ADVERSE SIDE-EFFECTS OF ORAL ANTIBACTERIAL THERAPY IN DOGS AND CATS -AN EPIDEMIOLOGIC-STUDY OF PET OWNERS OBSERVATIONS

This epidemiologic study surveyed pet owners for observations of adver se reactions to oral antibacterials which were prescribed to outpatien ts at a university teaching hospital. Multipole questions were asked o f all clients whose dog or cat was treated during the 18-month study. The questionnaire was designed prospectively to define those reactions that clearly seemed fo be medication related. In this study, owners n oted a significant number of adverse side effects with erythromycin st earate administration to dogs. Trimethoprim-sulfadiazine was used most often in dogs but did not result in a substantial number of adverse r eactions.