Dosages for Dogs of Human Medicines
Some human medicines can be used for dogs and cats. You can see a list here. For use in dogs, here are a few human meds and the dosage to use for dogs.
Always check with your veterinarian before administering any drugs to your pets.
| Medicine | Canine Dosage | Used for |
| Buffered Aspirin | 5 mg per lb every 12 hrs | Pain relief, anti-inflammatory |
| Vitamin B | ½ to 2 ml subcutaneously every 24 hrs | Used as an appetite stimulant |
| Benadryl | Up to 2 mg per lb every 8 hrs | Treat allergies, itching, etc. |
| Dramamine | Up to 50 mg every 8 hrs | Used to reduce motion (car) sickness |
| Hydrogen Peroxide 3% | 10 ml by mouth every 15 minutes | Used to induce vomiting after accidental ingestion of poison |
| Epinephrine 1:1000 | 1/10 to ½ ml intramuscular or subcutaneously | Used to treat reactions following insect stings, bites or medications |
| Pepto Bismol | 1 teaspoon per 5 lbs every 6 hrs | Used to relieve vomiting or stomach gas, diarrhea |
| Mylanta | Dogs: 1 tsp every 4-6 hours for dogs less than 20 lbs; 2 tsp every 4-6 hours for dogs 21-50 lbs; and 3 tsp every 4-6 hours for dogs greater than 51 lbs. |
Used for upset stomach and gas problems |
| Di Gel Liquid | Up to 4 tablespoons every 8 hrs | Antacid and anti-gas |
| Mineral Oil | Up to 4 tablespoons daily | Used to eliminate constipation |
| Kaopectate | 1 ml per lb every 2 hrs | For diarrhea (Not for cats!) |
ANTIBIOTICS |
||
| Amoxicillin | 5 mg per lb every 12 hrs | Treats bacterial infections |
| Ampicillin | 10 mg per lb every 6 hrs | Treats bacterial infections |
| Tetracycline | 10 mg per lb every 8 hrs | Treats bacterial infections |
| Penicillin | 5-10 mg per lb, 1-4 times per day | Treats bacterial infections |
| PEN BP-4each ml includes 150,000 units each of penicillin G. Benzathine/Penicillin G. Procaine | 1 cc per 20 lbs every 48 hrs subcutaneously | Treats bacterial infections |
| Procaine Penicillin300,000 units per ml | 1 ml per 30 lbs subcutaneously | Fights bacterial infections |
| Erythromycin tablets | 5 mg per lb every 8 hrs | Fights bacterial infections |
Source: Delilah Penn
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My dog recently got into a bad dog fight the other night; the dogs took a chunk off her forehead. We have been home-treating it bc the vet is booked for 4 month!? Today we gave my dog amoxicillin (500mg) at 3:30ish, HOWEVER, I mistook the directions of giving her the pill evry 12 hrs and accidentaly gave her another dosage at 10pm. My dog is approx. 70-85lbs. Is my accidentaly extra dosage going to hurt her? My mother is actually going to stay up tonight to keep an eye…but i wanted to cover my bases by asking you and/or researching it. I hope it doesnt hurt her and I hope you can get back to me as soon as you can.
The extra amoxicillin should not hurt her, though it will deplete the good bacteria in her gut. You can give her some plain yogurt (no fruit because it has sugar that can ferment in her stomach). Then hold off on the amoxicillin for a day. The recommended dose of amoxicillin in dogs and cats is 5-10mg/pound every 12-24 hours.
For her bit wound on her head, flush the wound out with salt water 2-3 times a day. Salt has natural anti-bacterial properties. It will be quite effective. You can use it for any other bites she may have as well. You can use a wash cloth soaked in warm salt water (2 tsp of salt to one cup of warm water). Two to five times a day, hold the compress against the wound — 5 minutes on, 5 minutes off until the wash cloth cools. You can also fill a turkey baster or syringe (without the needle) with the salt water mixture, then squirt it gently into the wound until the liquid runs out clear.
Can I give my dog flagyl for inplace of amoxicillin because he got parvo and I am homeless so I don’t have money for the vet I just want my doggy better he’s all I have in this world so I was wondering if I can use flagyl for inplace of the amoxicillin if so how much do I give him he’s about six months old
I’m so sorry to be so slow getting back to you. I had a pet emergency here at my end.
If your dog has parvo, an antibiotic may not help. Flagyl is for bacterial infections and parvo is a virus. An anti-nausea medication would be better.
The biggest problem with parvo is that it causes diarrhea and vomiting which dehydrates a dog. Most dogs need about an ounce of fluids per pound of body weight per day, so for example, a 10-pound dog needs a bit over a cup of clean water daily. If your dog has diarrhea and is vomiting, that amount goes up for the extra loss caused by the diarrhea and vomiting. The vomiting may also cause your dog to not want to eat or drink because his stomach is upset. In that case, you will need to administer fluids in small amounts frequently with an oral syringe (syringe with no needle).
Parvo can get ugly before it gets better, so come up with a schedule for giving him clean water — maybe once an hour — and do not quit! You just don’t know when he will turn the corner to getting better.
