Many people are concerned about how much bacitracin they give their cat, or whether they should even administer medicine at all for a sick kitten. Luckily, there are some helpful guidelines that veterinarians share to help you determine if your kitty needs treatment and what kind of medication is needed!
Bacitracin is an antibiotic that works by interfering with the growth of bacteria. When used correctly, it can be very effective in treating bacterial infections. Unfortunately, using too much bacitracin may not work as well because excessive dosing can actually make the infection worse!
This article will talk about different types of bacitracins, how to use them for internal infections, and what symptoms indicate need for bacitracin therapy. If your pet has symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy, weight loss, or red skin lesions, then you should consider giving him/her bacitracin to see if it helps improve his/her condition.
Please note that this article will contain information that may worry some readers. This article will discuss potential risks of overdosing on bacitracin, but also talks about possible benefits.
Side effects
Many people are aware of the risks of bacitracin, but many don’t know about some of the less well-known ones. These include allergic reactions or symptoms similar to an allergy (such as hives and shortness of breath) in someone who is already sensitive to penicillins.
In very rare cases, a person can develop a life-threatening reaction called anaphylactic shock after coming into contact with bacitracin. This happens when your body reacts by swelling up and trying to close off blood vessels.
Some experts believe that bacitracin may also increase risk for developing rheumatoid arthritis or lupus. Because these diseases are related to chronic inflammation, this could make it more difficult to get rid of infection if you're exposed to bacitracin frequently.
However, there is not enough reliable evidence to prove that bacitracin causes either disease.
What does it do?
Bactrim is a antibiotic that can be used for cats who are suffering from skin or ear infection symptoms, such as redness, scaling, discharge, and pain.
Because bactrim works by disrupting the growth of bacteria, you will need to make sure your cat is taking the full dose before seeking treatment so she can allay her symptoms while the drug has enough time to work.
It is very important to stop giving bactim if your pet was successfully treated in the past! Because dogs are not human, they do not develop resistance to antibiotics like humans do.
Resistance happens when microorganisms survive an antibiotic's effect or produce more resistant strains. This process is called bacterial mutation and can have deadly consequences for animals that take the medication.
Bacterial mutations can occur naturally, but most often happen because of use of antibiotics. When antibiotics are no longer effective, patients with mutated infections may also become colonized or infected with these harder-to-treat microbes.
How do I give it to my cat?
The second way to administer bacitracin is by injection. This can be done either intravenously (into their vein) or intraperitoneally (inside of their body cavity).
To give your cat an IV dose, you will need a sterile needle that has been dipped in the bacitracin solution. Simply insert the needle into a suitable area of the venous system (veins) and inject enough medicine for the recommended dosage.
Be careful not to overfill the syringe as you may accidentally injure the muscle or tissue surrounding the blood vessel!
After giving the injection, close the wound immediately and apply direct pressure until hemostasis occurs. Continue applying gentle pressure for several minutes depending on how much trauma was caused from the needle.
Once this happens, there are no special precautions needed except to make sure your pet lies still and feels comfortable before moving them. You can also watch them sleep to see if they wake up easily after receiving the shot.
If your dog or cat vomits within two hours of being given bacitracin, repeat the same procedure with another needle.
Risk of overdose
Even though bacitracin is considered an antimicrobial agent, there are some risks associated with giving it to your cat.
One risk is that your cat could get too much bacitracin in his system and become very ill or even die.
If you think your cat has ingested enough bacitracin to be at risk for this, then immediately call your doctor or the veterinary clinic that treated your animal.
It’s best to know what kind of symptoms your cat may have so that you can recognize when he needs medical help.
Making a note of how many mg of bacitracin your cat had will also help determine if he needs more treatment or not.
More information
While bacitracin is usually considered a good antimicrobial agent, too much can do more harm than good. Too many products containing bacitracin will not work as they may already have enough of the drug to prevent the growth of bacteria!
Many experts agree that 2 grams of bacitracin administered orally twice per day for two days is an appropriate treatment option for feline skin and scalp infections.
However, you should be aware that some cats are sensitive or allergic to bacitracin and so you must perform a test dose first to see if your cat reacts negatively to it before giving the full course of treatment.
This way, you can determine whether your dog needs the antibiotic or not! If the symptoms get worse instead of getting better, stop the medication and try again later.
Helpful tips
The vast majority of veterinary hospitals will have bacitracin/neomycin ointment at their facility. If they do not, you should look elsewhere for help with your cat’s wound.
Many times, people are unsure how much bacitracin to give an animal. It is important to remember that too much can be harmful to the dog or cat. You also need to make sure that the medication is effectively absorbed into the skin so it works properly.
It is best to apply the medicine directly onto the wound as a gel. You can spread it on using a cotton swab or brush. Once it has been applied, cover the area with a layer of t-shirt material or other porous cloth to allow for good penetration of the drug.
Make sure to check on your pet periodically to see if the skin around the wound starts looking better and feels tighter. Also watch for any changes in activity level and eating behaviors.
