Antibiotics are one of the most important tools we have in healthcare / veterinary care.
Without antibiotics, we and our furlings would probably die of diseases we would never even think of as life-threatening.
Overuse and incorrect use have, however, led to many bacteria developing resistance, ie. resistance, to various types of antibiotics which therefore can no longer fight these bacteria. So we may die from a nail in the foot if this continues.
In Sweden, we are good at using antibiotics in the right way, we should be proud of that! It is e.g. prohibited the use of antibiotics for preventive purposes in farm animals, which occurs to a large extent in many other countries. But each of us must take responsibility for antibiotics.
You can make a big difference
You make a big difference by using antibiotics for yourself or your cat in the right way, which means:
- only when you have to; minor infections, the body can often heal itself, e.g. with thorough cleaning and / or disinfection
- when it has been prescribed by a doctor resp. vet – do not give your cat some leftover antibiotics that you have left at home because the cat seems a little droopy. Or because someone you know got it prescribed when “their cat felt the same way”.
- the right type of antibiotic that bites at just the bacterium that your cat has; no more bacterial species than that.
- correct dose; too low a dose means that some bacteria survive so that the infection does not heal, so antibiotics are required for a longer period of time. In addition, these bacteria then become more resistant to the antibiotic.
- THE ENTIRE prescribed course and do not stop the medication because you or your cat seems to feel better. An interrupted cure also means that some bacteria survive. If you or your cat are NOT feeling well from the antibiotic; Do not interrupt the treatment either, but ask your doctor or veterinarian for help.
Tip! Prevent problems by boosting with probiotics in connection with antibiotic treatment, e.g. with Fortiflora or Sivomixx (for the cat, can not swear that these help yourself, but there are other preparations for you otherwise).
Antibiotics can work magic
…And that is it but it bites at just bacteria. It does not bite viruses or fungi or parasites.
It does not help with urinary tract problems that are not caused by bacteria, and these are uncommon in cats.
Except in completely acute situations, bacterial culture should be used to check that it is actually a bacterial infection and the type of bacteria so that the right antibiotics are used.
So do not bother your veterinarian to prescribe antibiotics, it makes him willing if the situation requires it.
And do not complain to your veterinarian if he decides that you need to change antibiotics when the culture answers come; this is done because in that case there is a better adapted antibiotic for your particular cat’s problem.
The use of antibiotics comes with a great responsibility both for the person who prescribes it and you as a user.
What YOU do can thus have major consequences for both humanity and animals. No pressure!