Give the water in small amounts because to much at once may make him throw up.
Ihave500mgcapsuleofhuman amoxicillan how do i measure fora10pound dog divide the powder into 10 equal parts?my chihuahua has an abscess under his eyes swollen and his face like he has a broken toothI need help I have no way to take him to the vet and it’s 3 a.m. in the morning and it’s getting redder and more swollen please tell me how to give him some of the antibiotic
Yes, that’s sounds correct. Dosage on 10 lbs would be 50 mg. Good luck. It may take a couple doses before you see a change.
Macrobid is the Brand name for nitrofurantoin, it’s generic name. In the past, nitrofurantoin was the drug of choice by veterinarians to treat dogs suffering from Kennel Cough. Newer, more effective drugs eventually replaced nitrofurantoin.
So other that 100 mg being a somewhat high dose for a poodle, it should be safe. Possible side effect would be an upset stomach.
My elderly pug has a history of UTI’s. I’m fairly positive she has one now – she’s been urinating much more frequently and hasn’t always made it outside, and it has that ammonia-like smell. I tried to get the vet to just call in antibiotics but they said they need to see her. We’re a bit tight on funds due to our own medical bills, but I have some children’s amoxicillin at home. I know I’ve given that to her in the past (prescribes by the vet) but I don’t remember the dosage. She weighs 18-20 pounds. What would the dosage be and for how long?
Be sure to check the mg of the amoxicillin you have. Amoxicillin is available in 250mg and 500mg capsules. The recommended dose of amoxicillin in dogs (and cats) is 5-10mg/pound every 12-24 hours.
Hello I suspect my 2yr old Pug has an ear infection, her ear smells really bad and she has brown discharge. Can I give her children’s amoxicillin?
You can, but you should also manually clean her ear out. Clean out as much as you can with a clean q-tip but be careful that you do not poke the q-tip in too far. Once that is done, clean the ear with a solution of 50/50 white vinegar and water. The vinegar will neutralize the yeast in her ears. You may need to do the cleaning daily for a few days. The amoxicillin will help from the inside out, but you will speed things up by cleaning the ear from the outside as well. The usual dose of amoxicillin in dogs and cats is 5-10 mg/lb every 12-24 hours.
Hi, my pit bull seems to have a rash of some sort. Across his entire stomach and groin area and he’s very itchy seems miserable. It’s very Red and he’s constantly scratching. It isn’t flea related as I’ve checked him. He does have seasonal allergies as every summer his skin gets very dry. I’ve been giving him benedryl and rubbing coconut oil on him. It looked like it was improving but this morning it looked irritated again so I gave him a half a pill of an antibitiotic I had here at my home which was Amox-Clav 875/125 tablets I was prescribed. Now I’m wondering if I shouldn’t have done that. He weighs about 90 lbs. Is this okay to give him ? And is there any other home remedies I can safely use on him?
It shouldn’t hurt him, but you will need to do it for a few days to see any result. You can wash the area with a warm saltwater solution containing 2 teaspoons of table salt per cup of warm water. Soak the irritated area with the solution or put a warm, wet cloth on the area for 20 minutes (if possible) three times a day. Salt is naturally anti-bacterial. You could also try rinsing the area with a 50/50 solution of white vinegar and water to stop the itch. It’s a difficult area to work on because he will lick it. Maybe you need to put an e-collar on him for a few days while you try to treat the problem.
10 pound male dog penis is swollen I think got something in there vet said warm compress he has vet appt tomorrow I have a couple penicillin vk 500 mg tablets would it be ok to give him some of one?
Not knowing the cause, I would not give him the penicillin. Let the vet do an exam and determine the right direction to go. You can, however, run it by the vet and if he approves, he can tell you the correct dosage. 500mg is way more than he would otherwise be prescribed for his weight (generally 5-10 mg per lb).
Hi sorry for my english.. we have an almost 30kls husky..4years old. how much dosage of co-amoxiclacv should I give to him. I have here is a 250mg/62.5mg co-amoxiclacv. Apology as I dont know how to compute for the dosage. thanks
A reasonable dose rate for co-amoxiclav in the dog would be 6.25 mg per lb of your dog’s body weight twice a day for a five day course.
I have an almost 55lb 1 year old blue pit bull. She was rough housing with our other dog & lost an entire nail on her front paw & it is super swollen & looks to be getting infected. Can I give her amoxicillin to fight the infection until we can make an appt?
Yes, the recommended dose of amoxicillin in dogs and cats is 5-10mg/pound every 12-24 hours. You can also rinse the nail with a salt water solution: soak the wounded area in warm water or put a warm, wet cloth on the wound for 20 minutes three times a day. Use a warm saltwater solution containing 2 teaspoons of table salt per cup of warm water.
