Hi, I was wondering if the canine medication MalOtic (it is a Gentamicin sulfate, usp betamethasone valerate, usp and clotrimazole, usp ointment) can be used on cats as well? For the same reason.. a bacteria/yeast infection. Is this medication commonly used in felines as well?? Thanks
2006-11-14 10:32:34 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
btw, this was prescribed for my boyfriends cat by his vet.. i just am weary of putting a canine medication in the cat's ears.. nowhere does it say feline
2006-11-14 10:35:22 · update #1
It is not approved by the FDA for use in cats....but yes, it is commonly prescribed for them. We have some leeway in doing so when a medication has been shown to be effective and safe for a specific usage, even if the company hasn't spent the money to have it approved. Tresaderm is approved for bacterial/yeast infections in cats. I have only seen one adverse reaction in a cat using MalOtic....and I'm not convinced it was the medication that caused it. One out of hundreds is a lower rate than many approved medications, anyway.
I can't say whether it's safe for any cat I haven't seen....but if your boyfriend's DVM prescribed it specifically for his cat, then I'd feel pretty good about it.
VERY wise of you to ask, however!!! Sometimes, mistakes are made, and the wrong medication gets sent home for one reason or another. Always...and I do mean ALWAYS...call and ask if there is any doubt whatsoever.
2006-11-14 10:46:11 · answer #1 · answered by A Veterinarian 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Just call the vet to be sure. It's really never safe to use a dog's medication on cats because they groom so much more than dogs do and will ingest the medication. And definitely not for something that goes INSIDE a cat. Dogs and cats are very different when it comes to metabolizing medications.
2006-11-14 19:52:06 · answer #2 · answered by old cat lady 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just call your vet and ask. It's probably ok, but everyone needs to keep in mind that cats are not small dogs. They are a different species and some things that are harmless to dogs can be very harmfull to cats.
2006-11-15 00:35:16 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am sure that they know what they are doing but you can call the same vet or another vet back and just double check!
2006-11-14 18:38:05 · answer #4 · answered by x55xm 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Go ahead and use it, I do for all my pets.
Are you sure its an ear infection?
It could be ear mites.
Make sure you clean out the ears before putting meds in. You can use white vinegar diluted with water to clean the ears. (Works wonders for yeast problems)
2006-11-14 18:49:56 · answer #5 · answered by Shay 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