Anyone have experience with chloramphenicol?

[LG & Sadie]

I am hoping this is the correct venue for a question for which I would love responses? After several courses of clavamox for Sadie over the course of months-our Vet decided to do a swab culture, and a urine culture of Sadie. She is quite undeveloped-it is called "tucked" I am told in the vaginal area. Well, the urine was clean, but the culture showed 3 horrible bacteria and evidenced all 3 were ONLY sensitive to chloramphenicol. She started treatment yesterday-and I am struggling with the effect it has on her phenobarbitol level-and her overwhelming fatigue. I know long term this is in her best interest!!!! But, because I am home with her round the clock recovering from surgery-it just breaks my heart to see her this sedated. I would love feedback as to how other's cope with what feels just plain wrong-and yet is in the dogs best interest!!! THANKS in advance for replies~

[Pat & "Tucker"]

This makes sense - it is not a urine infection - it's vaginal! Thought you meant the urine culture was positive.
Since the vet adjusted the phenabarb dose maybe she'll be feeling a little better soon. Just keep an eye out. You just have to know that benefits of the antibiotic most often outweights the side effects.

[LG & Sadie]

Thanks! Sorry, I wasn't all that clear~great point to remember regarding the benefits outweighing the side effects! I appreciate your information!

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

I know nothing at all about chloramphenicol. But I know quite a bit about loving a dog that is on phenobarbitol. I am assuming it is for seizures. When my 18 month old puppy had to go on phenobarbitol for seizures I thought my heart would break, his personality changed so much. However, the good news is that over time his personality reasserted itself. He was a wonderful,loveable, dog for many years. The months and months it took to get my dog stablized on the lowest possible dose was very difficult, going from groggy to seizure to groggy and back. Two weeks seems like a lifetime, sometimes. I am tearing up just thinking of it. Every once in awhile something would happen that would throw the balance of dog/sizure/phenobarbitol off and we would have to work our way through it again. Trust your vet, ask questions, and trust yourself, too. It is a difficult balance, but, this too, will pass. If you have a good vet your questions will not bother him/her.

My heart is with you. Please let us know when the two weeks are over.

[LG & Sadie]

Your kind words have wonderful timing! Thanks so very much~I will be happy to let you know when the two weeks are over...and am doing a better job today of talking to myself-around this medicine is good and necessary, and I am doing the right thing. To lift a sleepy dog's head to give pills that add to the sleepiness has just been very hard. I am so emotional when it comes to Sadie! I teared up just reading your words about loving a dog on phenobarbitol. We will get through this-like your dog, when Sadie originally started on the pheno. I thought her life had drastically changed-but she reached an adequate blood level and over time came shinning through! She was just over a year when she had her first seizure-and is 3 now. Thanks also for understanding how two weeks can feel like a lifetime! You are so right-this too will pass! Again, thanks more than words~

[Pat & "Tucker"]

How is Sadie doing? Any better?

[LG & Sadie]

Just getting this after having been away-and swearing I wouldn't log on to my laptop or phone internet access for 3 days. Which wasn't easy! Thanks for asking about Sadie. She seems to tolerate the medicine well, with the exception of the increase in drowsiness mostly 1/2 hour after the dose for about 2-3 hours. Except the last couple days she has had some vomitting. I am not sure if it is the meds, the heat (been over 100 degrees for 3 days) or the aftermath of an exciting weekend away. Since we have air conditioning and have kept her mainly indoors I find it unlikely it is the heat. She may have ingested some salt water from a squeaker ball she played with while we were away-so that too may be the culprit. She is hydrated, and drinking. She vomitted Mon. a 3 times, but not at all yesterday-but again just a bit ago. She was interested in food and ate well yesterday, but today and Mon. not at all interested. I am puzzled-but watching her closely and I wouldn't hesitate to take her to the Vet should it look like that be needed. Poor babe is quite the trooper~