{"id":628626,"date":"2024-06-17T12:21:58","date_gmt":"2024-06-17T16:21:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=628626"},"modified":"2024-10-25T09:54:24","modified_gmt":"2024-10-25T13:54:24","slug":"azithromycin-for-dogs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/azithromycin-for-dogs\/","title":{"rendered":"Can dogs take azithromycin?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Azithromycin<\/span><\/a> is a <\/span>broad-spectrum <\/span>antibiotic<\/span><\/a> that fights several types of <\/span>bacterial infections<\/span> in dogs. People may know <\/span>azithromycin<\/span> better as the <\/span>brand-name<\/span> Zithromax<\/span><\/a>. Even though it’s a familiar drug, it’s not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in dogs. Even so, veterinarians consider it a safe and effective antimicrobial treatment in dogs. <\/span>Azithromycin<\/span> only requires a few days to eradicate an infection, so dogs experience minimal <\/span>side effects<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

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

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

Azithromycin<\/span> can be used in dogs to treat any infection caused by bacteria vulnerable to <\/span>azithromycin<\/span>. Some of these bacteria species are familiar to most people, like “staph” infections (Staphylococcus), “strep” infections (Streptococcus), and Bordetella, a common respiratory infection in dogs and cats. Other types of <\/span>azithromycin<\/span>–<\/span>susceptible bacteria<\/span>, such as Helicobacter, <\/span>Mycoplasma<\/span>, or Borrelia (<\/span>Lyme disease<\/span>), are well-known to veterinary professionals. <\/span><\/p>\n

These <\/span>azithromycin<\/span>–<\/span>susceptible bacteria<\/span> can cause canine infections in the nose, sinuses, and throat (upper <\/span>respiratory tract infections<\/span>), infections of the lungs (<\/span>pneumonia<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>bronchitis<\/span><\/a>), skin, blood, digestive system, abdomen, and the urinary and genital tracts. Veterinarians could use <\/span>azithromycin<\/span> for any of these infections, though it’s not always their first choice.<\/span><\/p>\n

Azithromycin<\/span> does not kill bacteria like some antibiotics do. As a <\/span>macrolide antibiotic<\/span><\/a>, it prevents bacteria from making proteins that help bacteria grow and spread. It’s a bacteriostatic drug. It “halts” a <\/span>bacterial infection<\/span> in place while the immune system does the rest. <\/span>Erythromycin<\/span><\/a> was the first <\/span>macrolide antibiotic<\/span>. <\/span>Azithromycin<\/span> is a slightly different version of that drug that should have <\/span>fewer <\/span>side effects<\/span> in a dog<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

One reason veterinarians apply the <\/span>use of azithromycin<\/span> in dogs is that it’s well-absorbed (about 97% of the dose gets into the dog’s bloodstream), and it lasts a long time in the dog’s tissues. After five days of dosing, <\/span>azithromycin<\/span>’s <\/span>half-life<\/span> in dogs is about <\/span>90 hours<\/span><\/a>. Another advantage of <\/span>azithromycin<\/span> is that it collects in white blood cells, the infection-fighting cells that crowd around an infection. In a sense, the immune system delivers the drug where it’s needed. <\/span>Azithromycin<\/span> also <\/span>collects in the lung tissues<\/span><\/a>, making it a good choice for lung infections.<\/span><\/p>\n

Babesiosis<\/span><\/h3>\n

Babesiosis is a parasite infection of the blood rarely found in the United States. It most commonly occurs in the southeastern U.S. and Texas. Babesiosis is thought to be spread by ticks and dogfights. The combination of <\/span>azithromycin<\/span> and the antiparasite drug <\/span>atovaquone<\/span><\/a> is the <\/span>only drug treatment<\/span><\/a> proven to reduce the infection to undetectable levels in the blood.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

Veterinarians consider <\/span>azithromycin<\/span> safe for dogs. <\/span><\/p>\n

Dogs who are allergic to <\/span>azithromycin<\/span> or any other <\/span>macrolide antibiotic<\/span> cannot safely take <\/span>azithromycin<\/span>. Veterinarians may be reluctant to use it in dogs with liver disease because the dog is more likely to experience <\/span>potential side effects<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

The <\/span>most common side effects<\/span> of <\/span>azithromycin<\/span> in dogs are:<\/span><\/p>\n

Veterinarians use <\/span>azithromycin<\/span> in dogs to treat <\/span>bacterial infections<\/span> and, in combination with the antiparasite drug <\/span>atovaquone<\/span><\/a>, to treat babesiosis, a tick-borne parasite infection.<\/span><\/p>\n