Triple Antibiotic, Topical
“This page provides important general information for pet owners whose animals have been prescribed Triple Antibiotic, Topical during a consultation by Dr Noor.”
Description of Triple Antibiotic, Topical
This is a medicine you put on the skin to help stop bacteria from causing infection in small scrapes, minor burns, and small cuts.
Other Names for this Medication
- Neosporin®
Common Dosage Forms
- Veterinary: None.
- Human: An ointment that has bacitracin 400 units, neomycin 3.5 mg, and polymyxin B 5000 units in each gram.
Antimicrobial Classification
- Critically Important
This handout does not include every piece of information that exists for this medicine. It is meant to help with common questions, but it does not replace medical guidance. If you still have questions or need additional details about this medicine, call your veterinarian or your pharmacist.
Key Information
- After you put it on, stop your pet from licking or grooming the spot for at least 20 to 30 minutes. This helps prevent problems that can happen if the product is swallowed, and it also gives the medicine enough time to stay on the sore or wound.
- When you use it the way you were told, side effects do not happen often.
- Throw away the box/tube and any leftover product in the normal household trash. Do not wash it down a sink or drain.
- Do not use it near your pet’s eyes.
How is this medication useful?
This medicine is not officially approved for animals. Even so, veterinarians, in some cases, prescribe and use human products that contain this medicine for animals. You and your veterinarian can talk about why this option is the best fit.
What should I tell my veterinarian to see if this medication can be safely given?
Many different factors can change how well this medicine works for your pet. Talk with your veterinarian about the items below so you can decide together what is best.
- Other medicines may affect this product. Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about everything your pet receives, including vitamins, supplements, or herbal products. Also share how much you give and when you give each one.
- Tell your veterinarian about any health problems your pet has now, or has had before.
- If your pet 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 pet is pregnant or nursing, discuss with your veterinarian what risks may come with using this medicine.
- Tell your veterinarian and pharmacist about any past medicine reactions or side effects your pet has had, 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 is expected to begin working within 1 to 2 hours, but you may not be able to see changes on the outside right away. Your pet should start to feel better within 1 to 2 days. The benefit does not last long, meaning it stops working within 24 hours.
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 pet.
If your pet fits any of the situations listed below, speak with your veterinarian about the possible risks compared with the possible benefits.
- That are allergic to neomycin, polymyxin B, or bacitracin
- With deep wounds, serious burns, or wounds that cover a large area.
- Cats.
What are the side effects of this medication?
If this sign becomes strong, gets worse, or does not go away, contact your veterinarian.
Side effects that may be serious or indicate a serious problem:
If you notice any of the signs below, contact your veterinarian right away.
- Irritation where the product was applied
- Trouble breathing that starts suddenly
- Collapse
If my animal gets too much of this medication (an overdose), what should I do?
Because this is used on the skin, giving too much is not expected. However, problems or poisoning could happen if your pet eats the medicine. If that occurs, call your veterinarian or contact an animal poison control center for guidance.
How should this medication be given?
For the medicine to work the right way, use it exactly the way your veterinarian instructed.
- Look at the prescription label and the package directions to confirm you are using it correctly.
- Clean the area that needs treatment the way your veterinarian told you to.
- Put a small amount of this product on the affected area, following your veterinarian’s directions.
- This is only for use on the outside of the body. Do not allow your pet to lick or chew the area for at least 20 to 30 minutes after you apply it.
- This medicine may be used for different time periods. Make sure you clearly understand how long your veterinarian wants you to keep using it.
- You may need refills before the full course is finished.
- If you want to stop using it, talk with your veterinarian first, because there may be important reasons to keep going.
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 close to the time for the next scheduled dose, do not give the missed one. Instead, give the next dose at the normal time. Then continue with the usual 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). Store it at room temperature and keep it away from light.
- If your veterinarian or pharmacist made a special custom version for your pet (a compounded product), follow the storage directions and the expiration date that come with that product.
- Keep it out of reach of children and away from other animals.
Can handling this medication be hazardous to me, my family, or other animals?
- No special safety steps are needed when handling this medicine, unless you are allergic to it.
- If you apply it to your pet the way you were instructed, harmful effects to the person applying it are not expected.
- Do not let it get into your pet’s eyes, nose, or mouth.
- If someone accidentally swallows it, get emergency medical care.
- Get emergency medical help right away if you have signs of an allergic reaction, such as hives, trouble breathing, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Even though it is not written on the label, it is recommended to wear protective gloves when you apply this medicine.
- Wash your hands after you handle this medicine, or any medicine.
How should I dispose of this medication if I don’t use it all?
- Do not flush this medicine in the toilet and do not pour it into a sink.
- If your area has a community drug take-back program, use that.
- If there is no take-back option, 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 to prevent leaks, 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?
- Some animal competitions may not allow the use of this medicine. Check the rules before entering your pet in a competition while your pet is receiving this medicine.
- If you have more 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.”
Related Medication Information
- Bacitracin, Topical
- Gentamicin, Topical
- Gentamicin/Betamethasone, Topical
- Mupirocin, Topical
- Betamethasone, Topical