Is my cat at risk of blindness from fluoroquinolone medications?

Hello. I am so sorry that your question has gone unanswered for so long. As long as the antibiotic is used at the prescribed dose & for the prescribed time, there is very little chance of retinal damage occurring in Echo. Orbax has been available for many years & was in fact developed to address the retinal issue seen with some other fluoroquinolones. It is a good & safe antibiotic for cats. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello. I would be very cautious about using the Efex for such a long period of time. Our veterinary formulary says the maximum use in cats should not exceed 30 days, but even at this time frame, you can still wind up with side effects from the long term use of any flouroquinolone, or run into a problem with antibiotic resistance. If the otitis interna was definitively diagnosed by radiography & myringotomy & this antibiotic was chosen based on a culture & sensitivity, then I would administer the antibiotic with frequent rechecks. Otherwise, an MRI may be necessary to confirm the condition. This may be the antibiotic to use, but 42 days is a bit worrisome. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

No, I don't recommend to use this product. There are other antibiotics that are more appropriate for eye infections but you will need to call your veterinarian for recommendations. Pharmacy law prohibits online veterinarians from discussing the usage of medications not prescribed for that individual pet. There is a supplement called Lysine which may also help. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Yes, there is almost always a chance that the eye will recover, even if only partially. when i took one of my cats in 10 years ago i was sure she was blind, but somehow one eye recovered almost completely within several weeks of treatment, and she is still seeing well from that eye until this day. sometimes one antibiotic eye ointment might not be enough and additional eye drops might be added to the treatment plan.

Baytril (Enrofloxacin) does have the potential to stunt growth or cause joint abnormalities with the cartilage if given in pets younger than 8 months of age. I would not expect these changes to occur with such a short dosage; however, I would recommend expressing your concerns to your veterinarian and getting them on an alternative medication. The whole class of Fluoroquinolone drugs are not recommended for pets under 8 months of age unless they are absolutely necessary. Best of luck with your pet Presto and take care!

It is never recommended to medicate a pet without the advice of your veterinarian. A physical exam is strongly recommended to confirm infection so the appropriate antibiotic can be used. Inappropriate antibiotic use can lead to resistant bacteria and may complicate any underlying conditions. If you choose to use this medication, chloramphenicol can cause serious blood abnormalities, thus should be handled with caution.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This may be due to the upper respiratory infection or an ulcer for example. Regardless, he is likely going to need eye medications. I recommend you have him evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Best of luck!