How do l treat 5yr Bishon Frise with Augmentin as waiting to see vet for 3 doses clavaseptin 200 mg/50mg he has subhaematoma on 3of his paws has had 5 day treatment already also antibiotic ointment to apply Thanks
I’m not sure what you are asking. Does he have an infected hematoma on his paw? The dose of amoxicillin ranges from 5 to 12 mg per pound (10 to 25 mg/kg) two or three times a day orally. (source)
However Augmentin does not always work well with other antibiotics, so its best to check with your vet and/or let them know you have used Augmentin in the meanwhile.
Hi Isak,
Our 7 year old desexed female Great Dane had symptoms of blood in her urine. After the vet doing blood and urine tests, she has been diagnosed to have a urinary tract infection.
The treatment is Amoxyclav 500 .
She weighs 68 kilograms/150 pounds.
The proposed dosage is 2 tablets, twice per day for 28 days.
Does this sound correct to you?
Thanks for your advice,
Jim
Yes, that sounds okay. Treatment with Amoxyclav is generally 5-7 days, but some conditions like urinary infections may require longer treatment schedules. It’s recommended that the treatment does not exceed 30 days.
150 pounds, eh? That’s a lot of dog! 🙂
My dog has been hit by a car and he needs to take antibiotics the vet prescribed amoksiklav/amoxicillin for human 875mg
My dog is 18.5kg on how many parts should I break the pill he beeds to take twice a day ??
I’m so sorry to hear this. I hope he will be okay. Your vet can best tell you the proper dosage. However, based on the chart above and his weight, he should get 1/4 pill every 12 hours. Best to him and a speedy recovery.
Hi Good day!
Our Shih tzu was dignosed with UTI, how much co amoxiclav in ml should we give?
He is 5 kls. And 1y.o and 5mos.
Thank you so much!
Salyn
The recommended oral dosage of amoxicillin/clavulanic acid per kg of bodyweight is 12.5 mg twice daily for skin and soft tissue and urinary tract infections, and 13.75 mg twice daily for gingivitis. source
Hello! My vet prescribed clindamycin. Unfortunately, I dropped the bottle in a puddle and all the important stuff is hard to read, and I’ve been trying to get in touch with my vet with no answer. They are 25mg tablets and my dog is 20lbs. I have no idea how many days. I do remember her saying give 2 doses as soon as I bring the dog home and feed her. Oh, and it’s for a tooth infection. Hopefully, they get back to me soon, but just in case I’ll ask here too.
Dropping the meds in a puddle… that sounds like something I would do. Apologies for the delay getting back to you. Vets usually prescribe a dose of 5 mg/pound (11 mg/kg) at a 12-hour interval. This can go up to 10 mg/pound (22 mg/kg) at 24-hour intervals. Give the dog some water after giving the pill to wash it down.
and which antibiotic i can give the dog dat will also work for the puppies
Again, if you are doing this without cause and just as a preventative measure, I do not recommend it. If you are doing this to prevent a virus — like parvo — this is not the way to do it.
the reason is that i want my dam and puppies to be healthy.i don’t want to lose any puppies because i don’ want any bateriel to kill the puppies from the mother milk
Do you suspect there is bacteria in the mother’s milk that will cause a problem or is this a preventive measure? If this is a preventative measure, I do not recommend giving them antibiotics. There are important antibodies in the mother’s milk that you could negatively affect through antibiotic usage.
If the mother has a bacterial infection of the breast, you should have her looked at by your vet who can prescribe the appropriate course of action. If the breast infection is not too severe, your dog’s puppies may be allowed to continue nursing (this is the ideal option, as it is best for the health of both mother and puppies), unless the glands contain dead tissue, or because the mother is systemically ill and it is not safe for her or the puppies to nurse. Often, veterinarians recommend that you apply warm compress and milk out the affected gland(s) several times daily to keep the milk ducts clear.
Further, different antibiotics affect different bacteria. So if you simply dose her with an antibiotic because you think there is a problem, you may be introducing a drug into her system that is also entering the puppies system that has nothing to do with the problem you want to address.
my dog just give birth today so i want to ask may be i can give her some human antibiotic and will not have any side affect with the dog and puppies
No. The antibiotics will ultimately end up in the milk her babies drink and there is no way to monitor the dosage they will get.
Why do you feel the mother dog needs antibiotics? Is there something going on with her? If so, let’s see if there is another option.
Hi I was just reading Tzul’s comment about his Lhaso Apso dogs. Alarm bells fired right away and I was concerned about poisoning (maybe the dogs got into something, or maybe there was an issue with their food, as well as the possibility of communicable disease). At the very least, those are some extremely serious symptoms in Dog #1. I would scoop dog #2 up right away and get him to the vet before the same fate befalls him. I would not even try to feed him yet; I think he might need IV support at the point that Tzul described. Dog #2 vomiting twice in one day after losing the first dog as he did- I don’t think he should wait to take the dog in for a workup including blood tests. I worry about his kidney function especially. I hope he did not lose his second dog. If you wait too long to take him in, the dog can pass the point of no return. 🙁 Have you heard back from Tzul?
We just lost our Dog #1 (a shibu inu) a few months ago to an acute gall bladder condition. Emergency surgery could not save her. Shiba Inu #2 was depressed but he actually recovered more quickly than you would think.
