What is Rilexine for Dogs
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Dogs are the most famous animals kept as pets worldwide. However, as a dog owner, you will feel cornered when your dog doesn’t seem okay and will want to take appropriate steps to relieve the discomfort. Dogs can suffer from bacterial infections, which result in painful, itchy, inflamed skin or uncomfortable urinary tract infections. If your canine friend suffers from bacterial urinary tract infections or skin infections, your vet might prescribe you to administer Rilexine for your dog. This antibiotic offers a safe and effective treatment for various bacterial infections. Here is a complete guide on Rilexine for dogs, benefits, dosage, side effects warnings, and everything you should know about the drug.
What is Rilexine?
Rilexine refers to an oral antibiotic for dogs, prescribed by professional vets for treating bacterial infections. The medication might be prescribed to treat pyoderma, a bacterial skin infection, respiratory and urinary tract infections, or those affecting the ears, skin, genitals, and bones. Rilexine tablet contains Cephalexin, a cephalosporin antibiotic that kills specific types of bacteria by hindering the nucleo-peptide synthesis of the bacterial wall. The drug has been designed as an easy to administer chewable tablet that can be conveniently mixed with your dog’s favorite food. Rilexine Tablets are made by Virbac and designed specifically for dogs. This means you should not use the drug on other animal breeds. They come in liver-flavored chewable tablets available in 150mg, 300mg, and 600mg.
What Causes Bacterial Infections in Dogs?
Some bacteria can make your dog sick. Dogs often experience bacterial infections because of a weakened immune system. Aging, a poor diet, stress, lack of exercise, a dirty environment, and other illnesses can result in bacterial infections for your dog. Some of the common bacterial infections affecting dogs include; skin infections, urinary tract infections, respiratory infections, and infections on the bones, ears, and genitals. According to MyFamilyVets.com, you can boost your dog’s immune system and decrease the chances of contracting a bacterial infection through simple lifestyle changes such as; regular veterinary checkups, feeding your pet nutritious dog diet, offering a constant supply of fresh wat and vaccinations. However, if your dog has a bacterial infection despite your prevention efforts, your vet might prescribe Rilexine as an antibiotic.
How Does Rilexine Work in Dogs?
When administered to dogs as directed by the veterinarian, Cefalexin effectively treats respiratory, dermal, and genitourinary infections by interfering with the typical bacterial cell wall. The chewable tablets contain a single active ingredient; Cephalexin. Cephalexin is an antibiotic against cephalosporin which treats bacterial infections within the urinary or respiratory tracts or bacterial infections on the bones, ear, skin, or genitals. The cephalexin component works by inhibiting the nuclei-peptide synthesis on the bacterial walls, destroying bacterial infections. Cephalexin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that functions by inhibiting the ability of harmful bacteria to effectively generate cell walls, which is a vital part of their lifecycle. This gradually impedes their survival, ending the infection.
How To Administer Rilexine?
Rilexine tablets are given to dogs orally, two times a day for 28 days, based on your vet’s description. Always provide the exact dosage prescribed, as missed doses decrease the effectiveness of the medication. Antibiotic treatments are always recommended to be continued for a particular timeline to ensure the cause of the ailment or infection is eliminated. It doesn’t bounce back because of not adhering to the recommended dosing. Rilexine for dogs also follows the same aspect, so it’s recommended to be given for up to 28 days. You can provide Rilexine to your dog with or without food. These chewable tablets are well accepted by dogs but might also be added or crushed to food if needed. Always follow the directions of your vet. These liver-flavored tablets have a recommended dosage of 10mg per pound of the dog’s body weight. Individuals with antimicrobial sensitivities such as penicillin should avoid or handle this medication with care. Important to note is that Rilexine tablets are not designed for human use. Antimicrobials, including cephalosporins and penicillin, can result in sensitive people’s allergic reactions, keeping them away from children.
Rilexine Dosage
According to HealthWarehouse.com, the recommended Rilexine dose is 22 mg/kg (10 mg/lb) of total body weight twice a day daily for 28 days. If you miss administering a dose, give it as soon as possible. However, if the time for the next dose has already been reached, skip the missed dose and return to the standard prescription dosage. Never administer two Rilexine doses at the same time. Resistance is a significant concern for antibiotics, and the fact that Rilexine is also an antibiotic means it’s also prone to resistance. To avoid resistance, you should give your dog the total dosage prescribed by your doctor, even if the pup feels better. Another essential aspect is sticking to a dosage limit and avoiding going overboard and administering the drug for a longer time. While overdosing is a rare concern, it can result in various gastrointestinal troubles like diarrhea or vomiting when it occurs. According to a post-approval experience, dogs might willingly take more than the recommended chewable tablets, leading to an overdose. In the case of an overdose, get in touch with your vet as soon as possible.
Rilexine Potential Side Effects
The common side effects of Rilexine tablets are gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite. The medication can also result in allergic reactions in some dogs. The potential signs of allergic reactions include; vomiting, swelling, and collapsing. If you notice a possible allergic reaction on your dog, consult your vet as soon as possible or call the emergency veterinary hospital. Generally, contact your vet if the following happens; vomiting, loss of appetite, drooling, diarrhea, skin rash, rapid breathing, high fever, or excitability. Vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea are easily treated by placing the corresponding medications in food. Sleepy signs after administration are yet to be reported.
