My dog is allergic to penicillin, can they still use this medicine?
Baytril is not a penicillin antibiotic, it is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic. Please be aware, however, that sensitivity to this type of antibiotic is also possible, and dogs who have had bad reactions in the past to other fluoroquinolones (e.g. Zeniquin) are likely unsuitable for treatment.
Recommended Dosage
For safety reasons, do not begin treating your dog without a vet’s approval and a diagnosis of bacterial infection. Always follow your vet’s recommended dosage and treatment plan.
Enrofloxacin can be administered orally or injected intravenously, though using injectable forms of the drug in household pets is controversial. Generally when treating most infections in dogs the dosage ranges from 2.28 mg/lb to 9 mg/lb (roughly 5 to 20 mg/kg) given orally once daily, which can be split in half for twice-daily administration. The chart below illustrates an average 5 mg/lb dosage:
When treating different infections, different dosages may be recommended. Please see the table below:
| To treat infections of the… | Method of administration | Dosage |
|---|---|---|
| Skin | Oral | 1.14 – 2.27 mg/lb every 12 hours for 1 to 2 weeks |
| Respiratory tract | Oral | 2.27 – 4.5 mg/lb every 24 hours for 1 to 12 weeks |
Antibiotics are not effective in the treatment of viruses and should not be used unless bacteria is determined to be the cause of symptoms.
Note: Do not discontinue use as soon as symptoms clear, complete the full course to prevent the infection from returning. In most cases the drug will not be used for more than 30 consecutive days.
Ear Infections
Baytril Otic is a liquid emulsion used to treat susceptible ear infections. This medicine contains enrofloxacin with the addition of silver sulfadiazine. To find out more about this medicine and how it can be used to treat otitis externa please click this link.
Safety Information
There are many drugs which can interact with Baytril which means it’s important to disclose any other medicine and supplements your dog is taking to your vet prior to starting treatment. Drugs which can interact with this medicine includes some other antibiotics, zinc, iron, antacids, warfarin and more. There are also various medical conditions which could be aggravated through the use of enrofloxacin, so please also disclose any of your dog’s existing medical conditions to the vet.
Avoid giving this medicine to small and medium dog breeds aged 2 to 8 months. In larger breeds, it’s safer to wait beyond this period of time before beginning treatment as their growth phase can last longer. In terms of injection, subcutaneous administration could be painful because of the medicine’s acidity and undiluted IV injections increase the chance of severe reactions with the possibility of placing stress upon the heart.
Pregnancy, nursing and breeding: It’s advised that pregnant and nursing animals do not take Baytril or any other fluoroquinolone antibiotics. For male breeding dogs the use of this drug is fine.
Guidelines For Use
As mentioned above, it’s important to disclose to your vet any medicine/supplements your dog is taking and any existing medical conditions. The following lists guidelines for the safe use of enrofloxacin:
- Avoid use in puppies from 2 to 8 months of age (wait longer for larger breeds, see a vet)
- Lower doses than those recommended should be used in dogs with kidney and liver problems
- Provide plenty of water to maintain hydration during treatment
Complete the full course of treatment recommended to you by your vet, do not stop using the medicine based on the improvement of symptoms.
What’s It Used For?
Baytril is a veterinary antibiotic drug and is used to treat susceptible bacterial infections in animals. It is not used to fight anaerobic infections, and is rarely used against Streptococci due to limited efficiency.
Side Effects
During treatment the following adverse effects are possible:
More Common
- Vomiting
- Weight loss
Rare
- Loss of coordination
- Seizures
- Fatigue
- Anxiety
- Depression
In puppies, cartilage damage is also possible. It’s recommended that owners report any uncomfortable adverse effects to the vet, and seek immediate veterinary attention for any serious reactions.
Overdose:
Overdoses of Baytril rarely cause problems beyond anorexia and vomiting. However, the rarer effects listed above such as loss of coordination and seizures may occur in some dogs. In studies, death occured in some cases where 25x the recommended dose was given for 11 consecutive days. Despite its relative safety unless extremely high amounts are used, if you for any reason suspect an overdose you should ring the vet for advice.
Sources
Dr. R. Hardie
Plumb’s Veterinary Drug Handbook (sixth edition)