Ciprofloxacin for dogs

Ciprofloxacin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that veterinarians may use off-label in dogs. Ciprofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic. It kills bacteria by damaging the bacteria’s DNA without affecting the DNA in animals or humans. Although it’s very effective at killing bacteria, it does have problems in dogs that may make other antibiotics a better choice. Ciprofloxacin can be used to treat a variety of bacterial infections, including skin infections, bone infections, joint infections, intestinal infections, lower respiratory infections, eye infections, and urinary tract infections.

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What is ciprofloxacin used for in dogs?

Veterinarians prescribe ciprofloxacin for bacterial infections, usually the same infections they might treat with enrofloxacin, a drug very similar to ciprofloxacin that is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in dogs and cats. These include skin and soft tissue infections, respiratory infections, urinary tract infections, and eye infections. Ciprofloxacin is also FDA-approved in humans to treat bone and joint infections, abdominal infections, and intestinal infections, so a veterinarian may also use it for these purposes. 

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Skin and soft tissue infections

Many skin and soft tissue infections are caused by bacteria that can be killed by ciprofloxacin, such as Staphylococcus and E. coli. Examples include wounds, abscesses, and lacerations. For many of these infections, fluoroquinolones such as ciprofloxacin are a second choice if another drug doesn’t work. Clinical guidelines advise vets to identify the bacteria before prescribing ciprofloxacin or similar second-line treatments. 

Respiratory tract infections

Ciprofloxacin-susceptible bacteria, including rhinitis, tonsillitis, and pneumonia, may cause upper respiratory and lower respiratory tract infections. 

Urinary tract infections

As in people, many canine UTIs are caused by bacteria that can be killed by ciprofloxacin, such as Staphylococcus, E. coli, and Proteus. However, ciprofloxacin is not considered a first-choice antibiotic for UTIs. Before prescribing an antibiotic, the veterinarian will perform a urinalysis to discover the type of bacteria responsible for the infection. 

Eye infections

Eye infections are caused by many of the same bacteria responsible for skin infections. Ciprofloxacin is also effective against some eye infections. If ciprofloxacin is selected to treat a pet’s eye infection, pet parents will be sent home with a prescription for ciprofloxacin ophthalmic solution or ointment such as brand-name Ciloxan. These are eye drops, so ask a veterinary professional to demonstrate the proper medication administration method.

Other infections

Ciprofloxacin should work against any bacteria that can be eradicated with the drug. Many of these, such as Staphylococcus and E. coli, are common bacteria responsible for intestinal or abdominal infections. 

Is ciprofloxacin safe for dogs?

Ciprofloxacin is considered safe for grown dogs, but its effectiveness as an oral medication is variable. Most importantly, ciprofloxacin can damage the cartilage of growing dogs, so it should be avoided unless absolutely necessary in growing dogs. For small and medium-sized breeds, any puppy eight months or younger should not get ciprofloxacin unless it’s critical. Large and giant breeds grow for much longer periods. For large breeds, growth usually ends by the time they’re 12 months old. Giant breeds can grow for as long as 18 months.

Ciprofloxacin should never be given to dogs with a hypersensitivity reaction to ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin, or any other quinolone antibiotic.

Ciprofloxacin can cause serious side effects in dehydrated dogs. Pet owners must ensure that their dog has plenty of water to drink.

Side effects of ciprofloxacin in dogs

The most common side effects of ciprofloxacin in dogs are:

• Vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Diarrhea
• Crystalluria (crystals within the urine) or bladder stones

Potential but rare serious side effects include:

• Seizures
• Cartilage and joint damage in growing puppies
• Kidney damage
• Severe allergic reactions

If a dog given ciprofloxacin displays any unusual behaviors, lethargy, depression, excitability, or seizures, immediately call the veterinarian.

Interactions of ciprofloxacin with other pet meds

Ciprofloxacin has many significant drug interactions, but for dogs, the major concern involves drugs that interfere with the absorption of an oral dose. That’s because absorption is already a problem in dogs. Veterinary professionals can’t predict how well a dog will absorb an oral dose. For this reason, ciprofloxacin should not be given with:

• Anything containing calcium, iron, zinc, or magnesium, such as dairy products, mineral supplements, multivitamin supplements, or antacids
  • Ensure the ciprofloxacin dose is given two hours before or two hours after any of these foods, supplements, or antacids. 
• The stomach protectant sucralfate
  • The combination isn’t banned, but the ciprofloxacin dose must be given two hours before or two hours after the sucralfate dose.
• Buffered drugs

Other drugs that may cause problems when combined with ciprofloxacin are:

• Blood thinners, such as warfarin
• The immune suppressants cyclosporine or methotrexate
• Bronchodilators like theophylline
• Antiarrhythmics, such as quinidine
• The gout treatment probenecid

Ciprofloxacin dosage for dogs

The standard ciprofloxacin dosage for dogs is 20-25mg/kg every 24 hours.

