can i give my cat expired amoxicillin

Amoxicillin for humans is usually prepared in tablet form, but it is often administered to cats in a paste or oral suspension, as well as pills. Cats should never be given Amoxicillin prescribed for human use, however convenient it may be for pet owners. This means administering them for the wrong type of infection, providing inadequate doses, not completing the full prescription or giving them to an otherwise healthy cat. WebThe easiest way to give your cat liquid medication is to mix it in with some canned food. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. That yogurt in the back of the fridge probably has at least a week or two past the stamped date, right? Unfortunately its not clear that your cat truly has a UTI with what youve described, or that a UTI if present, is the only issue your cat has. The goal is to add a balanced and alternative view of some controversial pet issues. In an effort to simplify things for folks, a veterinarian may not communicate his or her full thought process, which can sometimes lead to misunderstandings. The pills come in several different strengths: 100 milligrams, 250 milligrams, or 500 milligrams. Abscesses are swollen regions of infected tissue within a pet or person. This could mean that if one of the kitties truly became ill, a medication like Amoxi-Drops or Clavamox may not be as effective as it would otherwise be. WebSo, can I give my cat amoxicillin? An extended treatment with antibiotics can lead to yeast infections, especially if the cats immune system is As it turns out, I did some research on this a few days before Willys recent cleaning to learn this is highly recommended because under anesthesia Cats (and dogs too, probably) cant vomit up a recent meal choking on it and sending it down into the lungs to cause potentially severe complications. However, it can be excreted via milk in small amounts. Get practical pet health tips, articles, and insights from our veterinary community delivered weekly to your inbox. So your vet will be careful about the dose they give you for your cat. In that case, you can skip the missed dose. Epi-pens (epinephrine injections for anaphylaxis), for example. As you alluded to, this is primarily to reduce the risk of regurgitation or aspiration during a procedure, since the pet cannot swallow on their own. The consequences to using insulin that is bad can be dangerous. Amoxicillin for cats, also known as aminopenicillin, is a well-known antibiotic medication mainly used to treat bacterial infections such as urinary tract, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal infections, and skin issues, such as acute moist dermatitis and pyoderma in felines. Dr. Vanderhoof is also a copywriter specializing in the animal health field and founder of Paramount Animal Health Writing Solutions, which can be found at www.animalhealthcopywriter.com. Dont make your cat suffer any longer! Doing so frequently can make the medication ineffective. It can also be used for gastrointestinal infections. Amoxicillin usually comes in both pills and liquid suspension forms. Nonprofit vets can be found. The expiration date is always one year out unless the manufacturer's expiration date precedes it. They can come as tablets, in liquid form, drops, cream or an injection. Amoxicillin with clavulanic acid is common in these circumstances. Use of antibiotics and antiinflammatories for dental procedures may vary based on an individual veterinarians judgment in a particular case. I'd recalled they were even more restrictive than a year. Give all of the amoxicillin that is prescribed for your pet, since symptoms may begin to improve before the infection is completely treated. Image from Instagram:@petdiseasealerts It would be prudent not to give your dog any human amoxicillin. If no date can be found, it is safest to consider a medication expired six months after being dispensed. Therefore it is a common mistake to search for information on the dose of amoxicillin required for a cat and then administer it to them straightaway, because:. If there was extra gingivitis present that led to more bleeding during cleaning or if a lot of extra scaling under the gums was needed, your vet may have felt that an anti-inflammatory was warranted to ensure your kitty was more comfortable after going home. Ill try to be objective and impartial with my answers, since its always important to realize that any medical situation can vary quite a lot from patient to patient. However, if there is no color or odor change and it is a few days beyond that date it is probably okay. Not worth it. Essentially the same antibiotics are effective in cats and in humans, however always in different concentrations and dosages. As a bactericidal antibiotic, amoxicillin works to kill bacteria associated with upper respiratory infections, urinary tract infections, and more. If you wish to store your veterinary pharmaceuticals, it is essential that you adhere to storage guidelines. DONT skip doses or fail to use the entire course of antibiotics as prescribed to your cat. Share Improve this answer Follow answered Apr 22, 2017 at 17:55 Harry V. 5,989 2 16 35 Self-educated pet care nerd. Yep. No blood work-up, and going on a previous years blood work-up from the other vet and administering the anesthesia for the dental cleaning? Get new medication. This helps our pet parents know how to best use the medications we prescribe. These