Tetracycline and Diarrhea in Dogs
There are many reasons that dogs develop diarrhea. Most cases are easily treatable and the diarrhea will go away; however, it's a little more difficult to treat and get rid of diarrhea when it's associated with a medication that has been prescribed to a dog. This is especially true if the dog has to take the medication for a prolonged period of time and is not able to take anything else to treat the ailment.
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Significance
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Tetracyline is an antibiotic that is commonly prescribed to dogs who are suffering from some sort of bacterial infection. Tetracycline works by blocking the proteins that bacteria need in order to thrive. As a result of the medication, the bacteria are killed by the canine's white blood cells and are unable to multiply or feed. This action results in the infection clearing up and the ailments that have been plaguing the dog (including diarrhea) to subside.
Identification
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Diarrhea as a result of taking tetracycline is pretty easy to diagnose. If the dog had no symptoms of diarrhea until it started taking tetracycline, chances are that the medication is causing the diarrhea. However, if there were signs of diarrhea before the dog started taking the medication, the diarrhea might actually be caused by the dog's ailment, or a combination of the medication and the ailment. Diarrhea as a result of taking tetracycline will usually develop 24 to 48 hours after the first couple of doses of the medication.
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Theories/Speculation
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Some dog owners might think that getting rid of a dog's diarrhea is far more important than making sure the dog gets its medicine. After all, it's messy and can be difficult to clean up, especially if an accident should occur inside the home. However, it is important to make sure the dog continues to take all of its medication as prescribed, regardless of the side effects it may experience. Failure to do so could result in the dog getting even more ill because of the lack of medicine to treat the infection.
Prevention/Solution
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There are a couple of different ways a dog owner can deal with diarrhea as a result of taking tetracycline. The first is to call the veterinarian and ask if there's a less harsh, alternative medicine that can be prescribed to the dog. In some cases, there are other medications that can fight the infection without the harsh side effects. However, if there is no alternative, making sure the dog does not take the medication with food might also help. Tetracycline is not supposed to be taken with food anyway, because it's not as effective.
Warning
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Regardless of how bad the accidents are, a dog should never be given any over-the-counter diarrhea medication, such as Pepto Bismol or Kaopectate. Instead of trying to treat a dog's diarrhea with human medication, consult a veterinarian. The vet can prescribe an anti-diarrhea medication to help the dog, or prescribe the dog another medication, if possible. Giving a dog a human medication can cause the diarrhea to get worse, or can cause the dog to become ill.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit dog image by Mat Hayward from Fotolia.com