I have a 13 year old toy poodle who just recently her tooth fell out and a friend told me she might have an infection in her gums, I have erythromycin for human can I give it to her, she is 11 lbs, Im trying to find a clinic that can help me since Im on a fixed budget, I so upset that this is happening, please help
Different antibiotics treat different bacteria. I’m not sure that erythromicine woud be the best choice, but maybe it’s all you have? Clindamycin would be the first choice and also Metronidazole and Amoxicillin/Clavulanate.
Erythromycin Dosage for Dogs and Cats: 2.25-9 mg/pound by mouth (tablet, capsule, oral suspension) every 8 hours. Duration of treatment depends on reason for treatment and response to treatment. Do not use in combination with clindamycin, lincomycin, chloramphenicol, or penicillin. Food decreases the absorption of erythromycin, but small meals may need to be given with the medication to decrease side effect of affecting appetite.
Hi,
I have a pup 12 weeks old now who has been diagnosed with kennel cough. Shes had a course of anti biotics and cough mixture and her cough is still active.
Am i able at all to give my pup co-amoxiclav 500/125mg tablets and bendril as a homely remedy?
So worried if anyone can help would be great..
It’s concerning that the first round of antibiotics did not work. Kennel cough is a group disease with a number of causes — some bacterial, some viral. If you are dealing with a bacterial form then there would be a number of antibiotics which could be effective. For example penicillin, oxytetracycline, ampicillin and yes co-amoxiclav and derivatives like it. If you are dealing with a viral form then it will just run it’s course but antibiotics may still be useful as they will prevent secondary infections and yes co-amoxiclav could be used.
A reasonable dose rate for co-amoxiclav in the dog would be 6.25 mg per lb of your dog’s body weight twice a day for a five day course.
However, you should check with your vet in case there is some other attributing cause.
We have two Boy Lhasa apso brothers. One sadly passed away 5 days ago, no symptoms up until 24 hours prior. Vomited once and after passing bloody came out of his bottom. Now his brother is depressed, not eating or drinking. I’ve been giving him droppers of water and chicken broth. He vomited twice today, afraid we don’t know what the other dog had, and perhaps it’s contagious? Gave him ampicillin as a procaution. Any thoughts?
I’m so sorry for your loss. It’s really not uncommon for dogs to mourn the loss of a companion.
What is their age? Have they been anywhere new recently that they may have picked something up? You might try Friskies Turkey & Giblet cat food. That sometimes tastes good to dogs. And also Gerber #2 Chicken and gravy (it’s just chicken and water, no onions). As for water, a good general guideline is that a healthy dog should drink between ½ and 1 ounce of water per pound of body weight each day.
Is he urinating? How do his bowel movements look? Any blood in them? Are they firm or soft? If he continues to seem depressed, it might be a good idea to have the vet check him because tomorrow is a holiday and they will be closed.
Thanks Isak! I will look online for those litmus strips. Thanks again!
This is a follow-up to last night’s situation regarding Missy. I gave her over 1/2 cup of plain greek yogurt, to which I added 2T of ACV. (I should not have added so much but I remember “Grandma’s” advise — except it was for a much larger dog than mine).
She wouldn’t eat the dried cranberries. I gave her a bit less than 1/3 of my 500 mg Amoxicillin.
It was 2:30 in the morning, but she slept through til 9:30 when I awoke. She did not pester me to go out. She slowly looked for a place to go and she urinated while I held the container under her, hoping to give it to the clinic. There was no blood on the tissue after dabbing her and she has not had to go again yet today!
For breakfast I gave her some wet food with added water, more yogurt, sprinkled with dried cranberries and only 1 teaspoon of ACV.
She has had her 2nd dose of Amoxicillin and I think these natural remedies are doing the trick! I took her urine in to the clinic, but they would not test it, saying if the doctor didn’t order it then I must go in for an exam. So I went to PetSmart and they did not have any testing paper for dogs. Aquariums, yes, and for litter boxes, but not for dogs. I’m in the process of calling around to other stores.
I am asking what to do next, and for how long should I give her the Amoxicillin, and shall I continue giving her the yogurt and ACV every day or once a week or at what intervals. I am so glad that you have this site and that I was lucky enough to find it. Please let me know how to proceed. Thank you!
Glad to hear the good news. I think you caught it early. Good for you!
The general length of treatment with amoxicillin is 5 to 7 days or for 48 hours after symptoms subside. It won’t hurt to continue the yogurt every day, but maybe back off the ACV to every other day. What can happen is that ACV can throw the pH level off which could create other problems. You can buy pH strips to check the pH of her urine. You just hold them under the stream as she pees. The best time to test is the first pee of the day. In healthy dogs, urine pH should be in the 6.0 to 6.5 range. Some dogs have no problem with daily ACV, but it’s worth keeping an eye on.
My 6 year old 30-lb. female beagle/shihtzu mix has had symptoms of a UTI for the first time for a few days. I did not realize it until today, when I saw faint color in her urine after peeing on a white towel I have by the front door and it smelled like awful fish. I was gone for 8 hours and it is her first time going in the house (at least as close to the front door as possible). I saw a few droplets going up the stairs. About an hour later, she urinated again on a throw-rug, and it looked a bit more like a clot. I am wiping her with a cloth.
