clavamox

anyone have experience with this antibiotic?  my Marvin is receiving it for 7 days and I spent a good portion of the morning cleaning up a diarrhea episode (almost like he didn't even make it to the box).  he's also taking an anti-inflammatory for 3 days

does Clavamox typically cause diarrhea?  trying to figure out if its because of this or the other med he's getting

Clavamox, any antibiotic really, can cause diarrhea.  The antibiotic also kills the good bacteria in the gut.  A probiotic can help especially after he is finished with the antibiotic.  Some people give it while kitty is still on the antibiotic.  It would need to be given two hours apart from the antibiotic and it's most effect after the antibiotic is finished.  The antibiotic also kills the cultures in the probiotic.

Which anti-inflammatory? Steroids, NSAIDs, and antibiotics can all contribute to diarrhea. When did you start these meds? Clavamox is a very common Rx for cats, and cats are more likely than dogs to experience GI side effects on antibiotics (also when Rx amoxicillin, orbifloxacin, marbofloxacin, other antibiotics for cats).

He may need concomittant treatment with an antidiarrheal med, metronidazole, prescription only, and once daily probiotic, Fortiflora or Proviable for cats, while on and after completing both meds.

If near completion, call your vet and ask about early discontinuance of his treatment and starting a med to help limit the diarrhea, those mentioned above. Metro and proviable have restored the GI flora balance of all my feline patients that had GI side effects on antibiotics. If his GI side effects due to the steroid/antiinflammatory, however, he may need additional therapy, such as antacid/GI motility meds to help restore normal intestinal health.

puck said:

 
Which anti-inflammatory?

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Meloxicam.  After my wife spoke with the vet, sounds like this might be pretty tough on his stomach and GI.

It's only a 7 day prescription of Clavamox, aimed at treating something the vet saw when his anal glands were expressed (trying to head off possible infection)

Oh, yes, Clavamox gave my cat horrible diarrhea. The vet told me if it got bad enough they could try a shot that would last 2 weeks, of an antibiotic. We toughed it out.

Some people try canned plain pumpkin, or greek yoghurt, or probiotics. Not sure if rice is ok. Does your vet offer any suggestions?

misterwhiskers said:

Oh, yes, Clavamox gave my cat horrible diarrhea. The vet told me if it got bad enough they could try a shot that would last 2 weeks, of an antibiotic. We toughed it out.

Some people try canned plain pumpkin, or greek yoghurt, or probiotics. Not sure if rice is ok. Does your vet offer any suggestions?

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they suggested that the Meloxicam was the culprit, especially if his stomach was somewhat empty when he received it

he'd been taking Clavamox since Monday and didn't have issue until this morning... the starter dose of Meloxicam (its a double dose the first night) was given to him last night

good to know other cats are affected by this... he's been doing well today, thankfully, as my wife and I both worked 1/2 days from home to watch him (we had the dreaded butt drag across the carpet this morning)

I give any cat on NSAID an antacid 30 minutes prior to feeding and administering the Metacam or Onsior. If they won't eat, wait to give NSAID. Also, I give a bolus of subcutaneous fluids while they're in hospital, before a 3 day course of NSAIDs. If prolonged use, they get fluids every 2 to 3 days while on the Metacam.

Famotodine (Pepcid) at 0.5mg/kg (most cats are small enough for 1/4 of a 10mg tab to be effective) once daily, before the Metacam. Consult your vet about a bolus of fluids to ensure the kidneys don't take a beating, filtering the NSAID from the blood. If Marvin is doing better now, he may not need it. If the diarrhea persists, treatment listed in my last post needs to be considered by your vet.

Good Luck

puck said:

 
I give any cat on NSAID an antacid 30 minutes prior to feeding and administering the Metacam or Onsior. If they won't eat, wait to give NSAID. Also, I give a bolus of subcutaneous fluids while they're in hospital, before a 3 day course of NSAIDs. If prolonged use, they get fluids every 2 to 3 days while on the Metacam.

