Hello,
My 8 week old puppy is suffering from an upper respiratory infection (kennel cough?), that might have led to pneumonia. She also has Giardia. Her fever was at 105.2 degrees a few days ago. She has staggered breathing that looks and sounds very painful for her along with thick nasal discharge. This all started with a hacking like cough that we thought was harmless and would disappear on it's own. She is a rescued puppy from a no-kill shelter and probably contracted her illnesses through transport or her previous living situations.
My vet prescribed Metronidazole, Clavamox, and Panacur. I researched these medications and felt assured by what I learned from the Clavamox and Panacur. The Metronidazole I am worried about, however. In several places I have read that it should not be given to young puppies and can cause irreversible side effects and neurological reactions because of toxicity.
Is Metronidazole a good choice for my puppy right now? Does it cover a broader spectrum of respiratory infection causes? We could not afford a respiratory panel to pinpoint the exact cause of the infection (bacterial, viral, fungal), but it seems more likely that it is bacterial. What other choices of antibiotics do I have that might work better? The puppy's fever has dropped and she seems to be doing better, but she is staggering and I worry about long term side effects from the Metronidazole. Any thoughts or suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Dom
My 8 week old puppy is suffering from an upper respiratory infection (kennel cough?), that might have led to pneumonia. She also has Giardia. Her fever was at 105.2 degrees a few days ago. She has staggered breathing that looks and sounds very painful for her along with thick nasal discharge. This all started with a hacking like cough that we thought was harmless and would disappear on it's own. She is a rescued puppy from a no-kill shelter and probably contracted her illnesses through transport or her previous living situations.
My vet prescribed Metronidazole, Clavamox, and Panacur. I researched these medications and felt assured by what I learned from the Clavamox and Panacur. The Metronidazole I am worried about, however. In several places I have read that it should not be given to young puppies and can cause irreversible side effects and neurological reactions because of toxicity.
Is Metronidazole a good choice for my puppy right now? Does it cover a broader spectrum of respiratory infection causes? We could not afford a respiratory panel to pinpoint the exact cause of the infection (bacterial, viral, fungal), but it seems more likely that it is bacterial. What other choices of antibiotics do I have that might work better? The puppy's fever has dropped and she seems to be doing better, but she is staggering and I worry about long term side effects from the Metronidazole. Any thoughts or suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Dom
There are side effects and possible problems with anything we give our dogs, so its good to be aware and know what you are giving, definitely!
