Antibiotics and probiotics

The vet I saw yesterday says she may want to operate to remove the nail next week after another course of antibiotics. I’m beside myself because I blame myself for this happening. I’d like to get a second opinion but a local vet I’ve used in the past has retired and he was a proper old school vet with years of experience.I don’t have faith in vets once they’re taken over by big concerns.

They do! In the States it's called Beaver Fever. It's horrible. I lost 1 1/2 stones with the first bout but it stay off for long.

I think Giardia is one of the main causes of bad tummies in dogs. Didn’t realise people could have it, too.

When we moved to France we were accompanied by a midlle aged Cairn terrier called Flora. She became ill and the vet prescribed antibiotics. They didn't really work and I changed vets and at our fist appointment, Flora farted. The vet asked whether she did that normally. The answer was no. She prescribed probiotics and said that they would take two or three days to work. In fact she was much better the following day.

Back in the 80's I had a parasite called giardia lamblia. i was very ill and took enormous quantities of antibiotics. I wish someone had told me to take probiotics then because the antib's wiped out all the good bacteria as well as the parasite. It took along time before my gut recovered.

I’m going to give her protexin or pro kolin in between giving her the antibiotics. Also switched her usual food to Chappie and a gastrointestinal kibble. It’s so frustrating in that I’d resolved to give her far more exercise and we’re currently just a few hundred yards away from the beach which is the only place where she gets a really good run.

Probiotics are not allowed when on chemo. Probiotics are live bacteria and while your immune system is compromised during and after chemo, any live bacteria is dangerous. Can result in infection and sepsis. Live yoghourt, blue cheeses un pasteurised dairy and similar inc live vaccines.

I would think probiotics could be given a while after the antibiotic course is finished.

The antibiotics may well kill the good bacteria in the gut, when the antibiotics have finished probiotics help re-establish normal function, that’s the theory.
There are plenty of good probiotics on the supermarket shelves, can’t do any harm, might just help.

When I was on Symprove needed to take antibiotics. I phoned the company and was assured that you should definitely take a probiotic with antibiotics. Just take them as far apart as possible.

I think in the article mentioned that it is suggested to give probiotics at a different time to the antibiotic to protect the gut biome but read article yourself

Oh how awful for you.
I'm sure it will be fine to start the probiotics after the antibiotics finish.
Is the infection in one nail bed, or more?
I suppose things can flare up with no real cause, like a whitlow or something.

I'm pretty sure the vet would have told you if they suspected it may be anything sinister, and they will have trained for years.

There is an interesting link about antibiotiotics and probiotics for dogs and cats 🤞

www.vetspecialists.co.uk/fact-sheets-post/probiotics-use-in-cats-and-dogs-fact-sheet/

I’m a terrible worrier though. Vet said it’s unlikely to be anything sinister because of her age but I’ve been told that before with another dog . I wrap her up in cotton wool so don’t understand how it could have happened.

I hope you put your mind at rest, Maybee.

The vet said not to bother with probiotics. My concern is that she might be on antibiotics for a long time. My friend lost her elderly dog after he’d had major dental work done and when I read up on the painkiller he was on all of the symptoms he showed were typical of the pain killer: loss of appetite and lethargy being the main one. In the past I always gave my dogs bio yoghurt if they were on antibiotics but there is a lot more info on such things now. I’m going to relisten to the ZOE app podcast about antibiotics and probiotics.

I have no idea about animals but after a course of antibiotics or a colonoscopy I make sure that I eat a very very varied natural diet. As many different healthy options as possible to get my gut biome in a good place again.
I would think this would be a bit more difficult for a dog or other animal that eats a more restricted diet. What does your vet say?

I think that the idea is to give the probiotics immediately after she has finished the course of antibiotics. That makes sense I think as antibiotics sweep all before them the probiotics would be wasted.

Don’t forget that dogs don’t show pain in the same way as us.

It probably is relevant. A recent ZOE podcast discussed how to restore your gut biome after taking anti biotics and I think it said to do it after the course of anti biotics. I need to listen to it again. I don't want to do anything that will mean she will have to take antibiotics for even longer. I’m not giving her the pain killer that was prescribed though, as I don’t think she’s in pain and it’s another thing that could upset her tummy.

I don't know if it is completely irrelevant, but my girl, when she was having chemo, wasn't allowed probiotics.

It maybe changes the ability to absorb medicines?