Tylan Powder For Dogs
The Truth About Tylan Powder for Dogs
If you own a dog then you have probably heard about how Tylan Powder for dogs can act not only as an antibiotic, but how it can also help promote growth, too. Yet, the information that you hear might often sound confusing and conflicting. Is it true that Tylan Powder for dogs can be beneficial for your canine friends, or can it actually be dangerous in some cases?
Tylan is basically the brand name for the drug Tylosin. Tylosin is a macrolide antibiotic that is also related to azithromycin, erythromycin, and clarithromycin. Tylan Powder is used as a growth promoter when it comes to farm animals. It can also be used as an antibiotic for dogs. In both cases, however, it needs to be prescribed by a veterinarian and is not something that can simply be purchased over the counter. Technically, it hasn’t been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in dogs, although vets are still able to prescribe it in “off-label” cases.
Tylan works by hampering the protein synthesis capability of Gram-positive and Gram-negative microorganisms, in addition to mycoplasma, spirochetes, and vibrios. Sometimes, Tylan is used for off-label purposes such as a growth-promoting food additive as well as treatment for gastrointestinal problems in small animals, like cats. It is a naturally produced product and is actually a byproduct of Streptomyces fradiae, a bacteria. It is not produced in a laboratory.
Tylosin is the active ingredient and can be used to treat infections to the respiratory tract. It’s also proven helpful in treating inflammation when it comes to colitis. It can even be used to treat certain types of skin infections that have not been successfully treated by other forms of medication. The usual dosage is about 5 to 10 mg per pound two times per day. Your vet should be well versed in this, however, and be able to up the dose or even lower it as needed.
There are some drawbacks to using Tylan Powder for dogs, however. For one thing, it doesn’t taste very good to the dog so you might have a difficult time getting your dog to take it. Once taken, it can also cause diarrhea and other gastrointestinal upsets. When administered to the skin, your dog might also suffer some pain and itching. It should not be used in dogs that have sensitivity to macrolide antibiotics, either.
You should never try to self-diagnose your dog yourself and use any leftover Tylan powder for a condition that your vet has not approved it for. This could be very harmful to your dog, and depending on the condition itself, not very effective.
If your dog is on any other medications then you should talk to your vet. Some medications do not mix well with others and your dog could suffer adverse effects. Medications with Tylosin could have negative reactions with lincosamides, chloramphenicol, and digitalis, which is a cardiac stimulant.
Generally, the medication is administered for six weeks. The actual dosage will depend on the dog’s weight, as well as the type of infection that the dog is suffering from. For the most part, Tylan comes in an oral dispenser, unless it is being used to treat a skin infection. Like with human antibiotics, it’s important for your dog to finish the entire prescription so that the infection goes away. Sometimes, it’s easy to want to stop making the dog take the medication if they are feeling better, but this is not a good idea. If your dog doesn’t complete the prescription then there is a high chance of relapse.