Ofloxacin Ophthalmic Solution - Bacterial Eye Infection Treatment for Pink Eye and Corneal Ulcers

Every now and then cats and dogs can catch bacterial eye infections that are uncomfortable, painful and even threatening to their sight. The most common infections include cornea ulcers and conjunctivitis (pink eye), which can be extremely uncomfortable for your pet and lead to any of the following symptoms:

• Redness
• Swelling
• Light Sensitivity
• Blinking
• Squinting
• Thick or Excessive Eye Discharge
• Pawing at the Eye
• Holding Eye Closed

If you see your furry friend experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s definitely time for a Vet visit. Once there, your veterinarian is likely to recommend ofloxacin ophthalmic (OO) solution to help alleviate discomfort or pain. This treatment is commonly used for in dogs, cats, birds and even reptiles. It works by stopping the bacteria from multiplying at a genetic level so that the infection doesn’t spread.

How do I apply the medication?

It is important to first note the appropriate amount of OO dosing for your pet:

Cats & Dogs: apply 1 drop every 6 hours
Birds: 1 drop every 12 hours
Reptiles: 1 drop every 8 - 12 hours

Your vet may recommend a different dosage but this is the most commonly used dosage in pets. It is also important for you to consult with your veterinarian if this solution is appropriate for young animals, kittens or puppies less than 1 year old. Now that you have the prescribed solution and dosage amount, you’ll want to carefully and safely apply the solution to your pet’s eyes.

1. Start by washing your hands with soap and water.
2. Make sure the tip of the dropper has not been tampered with and isn’t chipped or cracked.
3. DO NOT touch the dropper tip against anything, not even the affected area. This will help prevent the spread of germs and bacteria.
4. Tilt your pet’s head back so that the solution lands on the affected eye completely and place the dropper tip directly above the eye WITHOUT touching it.
5. Gently and quickly apply the medication to your pet as it will cause stinging and can be difficult to apply once they start to wiggle around.
6. Wipe off any excess solution and keep your pet from pawing at their eye so the affected area can absorb all of the solution.
7. Reapply the solution as necessary.

Keep in mind that if you miss a dosage all you have to do is apply it the second you remember. After that, carry on with your normal dosage schedule but be careful not to double dose if you miss one.

What are the side effects?

Once you apply the solution on your pets, it can cause slight stinging or irritation, discomfort, pain, redness, dryness, itching, tearing and even blurred vision. However, this is temporary and should last no longer than a couple of minutes. Alert your Vet as soon as possible if these side effects persist longer or if your pet experiences any of the following:

• Hives
• Itching
• Difficulty Breathing
• Inability to Swallow
• Skin rash
• Swelling

These symptoms are dangerous and can be a byproduct of an allergic reaction to the medication.

What is the shelf life of Ofloxacin Ophthalmic?

This eye drop solution must be prescribed to you by your veterinarian as your pet’s dosage may vary. Its shelf life is relatively short as the prescribed bottle can only effectively be for three months and should not be used to treat other pets in order to avoid contamination and the spread of bacteria. We recommend only keeping the bottle until your pet is healthy again. A 10ml bottle of OO typically costs around $12.99, which makes it a relatively cheap eye treatment. If you are a licensed veterinarian in search of a good discount for this solution, click here for a coupon to receive free shipping on orders over $79.

Everything You Need To Know About Prednisone for Pets

If your vet has recently prescribed prednisone for your dog or your cat, you may have
questions regarding its uses, dosage information and side effects. If prednisone
sounds familiar to you in a setting outside of the vet’s office, it may be because
it's a treatment recommended for humans too! However, we'll be breaking down this
medication and its uses in dogs and cats.

Prednisone for Dogs and Cats

Prednisone is a synthetic steroid with significant anti-inflammatory activity. It's used to
treat a variety of conditions because it affects the inflammatory process at different
levels. It belongs to a group of drugs called corticosteroids, which all manage
inflammation in diseases or medical conditions involving the immune system. Our
bodies and the bodies of our pets produce a natural corticosteroid called cortisol.
However, certain diseases, which we'll outline below, can exacerbate the body's need
for anti-inflammation relief, and prednisone’s overall anti-inflammatory activity is about
four times that of cortisol. It may be administered in a variety of ways, including orally,
topically or via injection.

