Can I give my dog human antibiotics for a urinary tract infection?

I am sorry to hear your pup Zarina may have a urinary tract infection (commonly known as UTIs). Before I explain why, it is not a good idea to start antibiotics. UTIs are frequently caused by bacteria in the urinary bladder or the urethra. Female dogs are more prone to developing UTIs but any dog can be pre-disposed to UTIs if they have any urinary stone formation. Given that we are unsure if Zarina has a UTI, I would recommend a veterinary visit to confirm that she does in fact have one. They typically take a urine sample and look for bacteria and cells. If they see crystals or evidence of possible stone formation, they may recommend a radiograph of her bladder as well. If she does have UTI, it is important to choose the right antibiotic with the right dose and frequency. Typically, dogs are treated for UTIs with a 10-14 day course of antibiotics. Since UTI's can be painful and irritating, I recommend finding a veterinarian sooner rather than later to confirm and get the proper treatment. I hope this is helpful and feel free to start a consultation if you need more information! Good luck and I hope Zarina feels better!

Dosage would depend on weight (so please indicate it in a further post). We would not be allowed to tell you this drug is fine as it is for human beings and ideally an equivalent for dogs should be administered first. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

Hi there and thanks for your post on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. The best thing to do for a suspected urinary tract infection is to have Twinkles see her veterinarian for a urine test to confirm the infection and antibiotics. There are no home treatments or over the counter medications or supplements that can help treat a urinary tract infection. A supplement that can help prevent future urinary tract infections, however, is a cranberry extract supplement called Crananidin that you can purchase OTC at your local pet supplies store. Best of luck and thanks again for your question.

Many different antibiotics are used for both humans and dogs, the only difference is the dose given. Antibiotics should not be given without the advice of your veterinarian. Inappropriate antibiotic use can lead to resistant bacteria and may complicate any underlying condition which could delay diagnosis.

Based on the report you provided it looks as if this is a normal population of bacteria that lives in the skin. However, if there are signs of infection, like inflammation and purulent exudate, then you may want to consider treating with an appropriate antibiotic. If this is the first time an infection has been present your vet will likely recommend an empirical treatment with antibiotics. However, you could also culture the exidate to determine what organism specifically are growing and what antibiotic they are susceptible to. This would be the most definitive way to treat the infection. I hope this helps. If you have any further questions please let us know! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Harry! Less than 5% of male urinary tract issues are from bacterial UTI's. The most common cause for urinary tract problems in cats are feline interstitial cystitis, crystals in the urine and bladder stones. We can not diagnose diseases over the internet or provide drug doses with out actually examining the patient as it is against the law. Since it is a very small chance he needs antibiotics my advice is to take a urine sample and Harry for an exam at the Vet. You can repost with his symptoms and we can try to provide advice. I wish Harry the best!

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I recommend contacting Annie’s veterinarian to discuss the appropriate antibiotic for her. Medication choice depends on what type of infection they found and if culture/sensitively was performed. Be sure to feed her before medication. In some cases smaller can be given more frequently, or different antibiotic or possibly a long lasting injection may be given if she can not tolerate oral medications Good luck I hope she’s better soon.