{"id":628369,"date":"2024-05-24T12:09:07","date_gmt":"2024-05-24T16:09:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=628369"},"modified":"2024-10-25T09:56:41","modified_gmt":"2024-10-25T13:56:41","slug":"azithromycin-for-cats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/azithromycin-for-cats\/","title":{"rendered":"How is azithromycin used in cats"},"content":{"rendered":"

Azithromycin<\/span><\/a> (<\/span>brand name<\/span> Zithromax<\/span><\/a>) is a commonly used antibiotic that treats a broad spectrum of <\/span>bacterial infections<\/span> in cats, including skin infections, upper <\/span>respiratory tract infections<\/span>, pneumonia, bronchitis, and blood infections. Its use in cats is “off-label,” meaning that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (<\/span>FDA<\/span>) has not approved the drug for use in <\/span>companion animals<\/span>. Treatment lasts only a few days, with relatively minimal <\/span>potential side effects<\/span>. When cats have problems, they usually involve <\/span>gastrointestinal<\/span> issues like nausea or diarrhea. <\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>Save up to 80% on <\/b>azithromycin<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

What is <\/span>azithromycin<\/span> used for in cats?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Bacterial infection<\/span><\/h3>\n

In cats, <\/span>azithromycin<\/span> is used against any infection caused by bacteria that can be affected by drugs like <\/span>azithromycin<\/span>. These include <\/span>Staphylococcus<\/span> (“staph” infections) and <\/span>Streptococcus<\/span> (“strep” infections), as well as other common bacteria well-known to veterinary professionals. These types of <\/span>bacterial infections<\/span> can affect the upper respiratory tract, the skin, the lungs (<\/span>bronchitis<\/span><\/a> or <\/span>pneumonia<\/span><\/a>), the blood, the abdomen, and the urinary and genital tracts. Veterinarians also use it <\/span>for chronic upper <\/span>respiratory tract infections<\/span> <\/a>when other antibiotics have failed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Some infections in humans or dogs are commonly treated with <\/span>azithromycin<\/span>. These include <\/span>Bordetella<\/span>, <\/span>chlamydia<\/span>, and <\/span>mycoplasma<\/span> (pneumonia). However, <\/span>azithromycin<\/span> isn’t effective against these infections in cats, so other antibiotics are used.<\/span><\/p>\n

Azithromycin<\/span> belongs to a family of drugs called macrolides. Easily recognizable by the “-mycin” at the end of their names, <\/span>macrolide antibiotics<\/span> stop bacteria from growing. They do this by preventing the bacteria from making needed proteins. Veterinary professionals call this type of antibiotic “bacteriostatic. These drugs don’t kill the bacteria—those drugs are called bactericidal—but simply stop the bacteria from dividing. Over a short time, the immune system ends the infection by killing off the remaining bacteria.<\/span><\/p>\n

As in humans, <\/span>azithromycin<\/span> lasts long in a cat’s body, so only one dose per day is required. Some dosage guidelines advise that doses be given every two to three days. Another advantage of <\/span>azithromycin<\/span> is that it concentrates in white blood cells, the immune system’s front line for fighting infections. In this way, the body’s immune system functions like a drug delivery system since the white blood cells naturally travel to the infection. <\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>When does your pet need antibiotics?<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Is <\/span>azithromycin<\/span> safe for cats?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Veterinarians consider <\/span>azithromycin<\/span> safe for cats. It is a common choice in <\/span>veterinary medicine<\/span> for clearing up <\/span>bacterial infections<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Azithromycin<\/span> is never given to cats with <\/span>hypersensitivity<\/span> to <\/span>azithromycin<\/span> or any other <\/span>macrolide antibiotic<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Veterinarians use <\/span>azithromycin<\/span> with caution in cats with <\/span>liver disease<\/span>. Cats with impaired <\/span>liver function<\/span> will not efficiently break down the drug, increasing the risk of <\/span>potential side effects<\/span>. <\/span><\/p>\n

Side effects of azithromycin<\/span> in cats<\/span><\/h3>\n

The <\/span>most common side effects<\/span><\/a> of azithromycin<\/span> in <\/span>companion animals<\/span> are digestive system problems such as:<\/span><\/p>\n

Azithromycin<\/span> is used to treat a wide range of <\/span>bacterial infections<\/span> in cats. It’s not always the first <\/span>antibiotic<\/span><\/a> a veterinarian would choose, but veterinarians commonly use it. <\/span><\/p>\n