Ceftriaxone is a powerful antibacterial agent that is active against most microorganisms. It inhibits the growth of the walls of pathogenic bacteria, so addiction to it does not occur. Ceftriaxone is often used for cats. It is needed for the treatment of serious infectious diseases, as well as for the prevention of infection after surgery. But you can use this drug only as directed by the veterinarian.
Property of Ceftriaxone
This is a third-generation antibiotic belonging to the group of cephalosporins. It is active against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. It is very effective against a large number of microorganisms due to the fact that it violates the permeability of the membranes of their cells, which leads to their death. Staphylococci, streptococci, colibacteria, clostridia, shigella, salmonella, enterobacteria, pathogens of meningitis and many others are especially sensitive to its effects.
When Ceftriaxone Is Used For Cats
Pets often get sick if they are poorly looked after. They have infections that are common to humans, but in addition, cats get sick with special diseases. Animals that walk on the street are especially prone to them. If a fluffy pet is sick, it is best to consult a veterinarian. Often, during an infection, doctors prescribe Ceftriaxone for cats. The instruction recommends its use in such cases:
- with sexually transmitted diseases, for example, with chlamydia;
- in case of sepsis;
- after castration or sterilization to prevent infection;
- in the recovery period after surgical treatment of urolithiasis;
- with otitis media;
- meningitis;
- cystitis;
- with bacterial infections of the respiratory system;
- with infections of the skin and soft tissues.
How to give a cat an injection
To prevent the development of infection after sterilization and in some diseases, veterinarians often prescribe Ceftriaxone. The owners have to give injections to the cat at home, this saves time and money on a daily visit to the clinic. But not everyone knows how to inject. The basic rules are the same as for injections for people: sterility, compliance with the exact dosage and others. But for cat injections there are some features.
- Ceftriaxone is administered intramuscularly to a pet. It is best to do this in the back of the thigh. It is necessary to ensure that the muscle of the animal is not strained, for this, calm the cat, massage her paw.
- The animal does not need to lubricate the skin with alcohol, since cats have an antibacterial layer on it. The main thing is that there should be no inflammation or dirt at the injection site. And you can’t touch the needle with your hands.
- To administer the drug, it is better to use a thin insulin syringe. It holds just 1 ml. That is how much Ceftriaxone solution is needed for large animals. And this syringe is better because it has a thin needle. This injection is already painful, and with a thick needle it will be tolerated even worse.
- It is better for someone to hold the cat during the procedure. An injection must be made with clear, confident movements, try to finish everything quickly.
Contraindications to the use of the drug
This antibacterial agent is very strong. "Ceftriaxone" often causes side effects, and there have been cases of even the death of the animal with improper use of the drug. Therefore, it can be used for treatment only after examination of the animal in order to exclude the presence of contraindications. And it is not recommended to use Ceftriaxone for cats in such cases:
- with renal failure;
- with impaired liver function;
- during pregnancy and lactation;
- kittens;
- in the presence of ulcers in the gastrointestinal tract;
- with an allergy to antibiotics of the penicillin group.
Side effects after using the drug
Ceftriaxone for cats is often prescribed by veterinarians, but not all animals tolerate this drug. Many people experience serious disruptions in the functioning of many organs and systems. The following side effects may occur:
- nausea and vomiting;
- flatulence, constipation, indigestion;
- allergic reactions, urticaria;
- difficulty breathing, bronchospasm;
- impaired liver and kidney function;
- deterioration in blood composition;
- problems with the urinary system;
- fungal diseases;
- headaches, dizziness.
Ceftriaxone for cats: instructions for use
Use this antibiotic to treat your pet can only be prescribed by a doctor, and strictly observing the dosage. Powdered drug is available. Therefore, you must first dilute it with Novocain. Cats should not be used to dissolve lidocaine. For 1 g of antibiotic, you need to take 2 ml of pain medication and 2 ml of water for injection. The medicine is administered to the cat intramuscularly or intravenously through a catheter. In the latter case, the doctor must do this.
And how much do you need to stab a Ceftriaxone cat? Dosage is calculated depending on the weight of the animal:
- for small cats weighing less than 2 kilograms, no more than 0.5 ml of the drug solution can be administered at a time;
- larger pets need 1 ml of Ceftriaxone.
Injections need to be done once a day, but sometimes the doctor recommends dividing the daily dose by half. Treatment lasts from 7 to 10 days, depending on the severity of the condition of the animal. If the cat is relieved before the end of this period, injections do not stop. You need to complete the full course prescribed by your doctor.
The owners of the animal need to know that after treatment with "Ceftriaxone" for 3 months the cat can not be mated, otherwise there may be complications during pregnancy, and kittens may die.
Reviews on the use of the drug "Ceftriaxone"
Many owners of furry pets write that this antibiotic saved their pet from a serious infection. Basically, Ceftriaxone is prescribed after sterilization operations. The owners note that this medicine helped to avoid complications, the wound healed quickly, there was no pus. Many animals tolerate the drug without side effects, the only drawback of these injections is that they are very painfully installed. But there are also reviews that note that the cat has developed a severe allergic reaction, vomiting or impaired renal function. If you do not pay attention to side effects after the first injection, the animal may die.