What Is Prednisone for Dogs and Cats Used For?

Prednisone for pets is used to treat inflammation, autoimmune diseases and even regulate the immune
system of your dog or cat. It can also be used in emergency reactions like
anaphylactic reactions, spinal cord trauma and other forms of shock. The most typical
reasons veterinarians prescribe it are to treat the following:

- Allergies

- Addison's disease

- Anaphylactic shock

- Arthritis

- Asthma

- Autoimmune disease

- Central nervous system disorders

- Cushing's disease

- Dermatitis

- Eczema

- Hormonal disorders

- Inflammatory bowel disease

- Liver conditions

- Lupus

- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma

- Orthopedic disease

As with any prescription medication, special care has to be taken to follow dosing
instructions. This is especially the case with prednisone, since chronic or inappropriate
use of a corticosteroid can have long-term effects on a pet, such as life-threatening
hormonal and metabolic changes.

Prednisone Side Effects in Dogs

Short-term use of prednisone usually does not cause negative side effects. Some
short-term side effects, however, can include panting, vomiting, diarrhea, increased
appetite and thirst, poor haircoat, loss of energy, weight gain or skin infections.

More serious side effects may occur when prednisone is used for longer periods of
time, especially when high dosages are used. Adverse effects are also much more
common in pets that are on immunosuppressive doses. These side effects may include
the following:

- Diabetes mellitus

- Elevated liver enzymes

- GI disturbance

- GI ulceration

- Lipidemia

- Muscle wasting

- Pancreatitis

- Polyuria

- Polydipsia

- Polyphagia

- Possible behavioral changes

Polyuria, polydipsia and polyphagia may be seen in dogs even on short-term therapy.

Prednisone Side Effects in Cats

Cats actually may require higher doses of prednisone to have a clinical response to
the medication, and they are also less likely to develop side effects.

However, the following side effects may still occur in cats:

- Behavioral changes

- GI disturbances

- Polyuria

- Polydipsia

- Weight gain

- Polyphagia

- Diabetes mellitus

Prednisone Dosage Recommendations for Dogs

As mentioned above, cats often require a higher dosage of the medication to reach a
vet's desired effects - much higher than a dog - so dosage instructions will depend
greatly on the vet's recommendations. Please refer to the specific dosing directions in
reference to any prescription drug.

Average oral doses for dogs are based on a recommendation of 2.5 mg per 10 pounds
(4.5 kg) body weight per day:

5 to 20 pounds (2 to 9 kg) body weight - 1.25 to 5 mg

20 to 40 pounds (9 to 18 kg) body weight -  5 to 10 mg

40 to 80 pounds (18 to 36 kg) body weight - 10 to 20 mg

80 to 160 pounds (36 to 73 kg) body weight - 20 to 40 mg

The total daily dose of prednisone should be given in divided doses, six to 10 hours
apart.

Drug Interactions and Overdosing

If your pet is on other medications or supplements, it's important to review them
thoroughly with your vet since there are multiple drug interactions that can have
adverse effects or inhibit the effectiveness of prednisone. Here are some drug
interactions to be aware of:

Amphotericin B or diuretics may cause an increased risk of electrolyte imbalance.

Estrogen may potentiate the effects of corticosteroids.

Vaccination immune response may be reduced.

Prednisone may increase the requirements of insulin in pets with diabetes.

Stomach and GI ulcers may occur when a corticosteroid is administered with a
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) prone to causing ulcers.

Aspirin and other salicylates, phenytoin, phenobarbital, rifampin, cyclosporin,
erythromycin, mitotane and anticholinesterase drugs such as neostigmine and
pyridostigmine may all cause drug interactions.

Overdosing on prednisone is unlikely in short-term administration because of adrenal
suppression. Long-term administration can cause problems that relate to the
suppression of normal adrenal functions, metabolic crisis because of abrupt
withdrawal of prednisone or iatrogenic Cushing's disease.

At Medi-Vet, we supply you with the right medications and supplies to keep or get your
pet healthy. Be sure to check out our detailed product description to learn more about
prednisone in a variety of milligram strengths, including 1 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg.

Prescription medications like prednisone can only be purchased on Medi-Vet by
licensed veterinarians and pharmacies. A current license must be on file prior to
shipping.