I read all your postings and I gave her yogurt that has 7 live active cultures along with Bragg’s ACV. She won’t drink the cranberry juice. She eats grain-free kibble and 1/4-1/3 can wet food per day along with some chopped chicken I give her and the cat. I have dried cranberries so I will see if she will eat that, too.
She did get into the kitchen trash on Thursday, and could have had something bad for her, but I think her symptoms started earlier than that (finding the right place to go outside, not eating unless it’s chicken, some lethargy), but her playtime with me and the cat appears the same. I’m debating whether to run to the vet in the morning or to try some home things first with your guidance.
You mentioned to someone that they can give Amoxicillin, but there was no amount given. I have 500 mg capsules. How much could I give her? Is it 150 mg every 12 hours? Would it be ok to home treat her for a day or two before going to the vet? I’m retired on a fixed income, but naturally would sacrifice for her to be well. She has had no issues before this. Thought maybe could have picked something up from outside, as there are many dogs that use this courtyard, not everyone picking up after their pet. Please address these concerns. Thank you for having this site, as I just saw it a couple of hours ago.
The general recommended dosage of amoxicillin for dogs is 5 mg per lb every 12 hrs. So your thought of 150 mg every 12 hours is correct. Many dogs do not like the bitterness of cranberries and generally, cranberries are most effective as a preventative because cranberry is believed to keep the bacteria from adhering to the walls of the bladder and are more easily flushed out of the system. Good luck!
It actually looks and feels a bit better this morning after the dose of injectable pen last night. The swelling has gone down a little too, which surprised me, and it’s draining a bit through the stitches. So should I take the stitches out then? Or just one at the top and at the bottom to allow an opening for flushing it? I don’t have enough amoxicillin to last another week, which I forgot to mention. If I continue with the injectable, should I do once a day because of how bad it is or do 48 hrs between doses? Thank you so much for your quick response and straighforward help!!!!
You might try removing the top and bottom stitch first. That will give you room to inject salt water until what drains looks clear. As for the injected antibiotics, make sure you are dosing it correctly for your dogs weight. At high doses, it may decrease appetite and cause stomach and intestine problems. I tend to lean towards using the amoxicillin you have on hand first.
Sorry, forgot to add that I also have Liquamycin LA-200. I know that antibiotics are limited to their respective scopes, but I’m looking for whatever the broadest, most powerful antibiotic/combination would be for typical dog bite wounds on dogs. The alternative, like I said, is putting her down, so I need a hail Mary right about now. Thanks again!
Try the hail Mary salt water flush first. She likely has good antibiotics flowing through her system (keep them up until gone), but needs more attention to the wound itself. I suspect there is dirt close into the wound that can be removed and will get her back on track.
ps… remind the old girl that’s she’s not as young as she once was and to have YOU go after the much younger ones. 🙂
My 12 year old dog, about 60lbs, tried going after a much younger dog. As a result, she has a 3″ gash on her neck. She ripped the first stitches out, restitched yesterday. It’s been draining a lot, but I think the new stitches are holding it a bit better cause the drainage isn’t happening as freely and the area is engorged with fluid. She got a script for 500mg/amoxicillin/2xdayx10days, which she’s been on for a week, but it doesn’t seem to be working. I can’t afford a trip to the vet, if I can’t fix this myself I’ll have to put her down. I drained the fluid today and switched her to pen bp-4, 3ml. Now I’m waiting. I also have doxycycline.
My questions: should I give it to her each 24 hrs or 48 hrs? Would doxycycline be more effective? If so, what dose? Or would it be better to just use a higher dose of amoxicillin? If so, what dose? I’m at a loss, just holding my breath and praying that the infection can be controlled. Thank you!!
I would stay the course for another week with the amoxicillin. The problem with stitching such a wound shut is that if it has not been thoroughly cleansed, you are closing bacteria inside a dark, moist envirnonment where they will thrive. Sometimes a vet will insert a tube so the wound will drain.
Flush the wound 2-3 times a day with salt water. Add 2 tsp of sea salt to 1 cup warm tap water, and stir until it dissolves. Fill a turkey baster or syringe (without the needle) with the mixture, then squirt it gently into the wound until it’s clean. The tissue should be clear and glistening before you stop flushing the wound. Salt has anti-bacterial properties.
If the surface of the wound seems to be getting too dry from the flushing, you can apply some Neosporin to the outside of it.
This rinse will help you address the problem at the source which is what I think you need right now. If the stitches are preventing good drainage on its own, that is where your problem is coming from. Be sure you can flush this out thoroughly.
My 25lb mixed breed dog has a lump on her stomach about the size of a cherry which is now leaking and looks infected…..i have penicillin pills for humans…what dosage should i give her??
What kind of penicillin and what strength is it?
