Trimethoprim-Sulfa (TMP-SMX) for Pets: Bacterial & Protozoal Treatment

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Heartworm disease is a serious condition in pets which is carried by mosquitoes. Treatment is intense, expensive and can produce adverse side effects.

The usual dose used is 15mg/kg but you could go as high as 30mg/kg; so a 26# dog would need between 177mg to 354mg twice a day. I do think the dose is high so please call your vet and ask. Personally I would use 1/2 of a 480mg tablet twice a day. The person who filled the prescription may have made an error. The drug is very safe so I would not be worried about it's safety. Remember, any drug can cause side effects but I use this drug A LOT and very rarely see any side effects and if I do, they are usually mild. ( https://www.petplace.com/article/drug-library/drug-library/library/trimethoprimsulfadiazine-tribrissen-for-dogs-and-cats/ )

The average dosage of SMZ-TMP for dogs is about 13mg per pound given once daily. For a 50 pound dog this would be about 650mg daily. However, if you need to give a medication such as SMZ to your dog it is best to contact your local veterinarian for the correct dosage and usage information as this dosage can vary depending on your dog's personal needs or illness. Antibiotics should only be given under direct veterinary supervision as the antibiotics you have on hand may not be the correct dosage or even type for your dog's current condition. Giving a medication in the wrong dosage or frequency may make the illness worse or cause side effects that are detrimental to your dog.

You are correct about Pyrantel not treating tapeworms. Septran (trimethoprim sulfa) is an antibiotic drug that does not treat parasites. In order to kill the tapeworms you will need to get a drug called praziquantel.

Metoclopramide is frequently used to treat vomiting and other gastrointestinal issues in dogs and cats. It typically is well tolerated, with some pets exhibiting hyperactivity, lethargy or constipation as side effects.

It really depends on what she is being treated for. Some treatments are 7 days, some may last up to 4 weeks. If she has been on it for that long and still has not improved, I would consider talking to your vet about doing a culture to see what type of infection it is and what antibiotic will be most effective at treating it.

Cephalexin and Simplicef are both cephalosporins, so they are the same group of antibiotics, but cephalexin is the generic name for a 1st generation cephalosporin and Simplicef is a trade name for Cefpodoxime which is a 3rd generation cephalosporin (so it is a newer drug) and works better in some circumstances. Here is more information on both drugs. https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=538 https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=2038 I hope that was helpful! Thanks for using PetCoach.

The ear has a poor blood supply, so the medications used to treat the ear infection have to be topical and applied in the ear. In addition, ear infections are caused by yeast and ear mites in addition to bacteria, so the cause has to be diagnosed in order to treat it correctly. You need to take Franky into the vet to have the cause of his ear infection diagnosed and treated. I would take him this weekend. Best of luck.