Drug Interactions
Like most medications, drugs such as Aminoglycosides, probenecid, chloramphenicol, amphotericin B penicillin, and oral anticoagulants might interact with Rilexine when administered at the same time. This might cause interference with the mode of action of Rilexine, making it ineffective or even resulting in adverse reactions. The bactericidal activity of cephalosporins is decreased by the associated administration of other bacteriostatic acting drugs such as rifampicin, macrolides, and chloramphenicol. Other drugs can also interfere with Rilexine, so always tell your vet about other medications, supplements, or vitamins your dog is on before administering Rilexine.
Rilexine Warnings
Rilexine should only be used in dogs, so you should never use it on humans. Also important to note is that antimicrobials, including cephalosporins and penicillin, can cause allergic reactions in sensitized individuals. Hence, sensitive people should avoid contact with the medication with the mucous membranes and skin when handling them to prevent the risk of allergic reactions. In case of accidental ingestion by humans, get to a professional physician immediately. The doctor might contact a Poison Control Center for advice regarding the incidents of ingestion by humans. Therefore, Rilexine should be kept out of reach of children.
Rilexine Contraindications
Rilexine tablets are contraindicated in dogs with earlier incidents of allergic reactions to Cephalexin. According to Vet Approved Rx, drug administration is also contraindicated in dogs with hypersensitivity to Cephalexin or have a history of kidney ailments.
Precautions
Rilexine is an antibiotic that should only be prescribed when you have a bacterial infection. The medication has not been evaluated if it’s safe for pregnant, breeding, or lactating dogs. Hence, it would be best to use it with caution in pregnant dogs and dogs with kidney failure or a medical history of seizures. Rilexine should not be used on dogs with a previous allergic reaction to antibiotics such as cephalosporins or penicillin. Rilexine may affect urine test results. False-positive reactions for glucose in the urine and positive direct Coombs&rsquo test result have been observed during treatment with cephalosporin antimicrobials. These antimicrobials might also cause alleviated urine protein determinations. Hematological reactions have been detected with cephalosporin therapy, including anemia and neutropenia. Other hematological responses seen with cephalosporin therapy include; hypoprothrombinemia, prolonged prothrombin time PT and partial thromboplastin time PTT, increase in serum aminotransferases2, thrombocytopenia, and platelet dysfunction. Keep in mind that this drug should be used only under the vet’s instructions. Federal law restricts Rilexine to use on order or by a licensed veterinarian.
Rilexine Efficacy
According to PetCareRx, Rilexine is an effective antibiotic against urinary tract infections. This dog medication helps control most bacterial infections, particularly pyoderma. They also help in maintaining healthy conditions for your dog’s genitals. Another critical aspect to know is that Rilexine is effective against dogs’ respiratory bacterial infections and pneumonia.
How Long Does Rilexine Take to Be Effective for Dogs?
The period taken for a medication to work after administering a pet depends on various factors. These factors are determined by specific animal conditions, including its current health conditions and the extent of particular problems it currently suffers. Antibiotic administration for a specific ailment occurs when the infection has rapidly spread beyond the treatment scope by other drugs. Ultimately, antibiotics are meant to provide quick relief from the clinical symptoms caused by bacterial infections as quickly as possible. Rilexine tablets for dogs start to act within an hour or two after administration. However, to completely relieve all the signs, the drug might take longer, and it is vital that you follow the correct dosage instructions as stipulated by your vet. After you begin the administration, you will start noticing the action on the symptoms, but you should not halt the dosage. After giving the total dosage to your dog, the dog should be free from bacterial infections in a week or two.
Rilexine In Dogs with Pyoderma
The recommended treatment for pyoderma is an effective antibiotic therapy for about three to four weeks. The Rilexine oral tablets effectively treat pyoderma, a bacterial infection on the dog’s skin. Some of the Pyoderma symptoms include; itchiness on the skin, lesions, pus-filled skin swelling, and even hair loss.
Is Rilexine Effective in Treating Kennel Cough?
Rilexine for dogs is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that kills around 90% of all bacterial strains. Kennel coughs in dogs are caused by Bordetella, gram-positive bacteria categorized under the Proteobacteria phylum. The active ingredient of Rilexine is Cephalexin, belonging to the cephalosporins family of antibiotics. Cephalexin hence does not fight against Bordetella effectively. Therefore, Rilexine is not effective in treating kennel cough in dogs. The good news is that you can vaccinate your dog against Kennel’s cough to decrease the likelihood of the infection.
Storage
Rilexine has no strict demands in terms of storage. You should store the mediation in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. According to Chewy.com, store it at temperatures between 67° – 77°F. You don’t need any refrigeration. Excursions are allowed between 59° – 86°F. Also, always keep this medication out of reach of children. As earlier stated, people with antimicrobial sensitivities like penicillin should avoid handling Rilexine. Also, store Rilexine tablets out of reach of cats, dogs, and other pets.
Pricing
Rilexine is sold in tablets according to its specific strength. The available strengths include 150mg, 300mg, 600 mg tablets. The medication is readily available on online websites as well as physical local veterinary services setting for around $1, depending on the vet’s prescription.
Bottom Line
Hopefully, you now understand all the crucial details about Rilexine tablets. This antibiotic uses Cephalexin to destroy the bacterial cell walls, effectively treating bacterial skin and urinary tract skin infections. The FDA law restricts Rilexine only on prescription or order by a licensed veterinarian for the best safety and dog care advice. So, before administering the drug to your dog, always consult with your vet on whether the medication is safe to administer to your dog at home.
