Is an 8-week antibiotic course too long for a cat with kidney disease?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Our vet has prescribed clavaseptin for our 15 year old cat for a suspected kidney infection. Blood work indicates she has stage 3 kidney disease. Does continuing the antibiotic for 8 weeks seem excessive?
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on July 30th, 2018
No, To me this sounds like your veterinarian is doing a good job. In order to take care of all hidden bacteria and depending on the type of bacteria, it is necessary to run a long course of antibiotics. Apparently the infection is a nasty one. So, trust your vet and finish the course of antibiotics for a chance that your kitty's kidney disease is curable as it is likely caused by the infection.
2Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on October 7th, 2018
There is a possibility that such a long, low dose could encourage a resistant bacteria. I would consider withholding antibiotics for 7days and then performing a urine culture to determine exactly what bacteria if any are still present and whether additional treatment of the same or different antibiotics are required
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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My 16 years old cat had recurrenct kidney infection and was prescribed marfloxin f tablets for 45 days, but i has mistaken the dose and was giving her only 2.5 mg daily (for 3 kg body weight), while its needed 2.5mg for each 1 kg of body weight. For
There is a possibility that such a long, low dose could encourage a resistant bacteria. I would consider withholding antibiotics for 7days and then performing a urine culture to determine exactly what bacteria if any are still present and whether additional treatment of the same or different antibiotics are required
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
What is the maximum days a cat can take antibiotics for infection? Example coamoxiclav Thank you!
On average we will prescribe this medication for 10-14 days, and anything over 21-28 days is not ideal due to the possible permanent effects on the bacterial flora in the gut. I hope that this helps! Take care. : )
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My 16 yr. old cat has a creat of 4.2 and elevated white blood cells, including neutrophils. I've been given 2 oral antibiotics for her to be given for 4 wks. I'm concerned about the downside of taking antibiotics for 4 wks. although I do give her p
Aside from monitoring your cat for inappetance, vomiting and diarrhea as possible side effects from antibiotic treatment, there isn't anything else that you should be doing. Probiotics can be useful to maintain normal GI bacterial flora, but be sure to time the administration between doses of antibiotics or they will be ineffective. Many infections require a long course of antibiotics for resolution, so don't worry about the length of the treatment course. Continue monitoring your cat for inappetance and increased drinking and urination due to the elevated creatinine level.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My cat passed away and I can’t stop thinking back. The vet gave me 3 options. IV with antibiotics, take her home and administer an antibiotic by mouth, or a shot. I took her home and delivered by mouth but it didn’t work. She most likely had chronic
Hello, and thanks for your question on Boop by Petco. I'm so sorry to hear about your loss of Topanga. It's so hard to lose a beloved pet. It's difficult to speculate on all the "what-if's", what would have happened differently if Topanga had been treated a different way. However, if your vet suspected chronic kidney disease, that's a chronic, progressive, incurable disease, and nothing could have cured Topanga if that were the case. Additionally, it is a vet's job to help guide owners through the different options of treatment. If your vet gave you the option of treating Topanga from home with oral antibiotics, then I have to believe they thought that would give you a similar chance of improvement compared to the other options. With that said, the antibiotics were likely a "just in case" attempt to treat, just in case part of the problem with the kidneys was associated with a bacterial infection. But chronic kidney disease is rarely due to an infection - rather, it's an age re
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
We adopted a stray cat, we have no prior knowledge of his history. Since we adopted him, he’s had to have teeth extracted. Additionally he’s has chronic respiratory issues and hasn’t been more than 10lbs. Despite having acute renial failure, our vet
Renal failure often causes cats to lose weight. The waste products that build up in the blood because the kidneys can't properly eliminate them cause nausea and gastritis (inflammation in the stomach) and sometimes even ulcers in the mouth. Talk to your vet about trying some medications to manage these conditions - either omeprazole or famotadine are often helpful, as well as the anti-nausea drug Cerenia. Also the drug mirtazipine can be used to help stimulate his appetite. Unfortunately it sounds like he has multiple problems that may be difficult to manage concurrently. I'd also consider running a bacterial culture of the nasal discharge to try to focus the antibiotic therapy and ensure that an effective drug is being used.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I am fostering a 3 week old kitten with a URI. Today is day 4 of her antibiotics doxycycline and I'm not seeing much improvement. After how many days should I consider switching antibiotics? Also is it more important for her to sleep during this time
This may be a virus and not a bacterial infection. If that's the case antibiotics will not help and the virus needs to run its course which can take up to two weeks. As long as she isn't getting worse, running a fever and is eating I would keep monitoring her. If at any time she does get worse or isn't getting any better after 7-10 days, I would call your veterinarian. Let her rest unless she wants to play. Thank you for using Boop by Petco.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Does a bun of 28 and a creatinine level of 2.6 means kidney disease in cats? My cat had a rough 5 weeks with cystitis and then a uti. He was on onsior, buprenorphine, started Prozac, and then antibiotics. Now after all that his blood work shows numbe
This does indicate kidney disease but not necessarily permanent. Cystitis can cause improper emptying of the bladder. If the bladder gets backed up, it affects the kidneys and can spread the infection there. Clearing the infection and getting the bladder emptying properly can resolve those values. You can switch him to a kidney diet and make sure he gets plenty of water. I would recheck the blood work in 1-2 weeks and see how the numbers compare. If they are worse, then you likely have kidney disease and he may benefit from IV or SQ fluids. If they improve, then it may have been a result of the cystitis and medicines
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I brought my 19 year old cat to my vets near me yesterday afternoon. My female cat was meowing after she used the litter box. Back in July she had a kidney infection so they put her on clavamox. My cat has a heart murmur. I read somewhere that if a c
HI, thanks for using Boop by Petco! I use clavamox all the time in cats with heart murmurs. I believe it is a safe antibiotic and does a good job for animals with urinary tract infections. I would continue the clavamox as prescribed by your Vet. I hope this helps and I wish you and Mittens the best!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Hi,my vet told me that my cat needs antibiotic for her incision to heal as she’ve just had an exploratory surgery.However my cat is really difficult to take any kind of med.so if I stopped after three days of giving her the antibiotic , would it heal
Hi, if your vet has recommended antibs it is best to complete the course. Either by hiding the tablets in some smelly food such as tuna or sardines, or by giving it with easy pill or vivitreats (some treats where you can hide tablets). If the above is not working, you could ask to your vet if Kitty can have a long acting antibiotic injection. Hope this helps !
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Hello, Can you please tell us if the antibiotic "Veraflox" is toxic to a cat with mild kidney disiase? Our 16 year old cat "Tigger" was on it for 5 weeks for e coli. The e coli was cured. A week later she had some diarrhea and received it again f
It isn't toxic per se, but it should be used with caution in pets with kidney disease. Kidney disease is an insidious condition because a pet can show no clinical signs until one day they are suddenly "sick". This is because most pets can be asymptomatic until they lose about 75% of kidney function. Once diagnosed, we are already "behind the 8 ball" in treatment. It is likely a combination of all her conditions contributed to her downward spiral, especially at 16 years old. I am sorry for the loss of Tigger. May she rest in peace.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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