Antibiotic, Antifungal, and Steroid Combinations (Topical)
“This page provides important general information for pet owners whose animals have been prescribed Antibiotic, Antifungal, and Steroid Combinations (Topical) during a consultation by Dr Noor.”
Antibiotic, Antifungal, and Steroid Combinations (Topical) for pets in Perth
Description:
Antibiotic, Antifungal, and Steroid Combinations (Topical) is a skin treatment.
Other Names for this Medication:
- Animax®
- Dermalog®
- Malacetic Ultra®
- Panalog®
Common Dosage Forms:
- Veterinary: These are made as products you put on the skin, such as creams, greasy ointments, liquid lotions, liquids, mixtures that need shaking, sprays, rinses/flushes, shampoos, and wipes or small medicated pads.
- Human: These are also made as creams, greasy ointments, liquid lotions, spray cans, liquids, shampoos, powders, foams, and gels.
This handout does not include every possible detail about this medication. It is meant to answer common questions, but it does not replace advice from a medical professional. If you still have questions or need additional details about this medication, contact your veterinarian or your pharmacist.
Key Information
- These products include more than one active ingredient, so each time you apply it, your pet receives several medicines at once.
- After you put it on, stop your pet from licking or chewing the treated area for 20–30 minutes.
- Keep this medication away from your pet’s eyes.
- After applying it, wash your hands every time, or use gloves when you apply it.
How is this medication useful?
These combination skin products include several active ingredients, which can make it simpler to treat skin infections caused by bacteria and fungus.
- Antibiotic medicines are used for surface-level bacterial skin infections.
- Antibiotics that are often included in these combination products are bacitracin, clindamycin, gentamicin, mupirocin, neomycin, polymyxin B, and silver sulfadiazine.
- Some products also include other ingredients that can help control infection, such as acetic acid/boric acid, chlorhexidine, and chloroxylenol.
- Antifungal medicines are used for ringworm (a contagious skin infection caused by a fungus) and for other yeast-related skin infections.
- Antifungal medicines commonly used include clotrimazole, ketoconazole, miconazole, nystatin, and terbinafine.
- The word “steroids” here means corticosteroids, which are medicines similar to cortisone that reduce itching and swelling.
- The steroids most commonly used in skin products are hydrocortisone, betamethasone, mometasone, and triamcinolone.
Many combination skin products are approved for animals to treat skin infections. In some cases, veterinarians may prescribe these products for different animal species or for different health problems. Your veterinarian may also choose a product approved for people that is not officially approved for animals. In certain situations, veterinarians may prescribe and use human products containing these drugs in animals. You can talk with your veterinarian about why this medication is the best option.
What should I tell my veterinarian to see if this medication can be safely given?
Many factors can change how well this medication works for your pet. Talk with your veterinarian about the points below so you can make treatment choices together.
- Other medicines can affect this medication. Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about everything your pet receives, including vitamins, supplements, or herbal products, and include how much you give and when you give it.
- Tell your veterinarian about any health problems your pet has now, or has had before.
- If your pet has had treatment before for the same problem, tell your veterinarian what was used and whether it helped or did not help.
- If your pet is pregnant or nursing, discuss the possible risks of using this medication.
- Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about any side effects your pet has had from medicines in the past, including allergic reactions, not wanting to eat, diarrhea, itching, or hair loss.
How long until I will know if this medication is working, and how long will the effects of this medication last?
Your pet should start to feel relief within 1 to 2 hours. After that, you should see improvement in the signs you can observe. The benefit does not last long, and it stops working within 24 hours.
When should this medication not be used or be used very carefully?
No medication is completely safe for every patient. Your veterinarian will talk with you about any special concerns related to your pet.
If your pet has any of the situations listed below, discuss the possible risks and benefits with your veterinarian.
- Pets that have an allergy to any ingredient in the specific combination product that was prescribed.
- Pets with tuberculosis infections affecting the skin.
- Pets that are very small (for example, toy breeds).
- Pets that need the medication applied over large body areas.
What are the side effects of this medication?
For dogs and cats, skin medicines used on the outside of the body are usually handled well.
