Clavamox Without Prescription?

[MilliesMom]

We take care of a number of cats (some feral) and on occasion require Clavamox. Do you know of anyplace online that I can get it without a prescription? We did have a source, but they no longer carry it. We want to make sure it's the real thing, not some knock-off we can't trust.

 

Please...only provide sources you trust. No comments about the vet, please.

[RobinM]

If you can get YOUR doc to write for you, you can give augementin which is exactly the same drug, just a heck of a lot cheaper! My Chloe gets UTIs a few times a year so I always have some in the house that I have my own script for.

[greyhndz]

Outside of checking out Mexican pharmacies, I know of none that will provide it without a prescription.

 

I've researched this extensively, because I have a dog on pulse antibiotics. I thought generic augmentin (amox/clavulanic acid) would be much less expensive than mailing away to a vet pharmacy for name brand Clavamox.

 

Guess what - it's not. I checked every pharmacy (accredited pharmacies) out there, human and vet, and the least expensive option I found was using Clavamox itself. Augmentin, even generic, is not on any $4 formularies and is astoundingly expensive.

 

But to answer your original question, I know of no legitimate, licensed and accredited pharmacies that would provide augmentin or clavamox without a prescription. The closest you could come would be buying "fish antibiotics" from online pet pharmacies line KV. But no clavamox - only amoxicillin, keflex, bactrim and a couple more.

[MilliesMom]

I rarely use antibiotics. By rare I mean I've had it twice since '91.

It's a last-ditch effort.

One of my semi-ferals who's never in good health, had a terrible eye infection. I tried treating it homeopathically, but it didn't work. Then I caught it just by touching his bowls. Then I passed it onto my husband.

It required an antibiotic.

I've got a couple of boxes in the fridge, but I'd rather have more in case of emergency.

 

 

 

There's a reason you only can get it with a prescription. When people do what you're suggesting and use antibiotics inappropriately it creates resistant bacteria. I assume you understand why MRSA is such a problem. While you specifically may be using it correctly there's enough people who don't that docs generally don't trust the general population with antibiotics without actually seeing the animal. Not trying to judge, just explaining why it's going to be very very difficult for you to do what you're suggesting.

[ElizabethGPAPS]

You can obtain many types of anibiotics if they're labeled for aquarium usage. I keep a supply of metronidazole (flagyl) and amoxicillin on hand. They sell online as Fish-Zole and Fish-Mox. They are the exact same drugs as the prescribed ones. You can also get doxycyclene, cephalexin, ampicillin, tetracyclene, and erythromycin. Even other types if you expand your search to include those labeled for birds and livestock. However I don't think Clavamox (amoxicillin + clavulanate) is among the available. It seems to only have use for cats, dogs and humans.

 

 

[tbhounds]

You can obtain many types of anibiotics if they're labeled for aquarium usage. I keep a supply of metronidazole (flagyl) and amoxicillin on hand. They sell online as Fish-Zole and Fish-Mox. They are the exact same drugs as the prescribed ones. You can also get doxycyclene, cephalexin, ampicillin, tetracyclene, and erythromycin. Even other types if you expand your search to include those labeled for birds and livestock. However I don't think Clavamox (amoxicillin + clavulanate) is among the available. It seems to only have use for cats, dogs and humans.

 

Please don't tell me you really do that---they are sold as fish antiobotics because they were expired or otherwise labeled unfit for sale. Some expired ab's are actually dangerous and harmful to use.

[Guest Swifthounds]

I've researched this extensively, because I have a dog on pulse antibiotics. I thought generic augmentin (amox/clavulanic acid) would be much less expensive than mailing away to a vet pharmacy for name brand Clavamox.

 

Guess what - it's not. I checked every pharmacy (accredited pharmacies) out there, human and vet, and the least expensive option I found was using Clavamox itself. Augmentin, even generic, is not on any $4 formularies and is astoundingly expensive.

 

Clavamox is often given to cats and dogs for infections, but frequently because it's available for liquid for cats and also because it's broad spectrum, which is why it's often given for upper respiratory infections. It's amoxicillin and clavulanate potassium and although it works well when you need something broad spectrum because you're not sure what you're dealing with, it's really not the best for something like a UTI or say dental maintenance. That much broad spectrum amoxi will, over time, make other antibiotics less effective.Vets give it for pet UTIs because humans would never pay the money for a more targeted antibiotic - but they do a better job and don't pose the resistance risks.

 

 

Please don't tell me you really do that---they are sold as fish antiobotics because they were expired or otherwise labeled unfit for sale. Some expired ab's are actually dangerous and harmful to use.

 

If that's true and not listed on the bottle, and it can be substantiated, someone has a pretty good class action suit.

 

If you can get YOUR doc to write for you, you can give augementin which is exactly the same drug, just a heck of a lot cheaper! My Chloe gets UTIs a few times a year so I always have some in the house that I have my own script for.

 

This is a very good alternative. Just remember not to use your Rx plan.

