When You Need Antibiotics for Your Pets, and When You Don’t 🐾💊

By Dr Duncan Houston, BVSc

Antibiotics save lives—but only when they’re truly needed. Giving antibiotics when they aren’t appropriate doesn’t help, and worse, it can lead to drug-resistant infections that are harder to treat. In this 2025 veterinary guide, I’ll break down when antibiotics are helpful for pets—and when they’re not. 🧬

🦠 What Are Antibiotics For?

Antibiotics fight bacteria, not viruses. They work by killing bacteria or stopping them from reproducing. But they do nothing for viral infections like colds or flu. ❌

🔬 Bacteria vs. Viruses:

• 🧫 Bacteria = living single-cell organisms
• 🧬 Viruses = molecular packets that hijack host cells to replicate

Some infections start as viral, then allow secondary bacterial infections to take hold—that’s when antibiotics may help. 🤒

🚫 Infections That DON’T Need Antibiotics

These common conditions are typically viral or self-limiting:

• 😷 Distemper
• 🤧 Kennel cough or feline URI (rhinitis, bronchitis)
• 👁️ Viral eye infections (conjunctivitis or keratitis)
• 🐶 Parvovirus
• 🐱 Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)
• 💨 Influenza or rabies

Treating these with antibiotics won't help and may harm your pet’s healthy gut bacteria. 🐾

✅ Infections That MAY Need Antibiotics

Some infections start viral but progress to bacterial:

• 👃 URI → bacterial pneumonia
• 🤢 Parvo → bacterial septicemia
• 👁️ Eye infections following feline herpes

In these cases, your vet will assess if antibiotics are truly warranted. 🧫

💉 Bacterial Infections That DO Need Antibiotics

These are bacterial from the start and typically require antibiotic treatment:

• 👂 Ear infections (often mixed with yeast)
• 💩 Clostridial diarrhea
• 🦷 Gingivitis or stomatitis
• 🧬 Tick-borne illnesses (Lyme, Ehrlichia, Bartonella)
• 🐶 Leptospirosis
• 🧪 Pyothorax (chest infection)
• 💨 Bacterial pneumonia
• 🔬 Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
• 🧠 Pyelonephritis (kidney infection)
• 🥩 Enteritis, colitis, or deep wound infections
• 👁️ Bacterial conjunctivitis
• 🦠 Pyoderma (skin infections)
• ⚡ Tetanus

🧪 Dangers of Misuse

1. 💣 Killing Good Bacteria

Antibiotics can wipe out your pet’s beneficial gut flora, which helps with digestion and immunity. Overuse can disrupt their health. 🧬

2. 🛑 Antibiotic Resistance

Overusing or under-dosing antibiotics can create superbugs like MRSP or resistant E. coli. These are hard—and sometimes impossible—to treat. 🦠

💬 When Your Vet Might Say “No” to Antibiotics

• 🧴 Mild skin infections (may improve with medicated baths)
• 👂 Ear infections (cleaning may suffice)
• 💥 Bite abscesses (lancing and flushing instead)
• 🦷 Gingivitis (scaling and dental care)
• 🚽 Asymptomatic bacteriuria (bacteria present but no UTI symptoms)
• 💩 Diarrhea (may be viral or self-resolving)

🧠 How You Can Help Prevent Resistance

• ✔️ Follow antibiotic instructions exactly
• 🕒 Complete the full course—even if your pet seems better
• 🚫 Never give leftover antibiotics or someone else’s meds
• 💊 Don't ask for antibiotics “just in case”

📱 Ask A Vet App Support

Wondering if your pet needs antibiotics? The Ask A Vet app can help with:

• 🧬 Reviewing your pet’s symptoms
• 🧾 Discussing alternatives to antibiotics
• 📋 Determining when bacterial testing (like cultures) is needed
• 💬 Monitoring progress and medication side effects

🏁 Final Takeaway

Antibiotics are powerful—but not always necessary. Trust your vet’s judgment, use medications wisely, and help us protect future pets from drug-resistant infections. If in doubt, use the Ask A Vet app to speak with a licensed vet 24/7. 🐶🐱💊🧬