If you notice any of these, you do not need to panic unless the signs are strong, getting worse, or not going away. If that happens, contact your veterinarian.
Side effects that may be serious or indicate a serious problem:
If you notice any of the following, contact your veterinarian right away.
- Redness or pain where the product was applied, especially if the product contains alcohol.
- An infection that does not improve with treatment, does not seem to be healing, or appears to be worsening.
- Not wanting to eat, vomiting, or diarrhea.
- Sores forming around the mouth.
- Drinking much more than usual (such as often drinking large amounts of water) and urinating more often.
- Skin becoming thinner, ongoing hair loss and skin redness, more skin tearing, or infections developing where the product is used.
If my animal gets too much of this medication (an overdose), what should I do?
Too much may happen if your pet eats the product, if the treated area covers a large part of the body, or if an excessive amount is applied. If you see this happen or think it may have happened, contact your veterinarian or an animal poison control center right away for guidance.
How should this medication be given?
For this medication to work as intended, use it exactly the way your veterinarian prescribed. Always read the prescription label so you confirm you are using it correctly.
- Only clip or trim hair at the treatment spot if it is needed.
- Sprays, ointments, creams, lotions, or wipes/pads are usually prescribed to be used on the affected skin 1 to 4 times daily.
- If a shampoo or conditioner is prescribed, bathing may be recommended anywhere from daily to weekly.
- Work the product thoroughly into the coat, keep it on the skin for at least 10 minutes, and then rinse very well using cool water.
- Keep it away from the eyes, mouth, and nose.
- Do not let your pet lick or chew the treated areas, because this can slow healing and may add more infection to the area.
- If needed, your veterinarian may use a collar to stop licking and chewing.
These medicated products may be used for different lengths of time. Make sure you clearly understand how long your veterinarian wants you to keep using it. You may need prescription refills before the full course is finished. Speak with your veterinarian before you stop, because there may be important reasons to continue.
What should I do if I miss giving a dose of this medication?
If you forget a dose, apply it when you remember. If it is almost time for the next scheduled dose, do not give the missed one; wait and apply the next dose at the normal time. Then continue with the usual schedule. Do not apply extra or apply two doses at once.
How should I store this medication?
- Keep this medication in its original container, at room temperature, and away from light.
- If your veterinarian or pharmacist prepared a custom-made version for your pet, follow the storage directions and the expiration date provided for that product.
- Store it where children and other animals cannot reach it.
Can handling this medication be hazardous to me, my family, or other animals?
Using gloves is recommended when you apply these products. If you do not use gloves, wash your hands after you apply the medication.
How should I dispose of this medication if I don’t use it all?
- Do not pour these products into a toilet or down a sink.
- If your area has a community medication “take-back” program, use that.
- If there is no take-back option, combine the leftover product with coffee grounds or cat litter so it is unpleasant to children and animals and not recognizable to someone searching through trash.
- Put that mixture into a sealable plastic bag to prevent leaks, and place it in the household trash.
- Do not keep extra product for later use, and do not give it to anyone else.
What other information is important for this medication?
- Some combination medicines made for ear use may also be appropriate for skin infections.
- Some skin infections may fully clear with only products used on the skin, but other infections may also need medicines given by mouth.
- When these medicines are used on large areas or on areas with open sores, some of the medication can pass through the skin and affect the whole body.
- This can also be more likely in very small animals and in pets treated for a long time.
- Any product used on the skin can potentially have whole-body effects, but the chance is higher with steroid ingredients, especially stronger steroids (for example, betamethasone).
- Steroid-containing products can leave effects behind that may change allergy test results.
- Unless your veterinarian gives different instructions, stop using products that contain steroids or antihistamines (medicines used for allergy symptoms) for 2 weeks before allergy testing.
- In some animal competitions, using this medication may not be permitted.
- Check the rules before entering your pet in a competition while your pet is receiving this medication.
- If you have more questions about this medication, contact your veterinarian or pharmacist.
“Disclaimer: The information on this page is provided as general educational material only. Every animal’s health situation is unique, and treatment decisions must be based on a full veterinary assessment. Always follow the specific instructions given during your consultation, and contact the prescribing veterinarian if you have any concerns.”
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