[Anne]

You can obtain many types of anibiotics if they're labeled for aquarium usage. I keep a supply of metronidazole (flagyl) and amoxicillin on hand. They sell online as Fish-Zole and Fish-Mox. They are the exact same drugs as the prescribed ones. You can also get doxycyclene, cephalexin, ampicillin, tetracyclene, and erythromycin. Even other types if you expand your search to include those labeled for birds and livestock. However I don't think Clavamox (amoxicillin + clavulanate) is among the available. It seems to only have use for cats, dogs and humans.

 

Please don't tell me you really do that---they are sold as fish antiobotics because they were expired or otherwise labeled unfit for sale. Some expired ab's are actually dangerous and harmful to use.

Actually, having spoken to several vets and pharmacists, distributors etc. I don't believe this is true. It's illegal to sell out dated drugs for any medical reason to the general public, even for fish. And yes, I know that some of the rescue groups use these for dogs. My own vet knows I have some of these in the house in case I need them and she's not available and she has no problem with it at all.

[tbhounds]

Keep in mind that if the medication is being sold as a fish antibotic and you give it to your dog then you are using it off label and the company is longer liable.

[greyhndz]

Millie's Mom, did you mention that you needed the clavamox to treat eye infections? Unless it's a raging cellulitis, most superficial eye infections (conjunctivitis, keratitis) are treated topically, with antibiotic ointment specifically formulated for use in and around eyes. The same would go for any humans -- topical tx unless soft tissue infection or severe bacterial infection is present. The only time I've prescribed oral antibiotics for eye infections is if there's cellulitis. If there's evidence of a severe infection of the cornea, and/or marked inflammation of any segment of the eye, these are ocular emergencies, requiring urgent eval by an ophthalmologist (human or vet). The other reason to go to a vet is to determine if the cat also needs topical steroids.

 

For any kind of infection, the key is knowing what organisms are generally at the root of the infection. We in human medicine have lots of resources available to give us this information. I don't know what's out there in veterinary literature. Antibiotic recommendations are also affected by where you live, as people have shown resistance to certain antibiotics in one place, but infections are susceptible to the same antibiotic elsewhere. If an infection is superficial and responds well to a topical antibiotic, I'd always go there first, and save broader spectrum antibiotics (or any oral antibiotics) for when they're really needed.

 

JMHO.

[MilliesMom]

This is a semi-feral who would never allow me to pick him up or touch his face.

By the time I resorted to Clavamox (again, after trying some remedies that usually work), he had copious amounts of discharge streaming down his face, and I caught it (and passed it on) just by touching his bowl without gloves. He's all black, so I couldn't see if it were colored, but it didn't seem so.

One thing I do with my FIV+ (and myself) if there's an eye problem is to wipe the eye area with a cotton ball soaked in chamomille tea as per my the vet specialist of my FIV+.

My doctor put me on a homeopathic remedy, and if it happens again with Bucky, it'll be the first thing I give him.

I'm surprised he's lasted this long. He's got some underlying virus and gets URIs very easily, particularly when the weather changes. I wish he'd be more friendly, but after 4 or 5 years, just now he's letting me gently pet his back a couple of times. That's it.

I tried to find an inside home for him because I know he'd do better there, but it's hard enough just rehoming normal cats these days. That's why so many have been dumped.

I have another feral in trouble now. Lived here since he was a kitten (but only let me touch him a couple of times.) Went away for a couple of days. Came back with a tail injury. Blood a couple of inches from his butt and dragging. Tried treating him homeopathically, and he did look less sick, but then went away again. He's come back only late at night the past couple of nights. Won't let me near him at all, and it's getting worse. With other ferals/semi-ferals, I've thrown some diluted hydrogen peroxide on the affected areas, but I can't even get close enough to do it. If I do, I may never see him again he's so scared.

The whole thing's very upsetting. Tried negotiating with vets, and they either wouldn't give me a break or it was so little that it was laughable, even after I said I cared for a number of strays. I'd use some of the antibiotic I've got (only 2 boxes left), but it's not going to do him much good if he's not here twice a day, and I don't want it to go bad and waste it.

(And of course, the medicine/remedy should target the organism.)

Edited April 15, 2010 by MilliesMom

[Guest Swifthounds]

Keep in mind that if the medication is being sold as a fish antibotic and you give it to your dog then you are using it off label and the company is longer liable.

 

 

Mayhaps. It's not likely that anyone whose dog had an issue with an antibiotic would be suing the manufacturer of the antibiotic, so it's probably not an issue.

[Anne]

Keep in mind that if the medication is being sold as a fish antibotic and you give it to your dog then you are using it off label and the company is longer liable.

Giving them a human asprin is off label too, but it's done every day. The cost of things is a huge factor, for groups and for individuals as well.

[Guest FastDogsOwnMe]

My VET supports my using fish antibiotics. They ARE the same thing, and they do work. And no, I don't over use them either. I've only had antibiotics once in my entire life myself- for dental pain.

[Guest Swifthounds]

Giving them a human asprin is off label too, but it's done every day. The cost of things is a huge factor, for groups and for individuals as well.

 

As is giving them Augmentin...