up doing more harm than good. But, if you’re the type of person who likes to get a better idea of things before taking your cat to the vet then you are free to get all the information you need.
Can I Give My Cat Penicillin? Answer: Yes, As Directed
Because penicillin is a general antibiotic, it can actually be used on anyone and anything as long as there is no allergic reaction to the drug. House pets such as cats are typically miniature in size compared to humans, so the dosage to be administered to your pet would have to be much smaller than the recommended for humans. Medication such as penicillin does require a prescription therefore a trip to the veterinarian’s office for a quick check-up is still required before you can make the purchase at your local drug store.
Can My Cat Experience Side Effects?
Your cat may or may not experience side effects. It really depends on the way their body reacts to the medication. All medications come with some type of side effect. In this case, some of the side effects that one (including your cat) may encounter are the following: fever, nausea, vomiting, hypersensitivity, rashes and seizures. You can avoid all this by making sure you give the right dosage of penicillin. If side effects still occur, it would be best to talk to your vet about an alternative medication to treat your cat.
What Type of Penicillin is Normally Used for Cats?
There is actually a wide range of penicillin available in the market. You have the natural penicillin, penicillinase-resistant penicillin, aminopenicillins and extended spectrum penicillin. Natural penicillin was the first to be used in clinical studies and is widely prescribed for oral infections such as strep throat or meningitis. Pencillinase-resistant penicillin deals with a narrower spectrum and is usually prescribed for staph infections.
Aminopenicillins were the first to be deemed effective towards the eradication of gram-negative bacteria like the highly recognized E. coli. Those who usually take aminopenicillins often suffer from mild infections such as sinusitis, diarrhea and bronchitis. Extended spectrum penicillins work exactly like aminopenicillins do, but have a broader spectrum.
The newer aminopenicillin, amoxicillin, is highly suggested for cats and that is because it is acid-resistant therefore it can be taken orally. This is very convenient as you won’t have to take your cat back and forth from the vet to get antibiotic shots.
How Can I Get My Cat to Take Penicillin?
Trying to get your pet to take medicine isn’t an easy job especially if your pet is a cat. Topical ointments are greatly effective since you apply the medication directly where it’s needed, but good luck trying to keep your cat still. The best way to give your cat medication is orally by mixing it with their food.
Regardless of whether you’re using a liquid form of penicillin or tablet form, all you have to do is open a can of your cat’s favorite mix and combine the medication with it. Your cat will never know the difference. Just make sure that you add more cat food than medication to avoid altering the taste as your cat might walk away from the whole scene entirely.
I can’t afford a vet. My cat has a respiratory infection that will not go away. I have three pills left over. It’s a capsule. I was thinking of giving him 1/10 of the powder in her food.
If you have a scale at home, weigh him. Give him 0.1ml per lb of body weight. Try Mox Forte. Works best with respiratory infections. Get the 500mg capsules, mix 3 caps with 30ml of water, give dosage based on body weight 2 times a day, till gone. Refrigerate.
How about liquid penicillin? What would be the dosage for kittens, given orally?
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