From:
dr_bruce_williams
Date: 2002-01-20 21:37:00 UTC
Subject: Re: antibiotic induced diarrhea
Dear Celia:
I can't tell you, as I don't know what is in it. However, ferrets
are generally not lactose tolerant, so I' tend to suggest it may not
be helpful in her case.
You don't mention why she is on antibiotics, or why we are changing
so often. Amoxicillin on its own can cause an appetite loss, but
does not generally cause a change in gut flora.
I'd like to know what she is on the antibitocs for, and if stoping
the antibiotics altogether is an option.
With kindest regards,
bruce williams, dVM
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., "Celia Clinkinbeard" <cjclinki@c...>
wrote:
> Cokie has been on different antibiotics for about a month now, and
her poop has gone from normal to formed but mushy to, recently
diarrhea. I've been giving her a pinch of crushed lactinex tablets
once a day in her food. The bottle doesn't have any indication of
how much is in each tablet, but it says to take 4 tablets 3 or 4
times a day (for humans). Have lots of questions!!
>
> Does she even need it? Or is it giving her diarrhea? (It says not
to use if you are sensitive to milk products, and I don't know if
Cokie is!) Or am I not giving her enough???? I'm also worried
because she takes alot of prednisone and may be "immune compromised"--
what are the chances that my giving her this stuff could hurt her?
>
> I've read somewhere that not all antibiotics cause diarrhea, or
upset the "normal" fauna of the gut. Amoxicillin was mentioned as
being one of the "disturbing" ones. She has been on clindamycin for
10 days, then amoxicillin for 10 days, and now she's been on
cephalexin for almost 10 days. Should she even be on lactinex? Or
is cephalexin okay for the necessary gut bacteria?? Her poops were
fine until towards the end of the amoxicillin and beginning of the
cephalexin. I started the lactinex towards the middle of the
amoxcillin, and she's just had definite diarrhea last night and this
morning!
>
> So should I increase the lactinex, stop it, or what?? (She won't
eat yogurt.) Any suggestions??
>
> Thanks!!
>
> Celia