Can I give my cat human antibiotics if its just a tiny pinch every 4 hours for a few days?

Question

My friend used to give her dog human medicine when she couldnt afford the vet. She just made sure that the portions of the medicine was correct, not too much

Answer 1

Here is a question for you. Would *you* take medicine prescribed for an elephant?

I hope the answer is no.

You have received a lot of good advice between this post and the other. Get thee and thy kitty to a Vet Hospital now!!! : )

Answer 2

Some human antibiotics can kill a cat, or cause serious problems like blindness. If it is a cat safe antibiotic, the dose has to be correct or it will not work. Just doing a straight conversion from a human dose per pound will not work for most drugs. Finally, you have to make sure that the infection is susceptible to the antibiotic, or you may as well be giving her sugar pills for all the good it will do. Someone said that you had a previous post about your kitty peeing blood - this is not always an infection. It could be cystitis which is treated with antiinflammatories or bladder stones which may have to be removed. In short, if you care about your kitty, take her to a vet. If there is a money issue, try finding a humane society or shelter that may be lower cost, or a vet that will work with you on cost or payments. good luck with your cat, and please please do not give her human antibiotics.

EDIT: I read your other post and if your cat cannot pass urine, there is a good chance she could be blocked. If that is the case, no amount of any antibiotic is going to fix the problem. It is even more important for you to get to a vet. If your cat is blocked and you cannot afford the treatment to get her healthy again, having the vet euthanize her is much more human than letting her die from not being able to urinate. I realize that people fall on hard times for many different reasons, and i don't believe that people should starve to see that their animals get treated, but if you can't get her treated please allow the vet to end her suffering.

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Can I give my cat human antibiotics if its just a tiny pinch every 4 hours for a few days?
My friend used to give her dog human medicine when she couldnt afford the vet. She just made sure that the portions of the medicine was correct, not too much

Answer 4

I saw your other post and must say young lady that your mouth needs washing out with soap. You don't talk to people that way!!
2nd. A cat does not show pain. A cat in the home retains the same instincts as cats in the wild. If a lion or tiger shows illness and pain they are soon killed. A cat in the home is the same. I have personally seen cats run over by a car and they are still purring. When we cuddle and they are happy they purr but they also purr to cover up things. A cat will still be purring when they die.
3rd. I am a nurse but also human and having seen how UTI's hurt and having just gone through non treatment of a bad UTI because doctors were on vacation, I had just moved to the area and didn't have my own dr. yet. etc I was refused treatment and I sat here screaming in pain. It hurts and if it hurts a human it hurts a cat.
Dogs can take a lot more stuff than a cat but what your friend did was dangerous. If you keep calling there has to be a vet who will let you make payments.
Please when you talk to the vet use language that you would use in church in front of 5,000 people. If you swear at them they will not cooperate with you.
I doubt that more info to help you save money at home in things for your cat now how you should do things would be welcome. If you want help let me know. Please swear at me and I won't help you. Shame on you for swearing at people trying to help your kitty.

Answer 5

It really depends on teh antibiotic. Some are very toxic to their kidneys. You could give them amoxicillin or augmentin (amoxicillin +clavulanic acid), but not every 4 hours, cats usually take it morning and evening (every 12 hours). Plus, be very careful with teh dosage, you must see the dosage written on the medicine instructions for babies, according to the baby's weight, and calculate based on your cat's weight. Still, it's better to at least ask your vet what to give and how much, because since you have to ask you are probably not too experienced in this and cats have different needs.
If he's peeing blood, it's a urinary tract infection. it is very dangerous, so please take it to a vet. He needs a urine analysis and sensitivity test to determine what medicine is suitable. At least don't delay to take it to the vet if he is not better after 2 days of getting amoxicillin. Or give him Baytril (vet medicine), 15 mg pills, 1 per day if he is a small cat, 2 per day if he is a really big cat.
REMEMBER: ALL THESE ARE NOT VET INSTRUCTIONS, JUST EMPIRICAL KNOWLEDGE, AND THE SITUATION IS SERIOUS. YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER IF YOU CAN RISK YOUR CAT'S LIFE. GO TO A VET IF YOU DON'T WANT HER TO DIE!

Answer 6

It would depend on what you want to give it for,and what kind of antibiotic.Some human antibiotics are fine for cats,while others are quite toxic.Why not just take the cat to a vet?

Edit: I just saw your other question and answered it.If your cat is urinating blood,and having difficulty urinating,then you need to call a vet as it could be something more serious than a simple UTI.If the cat's bladder gets blocked,she will die,pure and simple,and it will be very,very painful for her.

Answer 7

NO. Absolutely not. It can kill them. Go to the vet.

Edit: I read the other posts, and it is true that some human antibiotics are similar to cat antibiotics. But you have no way of knowing if what you have is effective, or perhaps toxic, for your cat, and you don't know about dosages -- too much, too little, whatever. Unless you're a vet and know what you're doing, go to the vet. If you're poor, like I am, find a vet that is willing to work with you. Ask for samples. Ask for payment arrangements. But don't just give them a pinch of ampicillin or aureomycin or whatever you have on hand. It is very dangerous.

Second edit: I didn't realize you are the same person who posted about her cat peeing blood. Stop fiddling around and looking for easy ways out. Get that cat to the vet. Figure out how to pay for it later. If you're not a responsible cat owner, then take your cat to the vet, tell them your situation, and let the vet adopt her out. You have to be willing to provide care for your cat if you intend on having one in your home. Now quit posting on Yahoo and get to it.

Third and last edit: Another poster said,

>>i had old antibiotics (amoxcillin) or something and my dog got bit by his brother and i accidently peeled the scab off and it bled a little.. i helpd alcohol on it and put the powder from the capsule in it and it healed perfectly

This person was very, very lucky. The alcohol helped (though it stung the dog like crazy -- use hydrogen peroxide). Sprinkling "amoxicillin or something" directly on the wound did nothing. This kind of self-treatment is verging on the insane, and definitely qualifies as neglect and abuse in my book. Ignore all this idiot advice and GET THAT CAT TO THE VET.

Answer 8

Realistically, the antibiotics for animals and humans are rather similar, albeit with differing concentrations, and more likely, differing brand names.

That said, it's not so much the substitution of one antibiotic for another that is the problem. As you do not know for sure what is wrong with your cat, and as such, what dosage of drugs to give to it, as a result, the efficacy of this treatment drops dramatically.

In short, yes you can, but you shouldn't.


Edit: If you've got a university in your city that teaches veterinary medicine, then go to their vet clinic. Just because it's cheaper and staffed by students (under supervision), doesn't mean it's bad.

Answer 9

I to have seen a person do this but personally I wouldn't recommend it. How do you know that the portions are correct? There are a lot of different kinds of antibiotic, how do you know this kind is correct for your cat, or even safe? You might kill it instead of help. At the very least I would phone the vet and ask if this is safe.

Answer 10

This is a dupe of the other question you're asking about your cat peeing blood. Would you really give your cat human medicine if someone you don't even know - who isn't a vet - says it's ok on the internet?? Are you really that stupid? Do you want to kill your cat??? Don't be an idiot - again - give this poor cat up to a shelter so that it can be cared for properly.

Answer 11

No. Antibiotics are made to fight particular strains of bacteria. So, even if you had an antibiotic for another animal, it may very well NOT be the right one for you pet.

That's why the Vet needs to run the tests. They need to know what bacteria has caused the infection.

I left advice for you to help find a vet in your previous post.