Other published ciprofloxacin dosages for specific infections in dogs include:

• Skin or soft tissue infections: 30 mg/kg PO once daily

• Bone infections, blood infections (bacteremia), and resistant infections: 20–25 mg/kg given once daily

• Urinary tract infections: 30 mg/kg once daily 

• Middle ear infections: 20-25 mg/kg once daily

Can dogs overdose on ciprofloxacin?

The largest recommended dosage of ciprofloxacin in dogs is 120 milligrams per day. That dose may be increased if the dog has problems absorbing the dose. Consider the prescribed dose to be the maximum dose. Do not give a dog more than that.

Dogs can overdose on ciprofloxacin. A large enough dose can be fatal. Most overdose clinical studies have dealt with long-term overdoses of enrofloxacin, a drug that is very similar to ciprofloxacin. The most common signs of an overdose are vomiting and loss of appetite, but depression and clumsiness are also possible signs. 

If an overdose is suspected, call an animal poison control center or the veterinarian. If you see signs of an overdose, take the dog to a veterinarian or veterinary hospital.

Can I give my dog ciprofloxacin every day?

Ciprofloxacin is a short-term treatment that usually lasts one or two weeks. It should never be used for long-term treatment. In addition to side effects such as kidney injury, lengthy use of ciprofloxacin or other antibiotics can result in bacteria that are resistant to antibacterial drugs. Such infections can be fatal.

How to give your dog ciprofloxacin

If a veterinarian sends a dog home with ciprofloxacin, pet parents will be given tablets or oral suspension that are either human products or custom-made at a compounding pharmacy. There are no veterinary formulations of ciprofloxacin except those prepared by a compounding pharmacy. 

Ciprofloxacin is a bit different than other pills, so make sure to follow a few important tips:

• Follow all the veterinarian’s instructions. 
• Don’t miss doses. Give every dose according to the dosing schedule.
• Give the dog ciprofloxacin until the end of the treatment schedule. The dog may feel better after only one tablet, but stopping the antibiotic early may cause the infection to return.
• Give ciprofloxacin tablets without food.
  • If the dog vomits up the dose, you can then give the tablet with some food.
• To give a dose of ciprofloxacin oral suspension:
  • Shake the bottle before each dose to mix the medicine with the water evenly.
  • Measure each dose with a calibrated oral syringe.
• To give a dose of ciprofloxacin ophthalmic solution or ointment:
  • It helps to have two people: One holding the dog’s head and the second administering eye drops or ointment.
  • Use a moist tissue to clean the debris and dirt around the dog’s eyes first.
  • Pull down the dog’s lower eyelid with your thumb and support the dog’s muzzle with the rest of your hand.
  • Do not touch the bottle or ointment to the eye or anything else.
  • Squeeze out one drop directly onto the eyeball or squeeze the ointment onto the inner surface of the lower eyelid.
• Give a missed dose when remembered unless it’s almost time for the next dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and give the next dose as scheduled.
• There is no need to taper the dose when this drug is discontinued.
• Store ciprofloxacin tablets or ointment at room temperature.
• Store ciprofloxacin oral suspension as instructed. Ask the veterinarian or pharmacist for disposal instructions. It may only be good for a short time.
• Store ciprofloxacin eye drops at room temperature, protected from light.

Ciprofloxacin alternatives for dogs

Although ciprofloxacin is commonly used in people, veterinarians are less likely to use it unless other drugs don’t work. Ciprofloxacin is usually a second choice when other antibiotics don’t work, or the dog can’t take them. Its biggest problem is absorption. Veterinarian professionals can’t be sure how much of an oral dose gets into the dog’s system. In particular, large dogs seem to have the most problems absorbing a dose.

Rather than use ciprofloxacin off-label in dogs, veterinarians can use two other fluoroquinolones that are FDA-approved for veterinary use: enrofloxacin and marbofloxacin. For both, veterinarians are more certain that recommended doses will provide the animal with enough drug to kill off an infection. Of the two, enrofloxacin is very similar to ciprofloxacin. Once it enters the bloodstream, it’s eventually converted into ciprofloxacin. Because of its reliable dosing and effectiveness, enrofloxacin is often a first-choice antibiotic for many bacterial infections in dogs. 

As with humans, veterinarians have a staggering variety of antibiotics, each with their range of effectiveness. For fluoroquinolones like ciprofloxacin, the most appropriate alternatives include:

• Penicillin drugs like amoxicillin
• Cephalosporins like cephalexin

Summary

Because absorption is unpredictable in dogs, making accurate dosing difficult, ciprofloxacin is right for dogs when other antibiotics don’t work. When prescribed ciprofloxacin, give the dog each dose on an empty stomach. Give each dose as scheduled for the full treatment duration to ensure the infection is eradicated. Do not give this drug to growing puppies.