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Antirobe for Dogs and Cats
This is an antibiotic made by Pfizer. Its active ingredient is clindamycin hydrochloride, and it is used against bacterial infections including abscesses, infections in wounds to the skin, dental infections, and some kinds of bone fractures. It's designed to be especially effective at infections such as abscesses because it attaches itself to white blood cells. This means that it basically gets concentrated at an infection site as the white blood cells in your cat or dog hurry to fight off the bacteria, and it can get to some infections that other antibiotics can't because of their means of distribution in the pet's body. Your vet will likely prescribe it for soft tissue or bone problems.
It comes either in capsule form (meant to be ingested orally) or in liquid drops that you can apply directly to the wound. There isn't a canine or feline specific version, but you do need to adjust the dosage depending on the weight of your pet.
Are there any side effects?
Pfizer has reported that side effects include vomiting and diarrhea in pets. They also haven't done conclusive testing on pregnant dogs and whether it has any bad effects on them. The diarrhea is the bigger risk, as it can get bad with some pets. Mixing yogurt into wet, canned pet chow can make it a little better.
Where can I buy it?
Sources and Useful Links:
http://www.antirobe.com/country.asp?country=US&lang=EN&drug=AN&species=GL
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=0&cat=1451&articleid=1391
http://www.j5bacterin.com/pahimages/products/pdfs/antirobe.pdf
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