Penicillin V
“This page provides important general information for pet owners whose animals have been prescribed Penicillin V during a consultation by Dr Noor. Penicillin V for pets in Perth.”
Penicillin V
(pen-i-sill-in vee)
Description: Penicillin V for pets
This medicine is an antibiotic, meaning it is used to treat infections caused by certain bacteria.
Other Names for this Medication:
- Veetids®
Common Dosage Forms:
- For veterinary use: none listed.
- For human use:
- oral tablets in 250 mg and 500 mg strengths
- a powder that is mixed to make a liquid taken by mouth, available as 125 mg per 5 mL (25 mg per mL) and 250 mg per 5 mL (50 mg per mL)
Antimicrobial Classification:
Critically Important
This information sheet does not include every detail that exists about this medicine. It is meant to answer common questions, but it does not replace medical guidance. If you need more details or have questions about this medicine, contact your veterinarian or your pharmacist.
Key Information
- In most animals, penicillin V is given by mouth. It works best when it is given when the stomach is empty.
- Penicillin V must not be given by mouth to rabbits, guinea pigs, gerbils, hamsters, rodents, or chinchillas, because it can cause severe diarrhea that can be life-threatening.
How is this medication useful?
- In dogs and cats, penicillin V may be used for many different bacterial infections, as long as the bacteria involved can be treated by penicillin.
- In some cases, veterinarians prescribe medicines containing this drug for other species or for different conditions. You and your veterinarian can talk about why this medicine 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 medicine works for your animal. Talk with your veterinarian about the points below so you can make treatment choices together.
- Some medicines can affect penicillin V. Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about everything your animal receives, including vitamins, supplements, or herbal products, and also share the dose amount and the time you give each one.
- Tell your veterinarian about any health problems your animal has now, or has had before.
- If your animal has had treatment in the past for the same illness or problem, tell your veterinarian what was used and whether it helped or did not help.
- If your animal is pregnant or nursing, discuss with your veterinarian what risks may come with using this medicine.
- Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about any side effects your animal 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?
- This medicine should begin to act within 1 to 2 hours, even if you do not notice changes right away.
- Your animal should start to feel better within 1 to 2 days.
- This medicine does not last long in the body. Its action stops within 24 hours. However, the helpful effects may last longer if your animal’s kidneys and/or liver are not working as well.
When should this medication not be used or be used very carefully?
No medicine is completely safe for every patient. Your veterinarian will talk with you about any special concerns for your animal.
This drug SHOULD NOT be used in patients:
If your animal has any of the issues listed below, speak with your veterinarian about the possible benefits compared with the possible risks.
- Animals that have an allergy to this medicine or to other penicillin medicines.
- Rabbits, gerbils, hamsters, rodents, and chinchillas, because severe diarrhea that can be life-threatening may happen.
What are the side effects of this medication?
Common, but not serious side effects include:
If you notice the signs listed below, you usually do not need to be highly worried unless they are strong, get worse, or do not go away. If that happens, contact your veterinarian.
- Diarrhea, vomiting, and reduced appetite.
Side effects that may be serious or indicate a serious problem:
If you notice any of the signs below, contact your veterinarian right away.
- In cats, not eating at all can sometimes lead to serious liver problems.
- Fever, skin rashes, breathing difficulty, and anemias (low red blood cell problems) can be signs of allergic reactions.
If my animal gets too much of this medication (an overdose), what should I do?
- Taking too much penicillin V can be dangerous. It may cause problems with body salts (electrolyte imbalances) and may harm the nervous system and the liver.
- If you see or think an overdose has happened, contact your veterinarian or an animal poison control center immediately for guidance.
How should this medication be given?
- For this medicine to work properly, give it exactly the way your veterinarian instructed.
- It is helpful to read the prescription label each time so you confirm you are giving the correct medicine in the correct way.
- Penicillin V works best when given without food. If your animal throws up or seems unwell after getting it on an empty stomach, give the next dose with food or a small treat. If vomiting continues, contact your veterinarian.
- If you are using a liquid form, measure it carefully. It should be kept in the refrigerator. Your veterinarian or pharmacist can provide special spoons or syringes to help you measure. After the liquid is mixed, throw it away after 14 days.
- If giving the medicine is difficult, ask your veterinarian or pharmacist for ways to make dosing easier and to lower stress during medication time.
- This medicine may be prescribed for different lengths of time. Make sure you understand how long your veterinarian wants you to keep giving it.
- You may need prescription refills before the full course is finished.
- Do not stop this medicine without speaking to your veterinarian first, because there may be important reasons to keep using it.
What should I do if I miss giving a dose of this medication?
- If you forget a dose, give it as soon as you remember.
- If it is almost time for the next dose, do not give the missed dose. Instead, give the next dose at the regular time.
- Then continue with the normal schedule.
- Do not give two doses at once and do not give extra doses.
How should I store this medication?
- Keep this medicine in the original prescription container, or in another approved container used to organize doses (for example, a pill minder).
- Tablets and the dry powder bottle can be kept at room temperature. After the powder is mixed into a liquid, the liquid must be kept in the refrigerator.
- After mixing, liquid penicillin V must be thrown away after 14 days.
- Store it where children and animals cannot reach it.
- If your veterinarian or pharmacist has prepared a custom-made version (a compounded product) for your animal, follow the storage directions and the expiration date provided for that product.
- Keep away from children and other animals.
Can handling this medication be hazardous to me, my family, or other animals?
- No special handling steps are needed unless you are allergic to this medicine.
- Wash your hands after you handle any medication.
How should I dispose of this medication if I don’t use it all?
- Do not put this medicine into the toilet and do not pour it into a sink.
- If there is a community drug “take-back” program, use that option.
- If there is no take-back program:
- combine the medicine with coffee grounds or cat litter so it is unpleasant to children and animals and not recognizable to people who might search through trash
- put that mixture into a sealable plastic bag so it will not leak, and then place it in the regular trash
- Do not keep leftover medicine to use later, and do not give it to anyone else.
What other information is important for this medication?
- In some animal competitions, using this drug may not be permitted. Check the rules before entering your animal in a competition while your animal is receiving this medicine.
- If you have any other questions about this medicine, 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.”