COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF MARBOFLOXACIN AND AMOXICILLIN-CLAVULANIC ACID INTHE TREATMENT OF URINARY-TRACT INFECTIONS IN DOGS

One hundred and four dogs with clinical signs of urinary tract infecti on were selected by 15 practitioners in a multicentric, controlled and randomised study. The clinical diagnosis was confirmed by urinalysis and imaging. Each dog received either marbofloxacin (2 mg/kg orally on ce daily or 4 mg/kg by subcutaneous injection every four days) or amox icillin-clavulanic acid tablets (12.5 mg/kg twice daily) for 10 or 28 days, depending on the clinical diagnosis. Rectal temperature, general condition, appetite, urinary signs, defecation disorders and pain on abdominal palpation were monitored at each visit, the timetable depend ing on diagnosis: three urinalyses and at least three examinations per case were performed. Side effects were also thoroughly sought at each examination. Marbofloxacin and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid both yield ed good bacteriological cure rates (96.2 per cent versus 85.0 per cent , respectively) and clinical cure rates (83.3 per cent versus 69.7 per cent). Fewer relapses were observed in those dogs that received marbo floxacin. Few mild side effects were recorded with both products.