Bacteria are single cell organisms that reproduce through a process known as mitosis i.e. the division of the cells. It’s important to note that not all bacteria are necessarily bad for you or your pet for that matter. In fact, we need a balance of good bacteria (such as probiotics) in our body’s at all time. Thus, we can control any possible outbreaks or infections from causing us to fall ill and keep a healthy and functioning immune system.

Unlike their owners, dog’s are a lot more vulnerable to bacterial infections due to the way in which they live. Dog’s are messy creatures – that much is a-given. It’s simply a part of their nature to roll around in the mud and play with other dogs. While taking them out for a walk, they’re bound to contract a number of harmful bacteria. Having a sick pet is simply a natural part of owning one and dogs are especially prone to contracting illness and infections.

There are a wide variety of bacterial infections that can affect your dog’s skin, eyes, ears, digestive system, urinary tract, kidneys and even their nervous system. The likelihood of your dog falling ill depends on its health history and the general strength of its immune system. This is all dependent on your dog’s diet, how much exposure it gets to these bacteria on a regular basis, i.e. a stronger immune system, and in some cases, even the breed may play a role.

So once your dog has fallen ill, what should you do? In truth, by the time you notice that your pooch has fallen ill and the more immediate symptoms of disease are showing, the infection has probably already spread quite far. At this point it’s no longer a matter of researching DIY remedies or trying to treat the dog yourself – you should simply take your pet to the vet.

That being said, it is worthwhile having some understanding of the medication that the vet’s use as a means of  treating your dog so that you are better equipped to aide your pet through the recovery process. So, if you fear that you’ve got a sick dog on your hands and need some advice on what to do, then I suggest you keep scrolling.

What Causes Bacterial Infections in Dogs?

Your dog may pick up bacteria whilst playing out in the yard

Bacteria can enter your dog’s system in a variety of ways and as I mentioned earlier, due to a dog’s nature, they’re bound to come into contact with bacteria on a daily basis. One of the most common means of infection in dogs is caused by the contraction of parasites such as fleas and ticks.

Your dog may pick them up whilst playing out in the yard or while you’re taking it for a walk. Once they’re on your pet, they can spread through your household and infect your other pets and even your family.

Treating a flea or tick infection is reasonably easy, given that you spot the signs early enough and act on them. However, parasites are generally also laden with a wide variety of bacteria and the effects of these harmful bacteria can be more prolonged, leading to infection.

If your dog has a weakened immune system, which can happen for any variety of reasons, including stress, allergies and a poor diet, they can fall victim to other forms of bacterial infection as well. The two most common forms of infection that occur when your dog has a lowered immune system are Streptococcal and Staphylococcal infections.

These can both manifest themselves in pretty nasty ways if they’re left untreated causing serious skin rashes and irritation, fevers, vomiting, a sore throat and in extreme cases, a form of flesh eating disease known as cellulitis.

However, it’s important to note that these are only a few of the more common types of infection that can affect your dog. If your pet is showing symptoms of illness or disease, it is always best to consult a veterinarian.

What is Baytril Otic Antibiotic for Dogs?

Baytril Otic is a specially formulated antibiotic treatment for dogs and cats

Baytril Otic is a specially formulated antibiotic treatment for dogs and cats, but is also used to help treat birds too. The active ingredient in the formula is known as ‘enrofloxacin’ and it comes in three forms, namely tablet, injection and an oral syrup. Enrofloxacin technically belongs to a group of antibiotics known as fluoroquinolones and these work by inhibiting the function of an enzyme called DNA gyrase.

This enzyme is responsible for allowing bacteria to replicate itself and is ideal for treating mycoplasma gram-negative bacteria such as Salmonella and other internal infections such as Escherichia coli. While using the drug to treat topical infections such as a Streptococcus infection can help the healing process, it is not ideally suited to neutralizing these types of bacteria.  