Famotodine (Pepcid) at 0.5mg/kg (most cats are small enough for 1/4 of a 10mg tab to be effective) once daily, before the Metacam. Consult your vet about a bolus of fluids to ensure the kidneys don't take a beating, filtering the NSAID from the blood. If Marvin is doing better now, he may not need it. If the diarrhea persists, treatment listed in my last post needs to be considered by your vet.

Good Luck

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It was a 3 day prescription of the NSAID so he's done with that now.  The anti-diarrhea drug we started him on yesterday seems to be helping.  His stool wasn't a blowout this morning, just really soft.  I guess that is an improvement as for the first time in 3 days he didn't butt drag poo across the floor.  He's still sore, but that may have to do more with me cleaning his rear end off several times a day rather than the Clavomox affects.

A bland diet while his intestines recover may help decrease inflammation also. Minced chicken or beef for 24 hours for example, or meat only baby food, labelled stage 1 by Gerber and Beech Nut. You can order Proviable paste or capsules online easily, to restore beneficial intestinal flora for 1-2 weeks.

For raw peri-anal care, no shampoo, only copious rinsing with warm water, patting dry, and applying A+D ointment to limit further moisture from keeping the skin irritated. The oily thickness of the ointment is better than having to rub/scrub at the skin/hair to get fecal material off. You're right, the raw skin can be painful, as the tissue becomes thinner and irritated/inflamed.

Yay for Marvin, soft is better than watery or mucousy!

puck said:

 
For raw peri-anal care, no shampoo, only copious rinsing with warm water, patting dry, and applying A+D ointment to limit further moisture from keeping the skin irritated. The oily thickness of the ointment is better than having to rub/scrub at the skin/hair to get fecal material off. You're right, the raw skin can be painful, as the tissue becomes thinner and irritated/inflamed.

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Had been using a warm water soaked cloth with a little natural tearless shampoo to clean him.  Will try without the soap.

Wondering if he'll tolerate having some ointment back there, the vet shaved him pretty good in order to express his glands, he's got some exposed skin for sure.  The skin is definitely red, probably irritated, and while he doesn't like when I'm cleaning, he seems much more at ease after i'm done and he can just rest.

Just seeing this, but when my cat had clavomox and diarrhea, the vet switched her tom something else which didn't cause problems. There are a lot of antibiotics out there, seems like a cat shouldn't have to go through that if there's something that would work as well and not cause issues? 

Misty8723 said:

 
Just seeing this, but when my cat had clavomox and diarrhea, the vet switched her tom something else which didn't cause problems. There are a lot of antibiotics out there, seems like a cat shouldn't have to go through that if there's something that would work as well and not cause issues? 

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the vet mentioned this to my wife, also mentioned the alternative antibiotic was very expensive??  I guess there was a good chance he could have the same reaction too.  Didn't catch the name of the med

only have 3 days left to go, the anti-diarrhea med seems to be helping, he's just really tired/sleepy

jman_in_MN said:

 
the vet mentioned this to my wife, also mentioned the alternative antibiotic was very expensive??  I guess there was a good chance he could have the same reaction too.  Didn't catch the name of the med

only have 3 days left to go, the anti-diarrhea med seems to be helping, he's just really tired/sleepy

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Hmmm. Wonder what it was. We've been giving Amoxicillin (generic version) the last few times we've needed antibiotics, and it's not expensive.

Also Zeniquin at one time, and that wasn't expensive either.

I've tried Clavamox twice on two different cats and neither could tolerate it, but the Amoxicillin didn't affect either of them the way clavamox dd.

Yeah, antibiotics make my cats sleepy - and me too when I have to take them.  I hope he's doing better!

Misty8723 said:

 
Hmmm. Wonder what it was. We've been giving Amoxicillin (generic version) the last few times we've needed antibiotics, and it's not expensive.

Also Zeniquin at one time, and that wasn't expensive either.

I've tried Clavamox twice on two different cats and neither could tolerate it, but the Amoxicillin didn't affect either of them the way clavamox dd.

Yeah, antibiotics make my cats sleepy - and me too when I have to take them.  I hope he's doing better!

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Finished up the meds yesterday and, needless to say, he's pretty much back to normal today, including his appetite   What a rough week- goes into the vet for teeth cleaning and a checkup, gets stuck taking meds for a week