Soak a cloth in some warm salted water and hold that on her lump for about 10-15 minutes, then dry the area and apply some Neosporin ointment. Do this twice a day for 2-3 days. Salt has antibacterial properties and will help with the infection.
If it is leaking, you might try to gently squeeze it to get the liquid inside to come out after you soak it with the salt water compress. It may be a mixture of pus and blood, so be careful and proceed gently.
We have a Tea-cup Yorkie and she weighs about 4 pounds. Can we dilute the amoxicillin in water and give it to her in an eye dropper and how long with the medicine be good once it is diluted in water.
It tends to have a bitter taste. What works for me is mixing it in a bit of sour cream or plain yogurt. Or even Gerber #2 chicken baby food (it contains only chicken and water). If you feed canned food and she is a good eater, you may be able to stir it into her food.
Because of the bitter taste, I would mix it “to order”, just before you use it so it doesn’t permeate whatever you mix it with.
Have a hound mix, 10yrs old, rarely ever had nails trimmed, now they over grew, were cut yet he is still shedding them, all back have fallen out. And now front are starting, he cannot walk paw pads have bleeding and he is losing hair around paws…any recommendations? I have been giving him ampicilin for nearly a week now and paws are healing as far as the bleeding goes and back nails are begining to come in again.
It could be a fungal infection (although those tend to involve just one or two toes, not all of them), or a bacterial infection or vitamin B deficiency, etc. And some antibiotics may not be strong enough for certain infectious agents. Another disease process that causes toe nails to fall off/be unhealthy, is Symmetrical Lupoid Onychodystrophy. It is an autoimmune disease in which the body attacks its own toe nails, because it thinks they are foreign or a threat, and launches an attack against them. It is generally treated with steroids, antibiotics, omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, and vitamin E.
I’m not sure how this relates to the bleeding paws. Often this comes from allergies, zinc deficiencies in certain breeds, contact irritations, etc. Something as simple as applying vaseline to keep his paws moist can help. But I recommend that you have your vet check his feet. Problems with the feet are painful and affect a dog’s ability to get around, so they need to be addressed quickly. Sounds like the antibiotics are working, but the vet may be able to prescribe a better antibiotic.
I found the amount of amoxicillin per lbs for my dog ,but for how long do I give it to him?
To be effective, it should be given for at least 5-7 days or for 48 hours after symptoms subside.
Thanks for the tips it helped me treat my little Sally
Thank you Isak for the info you have helped ease my mind 🙂
I am very happy for you both!
Well woke up this morning and the lump busted open. I’ve been putting blu-kote on it and I tried to drain out as much of the infection in it as I could so I think the antibiotic will do him good since it busted itself open last night.thank you for writing me back
Sounds good to me. You might try flushing it with some salty water before applying the blu-kote. And certainly the antibiotic will help. Good news.
My blue Stratford terrier has a lump the size of a grapefruit on his right shoulder, now it’s not hot to the touch but is hard. I had some erithomycin,sorry if I spelt it wrong, but it’s 250mg and I have been cutting it in half to make it 125mg and I’m guessing he weighs about 60-70lbs is this to much for him and is this a good antibiotic for him? Plus he has started vomiting a couple hrs after I give it to him, so is this possibly to high a dose for him?
In general, the dosage of Erythromycin for dogs (and cats) is 2.25-9 mg/pound by mouth (tablet, capsule, oral suspension) every 8 hours. Duration of treatment depends on reason for treatment and response to treatment.
That said, Erythromycin is used to treat bacterial infections. Why do you think this is a bacterial infection? If you do not see an obvious injury that is causing this lump — like a bite or a scratch, etc. — then this may not be an infection and the Erythromycin will not help. Ut may be something that is occurring internally. I think it is well worth having your vet check this because it is hard. The vet can best determine what is going on. It could be something that could be easily removed or perhaps other meds will help. It could be an indication of another issue that needs to be addressed.
My Chihuahua is between 1 & 2 years old. His eyes are always leaking and he has dark tear tracks down his face. Is this an allergy and what can I do about it?
For many Chihuahuas, a slight watery discharge is normal. The reddish brown color occurs when the normal bacteria on the your pet’s hair and skin react to the clear tears. Wiping it away 1 or 2 times a day will keep tear staining at bay.
Excessive tearing is typically the result of some kind of eye irritation which may be caused by long hair, ingrown eyelids or blocked tear drainage holes.
If you notice any of the following, you should have your Chi checked by your vet: frequently pawing or scratching of his eyes, thick discharge, excessive discharge, discoloration of the sclera (the white part of the eye) and/or cloudiness of the eyes.
Some people have reported that a change in diet away from dry kibble to a quality canned food reduced the discharge.
Thank you, Isak. I am going to switch slowly to the Buffalo Blue Basic Ingredients dry dog food mixed with canned of the same and see how that goes. He grew up on Buffalo Blue Life Protection Formula and had no issues until he was three years old, but two of the vets I went to said that food was too rich for him. One of the vets suggested the Science Diet Sensitive Stomach and Skin which lists pork fat as the 4th ingredient.
Should I change his probiotic too? It lists pork liver as the first ingredient. I found one that does not have pork listed as an ingredient.