For every milliliter or milligram of Baytril, there is exactly 25 mg of enrofloxacin. This is quite a substantial dosage which means that if you use the medication for too long or in uncontrolled amounts, you can wind up killing off all their good bacteria and end up leading to the spread of harmful bacteria within your pet and leading to further illness and infection. So it’s always important to stick to a recommended dosage when using any antibiotics or medication for your pet and to stick to the advice your vet gives you.

Benefits of Baytril for Dogs

The most notable benefit of using Baytril to treat your pet is the quickness and effectiveness of the treatment. It can help to relieve the initial symptoms of the infection long before it becomes something more serious.

Baytril is also a relatively cheap and painless method of treatment that can help to get your dog up and healthy again so long as you follow the guidelines of dosage accurately and ensure that your dog is on a healthy diet and kept clean during the recovery process. However, ensuring that your dog is kept clean on a regular basis and feeding it with a healthy and balanced diet, will make sure that they stay healthy for longer and avoid contracting any infections in the long run. Prevention is always better than the cure.

Baytril Injections vs. Tablets

There is no real difference in either the injection or tablet form of Baytril

The truth is that there is no real difference in the formula or active compounds i.e. the antibiotics contained in either the injection or tablet form of Baytril. Each is simply used for a different set of circumstances. For instance, certain animals may not be able to swallow the tablet and therefore, an injection must be used to administer the antibiotics to them.

However, there are a few more variables to consider when dosing your pet with an injection. For instance, the dosage for dogs is usually around 1ml per 5kg of body weight (or 5 mg per 1 kg of body weight). When using the tablets, however, you can go up to 25 mg/kg of body weight once a day.

This is largely because tablets are a slower release and injections go directly into the bloodstream. However, these are decisions that your vet should make rather than something that you have to worry about.

Is there a Cheaper Alternative to Baytril Otic?

Manuka honey in particular is known for it’s potent antibacterial properties

If you’re totally opposed to the idea of using conventional antibiotic treatments on your pets or you feel that you’ve managed to identify the infection before it becomes too serious, there are a few natural products that you can use to help treat the infection. These all have mild antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties which make them ideal for treating various infections, their symptoms and boosting your pet’s overall immune system.

The first on this list is Manuka Honey. This naturally occurring wonder treatment is native to the Manuka Tree (New Zealand and Australia). This honey in particular is known for it’s potent antibacterial properties and can be used as a topical treatment for minor wounds and bites (fleas and ticks) as well as added to your pets food or treats. It helps boost their body’s natural immunity towards infection in general.

The second is Goldenseal. This is a root that is native to southeastern Canada and has tremendous properties as a natural antibiotic. It can be mixed into a tincture and used to help treat topical issues such as bites, cuts and grazes like a natural disinfectant as well being used to help strengthen your pet’s immune system.

The final is Yarrow. I would recommend using yarrow essential oil as it’s highly effective in killing off streptococcus and staphylococcus which makes it highly effective for treating topical infections on your pet.

Personally, I would always recommend consulting a vet before using any alternative forms of treatment as certain dogs may be adverse to them. Also, they may not work for every type of infection e.g. they are better suited for treating topical issues rather than internal issues.

Natural Antibiotics and Remedies for Dogs and Catshttps://t.co/TnQJueIryD pic.twitter.com/bkOgd3XAun

— AMothersWorldinHD (@AMothersWorldHD) March 26, 2017

Conclusion

To conclude, it’s always important to ensure that your dog gets enough exercise and eats healthy. This is the best way to ensure that your pet stays healthy. It’s also the cheapest way to treat any illnesses or infections because preventing them from ever happening is a lot cheaper than having to actually treat their symptoms! 

However, these things do happen – sickness and disease is basically one of the few inevitabilities of life on this planet. So being ready to take care of any issues as they may arise is a very important aspect of pet ownership – it’s not just walks in the park on sunny days! So always be sure to keep a history of your pet’s diet and eating habits as well as taking note of where you walk them.

When sickness strikes, it’s best to act quickly and nip it in the butt, rather than allowing it to develop into something far more complicated and potentially life-threatening, as so many bacterial infections can become.

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