
What is Erythromycin for Dogs?

Ethrythomycin is a macrolide antibiotic for pets that works against mycoplasma and gram-negative bacteria infections. It’s sold under the brand names Gallimycin®, Ery-Tab®, Ery-Ped®, E.E.S., ERYC®, Emycin®, Erybid®, Erythro®, Erythrocin®, PCE®
How Does Erythromycin Work?
Certain bacteria cannot replicate because erythromycin inhibits their production of proteins. It works well against mycoplasma and gram-negative bacteria. Erythromycin also causes smooth muscle to contract more forcefully, which might speed up digestion.
What Does Erythromycin Treat in Dogs?
Erythromycin is used for the treatment of bacterial infections in both dogs and cats, including skin, bone, sinus, and wound infections as well as lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases.
Erythromycin has been used to increase gut motility at low doses, however this is considered an off-label use. The medication is ineffective for illnesses brought on by viruses, fungi, mites, or intestinal worms.
How is Erythromycin Administered in Dogs?
Erythromycin is administered orally as a capsule, tablet, or liquid. It should be given on an empty stomach and readministered if the dog experiences diarrhea, vomiting, or nausea. Veterinarians can also administer erythromycin as an injection.

What are the Side Effects of Erythromycin in dogs?

Due to the fact that erythromycin is used to kill bacteria, there may be some side effects. These often include diarrhea, nausea, or lack of appetite. These side effects are fairly normal and aren’t cause for concern as they typically happen when the intestine’s normally present bacteria are momentarily disturbed.
Hives or skin rash, swollen cheeks, tongue, or lips, or breathing difficulties are side effects that need to be reported right away to your veterinarian since they could be indications of an allergic reaction.
This medication, just like others, may cause a negative interaction with other medications your dog may be on at the time. Some of these medications include theophylline, digoxin, chloramphenicol, omeprazole, sucralfate, warfarin, cisapride, ketoconazole, fluconazole, itraconazole, methylprednisolone, and certain antibiotics.
How Effective is Erythromycin?
Macrolide antibiotics are effective against a variety of infections, including eye infections, skin infections, lungs infections, and infections of the urinary system as well as protozoal infections like tick-borne babesiosis. A study done by the Mayo Clinic in 1985 comparing erythromycin to other antibiotics found that while it is effective against a wide range of pathogens, it is only 50% or less effective against some of them.
Who Should Not Be Prescribed Erythromycin?

Dogs with known allergies or sensitivities to erythromycin or other macrolide antibiotics shouldn’t be treated with them. The body’s ability to take the medication effectively may be impacted by liver and kidney disease, and erythromycin may produce a false-positive result on testing for liver enzymes like AST and ALT.
How Much Does Erythromycin Cost?
The price of erythromycin varies depending on the formulation and the source. For example, an eye ointment with.5% erythromycin costs about $20 for each tube. Prices for 28 250 mg pills range from $55 to over $300. The liquid preparation is more expensive per dose unit. Prescriptions purchased from a veterinarian often cost a little more than those from a pharmacy or budget vendor.