My nursing dog has mastitis. Can I give her amoxicillin safely?

That antibiotic is safe for nursing puppies. Try to express that particular mammary gland that has the mastitis and try to get the puppies to nurse on the other nipples. If she isn’t improving, be sure to have your vet take a look at her. I hope she feels better soon!

I would not recommend treating your dog without an examination by the veterinarian, to ensure that mastitis is the issue and to ensure an appropriate antibiotic is chosen. We do not normally use penicillin to treat this infection, a first line antibiotic commonly used is Clavamox.

Unfortunately, no, doxycycline is not a good choice for antibiotics in a nursing mamma dog. First, it does not have the spectrum of antibacterial activity needed for most mammary gland infections. This means that it may not clear up the infection entirely or be effective against the organisms causing the infection at all. Secondly, this is a drug that needs to be avoided in nursing moms because of potential side effects it can have in young puppies. This drug is not safe in neonates and can cause problems with the teeth in these young pups. I would recommend taking your momma dog to the vet to be examined and to get an antibiotic that is safe for her and the pups. In the meantime, until you can get to the vet, try using warm compresses and massage on the affected glands if your dog will tolerate it. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

there have been no accurate studies that have been performed regarding the safety of Clavamox in lactating female dogs, but on the other hand there is also no evidence that there is any significant risk in this sort of situation. in general it is considered safe and many vets prescribe Clavamox to lactating dogs.

Please, here in this forum don’t threaten shooting your dog if we don’t help you. It’s inappropriate. The dose for Amoxicillin is 10-25mg/kg, two to three times per day. You are better off giving him 1,000 mg three times a day if the infection is a bad as you described.

I don't recommend giving her any antibiotics unless directed by a vet that has examined her and confirmed that she actually has mastitis. Also, the amount of antibiotics that she would need depends on the exact antibiotic and the concentration of the antibiotic.

Ear infections are usually treated with an antibiotic ointment that is placed directly in the ear and left in the ear to work in between cleanings. A typical schedule of cleanings include cleaning out the affected ear every twelve hours, placing the ointment in the ear, massaging and letting it set. This continues for a period of 7-10 days to completely clear the infection. There are some OTC ear infection ointments available but it is likely you will need to visit your vet for a prescription version. Amoxicillin is a general antibiotic and is more common in other infections such as skin or minor internal infections. It is best to check with your vet to see if it is appropriate for your dog's type of ear infection rather than just giving it. Giving the wrong medication or wrong dosage for the problem can actually make it worse, or even make your dog very ill.