How does penicillin work in dogs?
Discovered in 1928, penicillin was the first antibiotic ever discovered. By definition, antibiotics are medications that fight against bacterial infections. This is precisely what it is used for in dogs and puppies. Penicillin works in dogs by attacking the cells of bacteria and breaking them down so that they are unable to reproduce. This greatly reduces the spread of most bacterial infections.
Why do vets prescribe penicillin?
Vets will prescribe your puppy penicillin in order to fight against a certain bacterial infection. A vet might also prescribe other drugs to work together with penicillin at the same time.
Vets will also sometimes prescribe penicillin to dogs as a preventative measure. This is usually done after a dog has surgery, and the penicillin is administered in order to prevent the dog from developing any secondary bacterial infections
How to give a dog penicillin
Penicillin is usually given to a dog through injection. Penicillin can be injected into the blood or directly into your dog’s muscle. There are also some forms of penicillin that come in oral tablets. However, these are not very common and are hardly prescribed by veterinarians. Unlike other medications, it is actually best to give a dog penicillin when they have an empty stomach. We recommend storing penicillin in a refrigerator that is between the temperature of 38F – 42F.
How much penicillin to give a puppy
The amount of penicillin you give a puppy is dependent on the form of penicillin you are administering. If you are injecting liquid penicillin into your puppy, the genearl rule is 0.5ml per 50 lbs of body weight. However, this can change based on the type of penicillin you are giving your puppy. For this reason, we always recommend that you consult your vet to find out how much penicillin to give a puppy.
Can you give a puppy human penicillin
No, we do not recommend giving a puppy human penicillin. The concentration is much bigger. In some extreme cases, your vet might tell you to give your puppy human penicillin. The most common penicillin for puppies is Penicillin G. This type of penicillin is also used in livestock such as cows and goats.