Why do vets swab pet infections before prescribing antibiotics?

Antibiotics are usually indicated if there is obvious signs of a skin infection, GI infection (if pet has loose stool and parasites are not the cause), upper airway infection, or a UTI. I am not sure of any vets that I know personally who would just give antibiotics if there isn't just cause. Bloodwork is not always needed to justify the use of antibiotics, unless we are suspicious of bacteremia (bacteria in the bloodstream). Besides bloodwork, there are some specialized tests available, which are usually cultures, however they are often not cost effective for most clients to afford, ranging anywhere from $100-$300. In those cases, we treat based on symptoms and the history of the pet, as we narrow down the possibilities of an infection vs something else. Also not to mention that some of these specialized tests (i.e. cultures) have an incubation period of anywhere from 7-14 days before results are available. If we don't treat for what we highly suspect, the pet will end up just getting sicker while awaiting results, if the owner can afford the test to begin with. The same thing is done in human medicine. If the doctor highly suspects an infection based on the physical exam and vitals, then antibiotics will be prescribed. On another note, we have to make sure we do our part and ask all the right questions about the pets history and rule out other causes before issuing antibiotics, so that we used them judiciously and not increase the risk of creating superbugs in the environment. I hope that this helps answer your question. It is a valid one and I am glad that you brought up the subject. Take care now.

Questions about why your vet choses a particular medication is always welcomed at my practice. I believe that the more informed a pet owner is, the better advocate they can be when it comes to determing the best course of treatment for their pet. If your vet isn't communicating their reasons for choosing certain treatments, then please do continue to ask questions. Take care and best of luck moving forward with Mia.

This would depend on the type of antibiotic being treated. Do not medicate your pet without the advice of your veterinarian. Inappropriate antibiotic use can lead to resistant bacteria and may complicate any underlying condition.

Although cephalexin and cefpodoxime are both cephalosporin antibiotics, they are different drugs - so it's certainly possible for an organism to be susceptible to one and not the other. Culture results generally give us a very good idea of what antibiotics are likely to be useful in treating the infection, so I don't see any problem with using cefpodoxime if this is what your veterinarian has recommended.

I am sorry to hear about Roman! I would consider asking your vet if the area needs a bacterial culture and sensitivity. This is a test that identifies the organism causing the infection and the antibiotics that are best suited to treat the infection. We can sometimes get infections with organisms that are resisitant to the more common bacterias (you may have heard of one called MRSA). So it is a good idea if an infection isn't clearing to do a culture. It is also possible his course of antibiotics wasn't long enough to completely clear the infection. Another possibility would be the presence of a foreign body in skin causing a pocket of infection. If the abscess keeps returning your vet may need to do surgery to open the area and be sure no foreign body (like a splinter or grass awn) is present.

A skin biopsy and bacterial culture swab must be taken to define underlying cause specifically and decide appropriate treatment. This presentation may be caused by a resistant bacteria (so a different antibiotic will be needed) or an autoimmune disorder (so a different treatment will be given). Hope this answer was helpful, but 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.

Antibiotics are a life saving treatment in many cases but should only be used where necessary and under direction from a vet. All medications and treatments carry some risk of side effects and overuse, prolonged use and high doses can be dangerous both for the individual patient and for antibiotic resistance in bacteria which can cause untreatable infections where antibiotics no longer work. If a patient is suffering from a severe bacterial infection then they should receive an appropriate antibiotic at the correct dosage for the prescribed amount of time only