types of medicines are still saving lives today. However, overdosing or giving it incorrectly is toxic for the felines. My cat accidentally swallowed 500mg of Amoxicillin. Also, inform your veterinarian about any kidney or stomach problems your cat may have or had in the past as Amoxicillin may cause further damage of these organs. If stomach upset occurs, try giving the medication with food. .medication-table .table-row .item-title{ That's wasteful! Always discard medications that have obvious changes to color, texture, etc. align-items: center; Can your kitty take it (2.5 minutes read), Best practices for amoxicillin usage (1 minute read). So why then does the FDA feel justified in placing limits where they previously did not exist? Doing so frequently can make the medication ineffective. Cats can be given amoxicillin. If not 50mg available, open the 250 mg capsule and divide it into fifths. Dosage should be continued for 57 days or 48 hours after all symptoms have subsided. These are a good reminder of why Amoxicillin is only prescribed to cats when absolutely required. Every feline medication needs proper administration. Be sure to use and care for your pets medication responsibly, and when in doubt, throw it out! If your cat is sick or not acting like herself, a trip to your family veterinarian is recommended. Have your cat diagnosed and have a veterinarian prescribe the correct form of treatment. .medication-table .table-row .item{ They can come as tablets, in liquid form, drops, cream or an injection. In this case, we may think giving amoxicillin to the cat will be beneficial. The liquid form typically needs to be refrigerated. padding: 15px 5px 15px 5px; There are also other formulations, such as Clavamox. So your vet will be careful about the dose they give you for your cat. Potential Side Effects While you can safely store the medication after its expiration date, it is not recommended. All antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections and amoxicillin is no exception. For more information, or to ask about an expired veterinary medication, please, Is It an Emergency or Just Urgent? Common signs or symptoms of an upper respiratory infection include runny eyes, sniffling, sneezing, and sometimes even coughing. We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian if they are suffering from any condition or pain. They may need to suspend treatment or treat any secondary problems. shes 8 years old and has been healthy until recently (blood in urine). If a medication is past the expiration date determined by the manufacturer, it is best not to use it. If your vet prescribes two bottles, they should provide you with instructions on how to mix up the second bottle. These 7 Signs Will Help You Find Out, Eyelid Agenesis In Cats: Causes, Symptoms, & Treatment. In immunocompromised people, this infection can be fatal. Potent Immunity. Keeping lids sealed to prevent air exposure and moisture contamination is important, as well. Your furry friend might have pain when she urinates, causing discomfort. margin-bottom: 20px; flex-basis: 50%; Liquid and other mixed prescriptions should be discarded after two weeks. How do you know if amoxicillin is the appropriate antibiotic for it? Read between the lines some more: Limiting the expiration date is an easily defensible way to encourage more drug sales. Most cats take a 62.5 milligram dosage twice daily for a set amount of days. padding: 10px; - Uses, Dosage and Side Effects, Metoclopramide for Cats - Dosage, Uses and Side Effects, Contraindications of amoxicillin for cats, Doxycycline for Cats - Dosage, Uses and Side Effects, Cephalexin for Cats - Uses, Dosage and Side Effects, Amitraz for Dogs - Uses, Dosage and Side Effects, Famotidine for Cats - Uses, Dosage and Side Effects. Your email address will not be published. In kitties, it may be used most often for upper respiratory infections, urinary tract infections, skin infections, or infections resulting from a bite wound or injury. Add them to the Cats Food: The Fish-Mox capsules are 250 mg. amoxicillin, recommended dosage one capsule twice per day, in food. The most common potential side effects are gastrointestinal problems. Typically, vets can prescribe Amoxicillin for cats to treat skin infections, and urinary tract infections. But I also recommend that you ask for the manufacturer's expiration date on meds that might need to be administered again in the future. You should always consult with the vet about the best antibiotic to be used and its potential side effects. Also be aware that bacterial infections can also be symptomatic of other diseases. For some medications, I would feel comfortable using on my own pets if they were expired by 1 to 2 years. In that case, you can skip the missed dose. Full resolution for an infection depends a lot on the location and severity. I cant comment more as its impossible for me to know if this is a typical delay in healing that can be seen with nail trauma even without infection present, or something more concerning. Dr. Patty Khuly WebThe easiest way to give your cat liquid medication is to mix it in with some canned food. Human amoxicillin dosages are typically inappropriate to use in cats as they are much too high and more likely to lead to unwanted side effects. Those outdoor kitties need our help too. Reasons to Honor Veterinary Drug Expiration Dates. Avoid giving your pet any medication that contains a corticosteroid unless it has been prescribed by your veterinarian to treat your pets current medical problem. Image from Instagram:@petdiseasealerts It would be prudent not to give your dog any human amoxicillin. For two reasons, the former employee explained: 1. How much Amoxicillin is Can I Give My Cat Amoxicillin? Why Does My Cat Push Out His Penis and Lick It? Antibiotics can be used to treat many fungal and bacterial infections, both in humans and in cats. It is more resistant to stomach acids, which would readily degrade penicillin. Tetracycline for cats is a multipurpose antibiotic typically available as a capsule or tablet. @media screen and (max-width:480px) { The answer is: No, not without the express consent and direction of your veterinarian. 