I will let you know how it goes. Thanks again.
You might be okay with it so you can use it up.
I have several dogs and I use plain old Acidophilus Powder that I buy in bulk from Calvet. I just sprinkle it on their food. I don’t have anyone with a sensitive stomach, but I have had no problems with this product. It’s just Acidophilus, no other ingredients.
Hi Isak,
My Chihuahua is still having stomach issues. I’ve been feeding him three meals instead of two and adding a spoonful of puréed pumpkin for moisture. He also gets his probiotics each morning.
I’m wondering, IF he is allergic to pork, could the pork fat (a listed ingredient in his Science Diet for Sensitive Stomachs and Skin) be enough to cause this? There is also pork liver (first ingredient listed in the Advita Powder Probiotics).
Since I started him on the three meals a day, he went for 7 days and then sick for 1 day, then 4 days and sick and then 4 days and his stomach is squirting this morning so I know today will be a sick day.
On his sick days, his stomach makes loud squirting noises and he doesn’t want to eat until around 3 or 4 in the afternoon. Sometimes he has diarrhea, usually only once on that one day and once in a while he will throw up. This has been going on now for months.
Can the pork build up to a point that this happens? That’s the only thing I can think of.
Thank you for your help.
I’m surprised to hear you mention that his food contains pork fat. Seems you would want to keep that to a minimum for a dog with a sensitive stomach.
Does your dog have any other allergies? I was wondering if he has an allergy to something in his environment — cleaning supplies, laundry detergent, etc. that is playing into this as well.
Have you considered preparing your own dog food? It might be worth a try to see if it makes a difference. Some people prepare their own and mix it into the kibble they normally feed. Here are some simply recipes you could try. Here’s another one, but it’s a bit more complicated.
Here’s a list of some of the best commercial foods for sensitive stomachs you might try.
Good luck and let us know what eventually works for your boy.
Spell checker!!! The Probiotic is Advita Powder.
Thank you, Isak! Willy is on Probiotics every morning. Ad its Powder 1/2 packet sprinkled on his food. I do feed him dry food twice a day, so I will try three meals a day and see how that goes. If they have Science Diet in canned, I will try using that with his dry food as well. Thanks so much for your advice. I’ll let you know how it goes.
My Chihuahua is having stomach issues. I’ve taken him to 4 different veteranarians and other than one saying she thought it might be IRritable Bowel Symptom, nothing has helped in the long term. He LOVES food so we know there is something wrong. On the days he is sick, we wake up to the sound of his stomach making squirting noises. He won’t eat breakfast, is pretty quiet and usually by 4 or 4:30 in the afternoon he is ready to eat his dinner. Once in a while he will throw up and his stools will be loose or diarrhea in the mid morning or afternoon. His diet consists of Science Diet for Sensitive Stomach and Skin and Milkbone treats. That’s it. Diet suggested by one of the vets. The other vets tried different foods and they did not work at all. He does fine for 2 to 8 days, average is 5 over the past month and then his stomach is squirting and he won’t eat. If and when he vomits, I start him off on Lipton Soup for a meal or two. Do you have any ideas what could be wrong? We had a complete blood panel done and everything was normal. No pancreatitis or other issues that can be found through a complete blood panel. Also had his stool checked and nothing found. He is 4 years old and was on Buffalo Blue dog food for his first 3 3/4 years, no problems. Then it started. Would liquid di-gel help him? If so, how much should I give him? Thank you for your help.
Have you tried sprinkling acidophyllus or some other probiotic on his food. This adds good bacteria to his gut and can be given daily. Maybe that will get him to a good place.
Is the Science Diet you feed him dry food? If so, maybe try a canned food. Dry food pulls liquid from his body to soften the food, so his system has to work twice as hard to digest dry food than it would if he ate canned food.
If you want to stay with dry, you might look at the “limited ingredient” types of food, then add some water and let it soak until softened before feeding him.
Do you feed him just once a day? If so, try smaller portions twice a day. If he eats twice a day, maybe try smaller portions three times a day, if your schedule allows.
Di-gel can have side effects — one is loss of appetite — so I would suggest a more natural path first. Start with probiotics.
And let us know how things go. Good luck.
I have a 17 lb.adult dog. She has been bit by another dog. I called her vet . He’s going to give her some amoxicillin but he’s out of town for.the next few days. I have amoxicillin left over that was prescribed to me. They are 500 mg. Capsules. Can this be given to her? If so do I give her the whole capsule or pour some out and give her a small amount.
The recommended dose of amoxicillin in dogs and cats is 5-10mg/pound every 12-24 hours. So for 17 lbs, you would give 85-170 mg every 12-24 hours. You could pour the powdered medication out of the capsule and divide it into 4. I think it is rather bitter tasting, so you will need to hide it in something. Sour cream or plain yogurt seems to work for me. Even stirred into canned food. Amoxicillin can be given with or without food as it is stable in gastric conditions.
The bite wound itself, keep it flushed out and apply some neosporin a couple times a day. Poor baby. Bites can be painful.
