Antibiotics?

[Taylor & Huff]

A little while ago, Huff had pyoderma. The vet said it was a very mild case and gave us some antibiotics. We gave them to him and he got better. I was wondering if we could have given him something other than antibiotics. Is there ever a substitute for antibiotics?

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

My understanding is that there are different types of pyoderma as the term "pyoderma" merely refers to a bacterial infection on or in the skin.  Yes, there are natural remedies to treat bacterial infections.  But not all remedies work for all types of bacteria. If your family has decided to treat Huff with natural means I would recommend that you try to find a vet near you that uses a holistic approach to treatment. That would be the best way to get the correct remedy to treat a problem.

 

Here is an example of an herbal remedy used for skin infections. However I don't know if it would have treated Huff's particular bacteria.

 

http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/product_detail.aspx?item_guid=769B8DC...

[Taylor & Huff]

Thanks for the info and the link!:) I wonder where I could find a vet like that?

 

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

You might try this link and also Google under "Holistic Veterinarians California".

 

 

http://www.yext.com/vets/services/holistic/ca/

[Taylor & Huff]

Thanks:) I guess the google part was kind of obvious, sorry:)

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

No problem! LOL! Good luck!!

[Taylor & Huff]

Thanks:) I'm probably going to need it! haha:)

[F, Calla & Luca]

Why do you want to avoid antibiotics, when needed, of course? They shorten the length of illness and even save lives. Inappropriate usage does lead to problems for the individual and in terms of resistant organisms. But if my dog had pyoderma, often cause by staph, I'd certainly go for the antibiotic.

[Taylor & Huff]

I just want to avoid them when it is something so mild like that. If we use them every time for little things like that, they build up a resistance and when you really need them, your dog will already be immune to them. If it were something really serious, I would of course, take the antibiotics. When it is something so mild, it is not necessary.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Pyoderma can get serious. And it is not the dog that builds up immunity but the bacteria. So it is important to only treat things appropriately and to treat them thoroughly when you do.

[Taylor & Huff]

I know it can get serious, but his case was very, very mild. Just little spots here and there. Yes, but I would still like to go a more natural route than antibiotics. I hardly ever even take medicine for a cold myself for example, why would I give medicine to my dog when there is another, more natural method.

[F, Calla & Luca]

A cold is a viral illness and the medicines that are available do not kill the virus. But bacterial infections are different. The antibiotics do kill the bacteria. True many bacterial infections are self limiting but not all of them are. I am hoping you would take antibiotics for a strep throat which can lead to very serious complications indeed. Viral sore throats are not treated except for symptomatic relief. So it is important to know what you are dealing with and treat it appropriately.

[Adina P]

What F Parker said.  Cold medicines are just for symptom relief to help you FEEL better.  They don't make make the cold go away, they just help you with snotty nose, cough, etc.  Whether you take them or not is only about comfort not healing or killing any germs.