6 Pet Medication Storage Tips to Avoid Danger, Off Label Use of Drugs in Veterinary Medicine, Holistic Medicine and How it Can Help Your Pet, Don't Make These Dangerous Mistakes With Your Pet's Medicine. Corticosteroids suppress the immune system (among other things) and if your pet has an infection of any sort, they can make your pets condition worse rather than better. If you have been a pet medication hoarder, you likely have a pile of stuff to trash at this point. Required fields are marked *. However, many cat parents often receive certain pet medications without knowing about the safe dose and safe serving ideas and harm their tom or queen instead of helping them. They can also be seen on or in the stool. Typically, this date is clearly stamped or printed on the container provided by the manufacturer. Here an important thing to be noted is that there are many varieties of antibiotics Amoxicillin available, so your veterinarian can better decide which one will be safe for your kitty. Yes Scheduling an appointment with your vet would be the best thing to do here. justify-content: space-between; Amoxicillin is a common antibiotic prescribed for both cats and dogs to address a variety of bacterial infections. Liquid amoxicillin needs to be kept in the refrigerator except when you are giving it to your cat. There is also tetracycline ointment for cats. Fleming discovered penicillin growing as a mold in Fleming's laboratory. Prescription Required? Giving amoxicillin to your kitty around the time of a meal can help to offset these possible effects. Symptoms usually end when administration does. This article has been fact checked and verified by our veterinary adviser.. I have treated her for worms. Our customer service department gets a lot of emails from cat lovers about every type of question you can imagine about cats. Giving amoxicillin to your kitty around the time of a meal can help to offset these possible effects. Because this way people are less likely to stop their drugs and start them up again whenever they please. margin: 0 auto; No matter whether it is given orally or topically, tetracycline destroys bacterial infections. As with any medication, there is a possibility of side effects. I would say for a cat for amoxicillin dosing and especially for bigger cats, we likely need to be more accurate in dosing compared to your average 10lb cat where we should be dosing based on their weight. You're free to offer your own below. Veterinarians try their best to ensure their patients are not in any pain. Add them to the Cats Food: The Fish-Mox capsules are 250 mg. amoxicillin, recommended dosage one capsule twice per day, in food. Hopefully, there may be a vet in your area that could help provide some more specific guidance. : Your email address will not be published. So your vet will be careful about the dose they give you for your cat. When give to a vulnerable kitten, the risk is even higher. It tends to be an inexpensive option that is very safe and generally well tolerated. With Amoxicillin taking expired ones would just mean they might not work, other antibiotics, like the tetracyclines can actually cause kidney damage if they are old. However, my cat is 17.2 pounds is 50 mg the max daily dosing? We brought him the blood work-up results for a dental cleaning last year from another vet. Amoxicillin has a wide dosage range. So I take care of an outdoor cat, I always feed him form my food not wet or canned, he is 10 months old, How much Amoxicillin is While it may not directly cause harm, using an expired drug may have some negative effects including: Delay in appropriate treatment Subpar management of the problem at hand font-size: 14px; It is not appropriate to medicate the cat with amoxicillin of our own volition. Copyright 1999 - 2023. } Copyright 2022 by FelineLiving.net -Designed by Thrive Themes This product is Clavamox. Amoxicillin administered to humans is very different from the veterinary formulation.This variation arises from the chemical components used in making human-grade amoxicillin that can be toxic to canines.These chemicals include Any kind of out of pocket medical care is going to be expensive and helps to have some funds set aside for emergencies. Amoxicillin is a highly effective antibiotic, but it will not work as well after its expiration date if you have already taken it. DONT start using an antibiotic you happen to have left over from the last time. It makes it even more potent and long-lasting. How much should I give? Other precautions to guard against this are taken as well, including the placement of the endotracheal tube that seals off the airway and is only removed once the pet can start swallowing again.