If you take your dog to the vet for a suspected infection, there is a good chance your vet will prescribe an antibiotic. Antibiotics help your body clear the infection so you can heal. One of the most common antibiotics prescribed to dogs is called ampicillin. Often, it is given in a form called ampicillin trihydrate. Here are some tips to follow if your vet has prescribed this medication for your dog.
Tip #1: Try to give the medication on an empty stomach
Ampicillin trihydrate is usually best absorbed and utilized if you give it to your dog on an empty stomach. However, not all dogs can tolerate the medication without food. The first time you give your dog ampicillin, try giving it an hour or two before they eat. Watch for any signs of a stomach problem, such as vomiting or diarrhea. If your dog does not seem like their stomach is upset, then keep giving the medication on an empty stomach. If your dog does seem to have an upset stomach, you can switch to giving the medication with a snack or meal.
Tip #2: Tell your vet about any supplements your dog is on
If you give your dog any nutritional supplements or herbs, let the vet know about these. Ampicillin can interfere with the action of some other supplements and medications. Your vet may tell you to temporarily stop giving your dog certain other meds or supplements while they are on ampicillin trihydrate.
Tip #3: Keep giving the ampicillin for the full recommended period
Your vet will likely instruct you to keep giving your dog ampicillin for a while. Make sure you keep giving the medication for this full recommended time, even if your dog seems a lot better before then. If you stop giving antibiotics early, it can lead to a recurrence of the infection, and the recurrent infection will likely be harder to treat than the first one. If your dog is having side effects, such as nausea or fatigue, reach out to your vet. They'll tell you whether it is safe to discontinue the antibiotics. Don't discontinue without their guidance.
With the tips above, you should get better results when giving your dog ampicillin for an infection. This is a potent and powerful antibiotic, and it can go a long way toward helping your dog heal from an intestinal infection, dental abscess, or even a respiratory infection.
To learn more about ampicillin, reach out to a local vet clinic, such as US Vet.
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