Rational antibiotic therapy for respiratory disorders in dogs and cats

The appropriate antibiotic treatment of respiratory tract infections involv es accurate diagnosis and identification of bacterial infection, with treat ment targeted at the infecting pathogens. Optimal drug selection is based o n predicted bacterial susceptibility, drug distribution and activity in the respiratory tract, and safety for the patient; however, treatment is often required before results of culture and sensitivity tests are completed. Ad ditionally, these infections are often the result of underlying disease pro cesses that predispose the patient to secondary bacterial infection and may complicate the response to therapy. This article presents an overview of t he unique physiology and defense mechanisms of the respiratory system, the diversity of microbial organisms that may colonize and invade the respirato ry tract, and the factors that affect antimicrobial therapy in the diseased state in dogs and cats.