Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I found a post by Ed K. on the caudata.org forums about OTC drugs and thought it would help explain what I was trying to say in a recent discussion to needaurita about his pacman.

"As for Kanamycin and the majority of OTC antibiotics these have several problems such as 1)lack of effectiveness due to resistant bacteria (if they were still really effective then they would not be otc and unregulated and would still be drugs of choice) 2) are difficult to get up to a theraputic level and then maintain the theraputic levels in the tissues of the animal as the skin is not really permeable to these medications. (They are usually a placebo for the owner to make them feel good by doing something) 3) are very hard on the kidneys of the amphibian and can damage or destroy the kidneys of the amphibian. (In fact a quick glance in Amphibian Medicine and Husbandry did not show a listing for Kanamycin nor a recommended dosage). "

Botton line: if your animal is sick, take it to the vet.
-----
...the oldest task in human history: to live on a piece of land without spoiling it."
Aldo Leopold (1938)

"Sometimes I think the surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that none of it has tried to contact us."
Calvin and Hobbes (Scientific Progress Goes 'Boink', 1991)

Personally, I always take my sick pets to the vet. Whether it be fish, frog, snake or cat, all of them deserve medical treatment if sick. I do not think that non-veterinary people have any right to toy with their animals' health without even really knowing what is wrong. If your child was ill, you would (hopefully) take them to a doctor; I believe that pets deserve this also. Anyone who can't afford proper veterinary care has no business keeping herps!
-----
*~Ginevive~*

Another reason for eschewing the use of shotgun antibiotics is that they may inhibit or wipe out normal flora which competes for "space" and actually prevents the overgrowth of bacterial pathogens. A case in point is the common secondary problem of Clostridium difficile diarrhea after prolonged antibiotic use in humans. It normally exists in the gut in small numbers, but is under control by competition from other bacteria that comprise the normal flora of the gut. Then, usually instead of using the milder remedies of yogurt (acidophyllis, lactobacillus) to help re-establish flora, the doctors are pressured to use Metronidazol or Vancomycin to combat the Clostridium, which is a very resistant anaerobe. Vancomycin has been the drug of last resort for treating multiple antibiotic resistant Staph aureus. Now, because ot its misuse, we are seeing Staphylococcus that is resistant to Vancomycin as well, rendering these infections practically untreatable.

Kanamycin is one of the aminoglycosides, which are taken up only by bacteria with active transport processes, and is ineffective against any but certain gram negative bacteria at best. Resistance to one aminoglycoside confers resistance to all of the others (Streptomycin, Gentamicin, Neomycin, Tobramycin, etc.) All members of this drug family are potentially nephrotoxic (kidneys) and oto toxic. All aminoglycosides are very poorly absorbed by the oral route and are usually administered by IV or intramuscular route.

I am so glad to see someone else beating this drum! I have spent that past 20 years as an infection control coordinator for a hospital attempting to educate both the public and personnel with very little headway. The physicians' excuse is that their patient's demand it, as was pointed out. It's easier to give in than to educate their patients!!
-----
Patty
Pahsimeroi, Idaho

4 D. auratus blue
3 D. galactonotus pumpkin orange splash back
5 D. imitator
4 D. leukomelas
4 D. pumilio Bastimentos
4 D. fantasticus pending