Best to your little one.
I gave my dog a few cashow nuts since then she seems to be constipated and very lathargec what can I do to help her Jenny
Are you sure the constipation and lethargy was from the cashews? That seems like an unusual reaction even if she is allergic to cashews.
You can give her green beans or small carrots to relieve the constipation, but if the leathery continues, she should be checked by a vet.
My small dog has a about a inch wide and inch deep cut on the top of his leg close to chest area and I need help on how to clean, treat, and wrap him so he will stop hurting himself more? Can I use lidocaine gel to numb his cut before putting ointment and bandage on him?
Yes, you can but use it with caution and in a small amount.
Precautions and Side Effects
If the cut is deep, you want to be sure you flush it out so there is no bacteria deep inside that could cause an infection. You should flush it a couple times a day and apply something like neosporin to it.
Hi my dog got castrated Friday and he come out in a really bad rash.vet gave me some cream yesterday but it seems 2 be making it worse can I put sudocrem on it instead
What does the rash look like? Is it maybe razor burn from being shaved? If it is kind of oozy, rinse it with salt water or epsom salts. If it is dry, some kind of creme is a good idea — and sudocreme will work, just be careful because if he can reach it, he will lick it off. This might cause him some stomach upset… plus it won’t help the rash.
I have a Great Dane mix that has a neuroma on his tail. He is scheduled for amputation in 72 hours. It’s a weekend though and the raw spots seem to be bothering him. Can I use human grade lidocaine gel on those areas of I make sure he isn’t able to lick off?
Thanks!
Yes, you can.
Dear Isak,
Your website is most interesting. Thank you for posting and sharing!
We rescued a stray (now named Tough Guy) who was hit and abandoned on 1/8/15. He had excision arthroplasty of his right hind leg done. Unfortunately recurrence of wound infection has been longstanding and the vet at the time kept him on oral antibiotics (not sure what exactly as he was warded).
On obtaining a second opinion from another vet, an Xray was done and was found to have osteomylitis and sequestered bone and bizarre bone formation on the X-ray (can be sent via email). A culture was done for the first time and Porteus was found, resistant to many antibiotics apart from Augmentin and Imipenem. Before the results came out, Tough Guy was put on Baytril and Flagyl which helped to heal the wound somewhat leaving an ongoing discharge, albeit lesser than previously noted. Prior to this, he was on a Co-Amoxiclav (generic and I understand not to be the original Augmentin). The vet has offered 2 options:
1) start on imipenem for 7 days intravenously and then likelihood of reverting to oral antibiotics due to cost issues or
2) amputation.
Am at the throws of planning for amputation as I understand bone infection can take 4-6 months to heal and although Tough Guy (under 2 years) is very happy and excitable despite the wound, he is in pain and is sensitive about the wound area. Also plenty fiborisis of the muscle resulting in lack of use of the leg. I am trying to decide what would be a suitable combination of antibiotics – Augmentin (original) and Baytril or Augmentine, Baytril and Flagyl or Baytril and Flagyl for the next 7-10 days before amputation. Please advise what your thoughts are. I am working closely with the vet and am only seeking your view as I found your website very interesting.
Thank you so much for your time.
Warm wishes, Cecilia.
Damn! This poor guy has had a pretty rough year. Glad to know someone is looking out for him. Good on you for getting a second opinion. What kind is he? How big?
I would lean towards your first suggestion: Augmentin and Baytril. Flagyl can have some side effects that may be worsened with the meds that he will be exposed to during surgery or just generally weaken his system. Side effects can include:
Of course, your vet knows the situation best so his input trumps mine. My best to Tough Guy. Please let us know how things go.
My 3 pound tea cup chihuahua is loosing her teeth a lot lately, and I’m scared that she might get an infection in her mouth. I was wondering if it’s okay to give her a little bit of my amoxicillin 500 MG that I have at home? I want to help her because I don’t know if she is in any pain or if she has any type of infection going on in her mouth due to her loosing teeth, and sometimes, just pieces of her teeth if she doesn’t loose the whole tooth at one time, which has already happened to her once or twice.
Please help me with some advice for my baby girl….
I am really worried about her. Thank you everyone in advance.
Tooth loss is often accompanied by infection that is painful. If it is accompanied by infection, that infection can affect other organs as she swallows the bacteria involved in the infection. You can give her a very small amount of your amoxicillin, but I would encourage you to have her checked out by your vet who can provide you with the correct meds for the bacteria plus meds for her pain. If her mouth becomes too painful, she may stop eating. Also, you don’t want her to swallow sharp pieces of a tooth.
My 10lb toy poodle has digested one pill of mine called Macrobid… Will this harm her ? I am really worried… It was 100mg
Well, best case scenario, she won’t have a bacterial infection for a while.
Call your vet or even the doctor who prescribed the Macrobid.
Yogurt tends to reduce the effect of antibiotics, so you might give her some plain yogurt. She may experience the usual side effects from antibiotics — Dark-colored urine or pale stools. Diarrhea or loose, watery stools that may contain blood. Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, or pain in your upper stomach.