With their furry little faces, it’s hard not to love our pets. But while they’re so adorable and lovable, they can also be a little bit dirty. That’s why we have to make sure that we keep them clean and free of bacterial infections.
Bacterial infections in dogs are one of the most common types of infection for our pets. However, 95% of them remain asymptomatic.
The good news is that bacterial infections are treatable – but it’s essential to catch them early because they can become serious if left unchecked.
Bacterial infections can be transmitted through a bite or scratch or through saliva (in the case of cats). In both cases, it’s essential to act quickly when your pet starts showing signs of infection, such as general lethargy and lack of appetite, so that you can get them treated before their condition worsens.
Here’s what all you need to know:
Know the Type of Infection
There are two types of bacterial infections, and knowing the difference is crucial to treating your dog.
- Acute or chronic: An acute infection is when a foreign body enters the body and immediately causes an immune response. Chronic infection is when a foreign body cannot be removed from the body (e.g., cataracts) and results in inflammation over time.
- Localized or systemic: A localized infection affects only one part of the body, while systemic means it involves multiple aspects of their anatomy at once. Depending on where they’re located, some experts classify these as superficial or deep-seated infections (but we won’t get into that here).
Practice Good Hygiene
If you don’t already practice good hygiene when caring for your dog, now is the time to start. Just to add on, it costs around $13480 to maintain a pet dog annually (including both grooming and caring).
That being said, wash your hands before and after handling your dog. Clean any wounds immediately with clean water and dressings or ointments recommended by a veterinarian.
Keep your dog’s environment clean by regularly cleaning up after him if he has accidents in the house or yard and always providing fresh water and food that’s free of contamination (don’t share human food with your pet). Avoid using human hand sanitizer – it can be toxic to dogs if ingested in large amounts.
Talk to the Vet About Vaccinations
Even if your dog has been vaccinated, vaccines are not 100% effective. As such, it is essential for you to discuss prophylactic antibiotics with your vet in the event of an infection. Prophylactic antibiotics are used to prevent infections and can be used in combination with vaccinations.
Prophylactic antibiotics should be given at the first sign of illness or injury and will help reduce the risk of developing a bacterial infection.
Your vet may recommend that you give these medications to your pet regularly as part of its health care plan, especially if you travel frequently or live in an area with a high incidence of certain types of bacteria.
Give the Entire Course of Antibiotics
Antibiotics kill or slow the growth of bacteria in your dog’s body. The most common reason vets prescribe antibiotics is to treat an infection caused by bacteria. This could be an infection anywhere in your dog’s body, but most commonly, it’s found in their ears or mouth.
In this regard, Amoxicillin capsules are the antibiotics that are used to treat a broad range of infections in dogs and cats. It works by killing susceptible strains of bacteria.
The recommended dosage of Amoxicillin for dogs is 5-10mg per pound, given twice a day. The medication begins to work right away and continues to be effective for 12 to 24 hours. The typical duration of the Amoxicillin dosage is 10 to 14 days, but it may be longer depending on your dog’s condition and symptoms.
In order to minimize side effects, your veterinarian may suggest dividing the daily dose into two smaller doses taken at least eight hours apart (e.g., 10 mg once in the morning and 5 mg once in the evening).
Conclusion
With all being said, infections are a common cause of illness in dogs and can be severe if left untreated. If your dog has a bacterial infection, it is essential to know how to treat it so that it doesn’t get worse or even become life-threatening.
Bacterial infections in dogs can be severe, but they’re also treatable. The key is to catch them early and get your dog the treatment they need as soon as possible.
Bacteria are everywhere – in the air, our homes, and everything we touch. Most of the time, it’s no big deal: our immune systems fight off most bacteria before they even cause symptoms. But sometimes, those harmless-looking germs can cause a real problem for our pets! So be aware.
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