Can you give horses human antibiotics? dose? type?

Question

Hi. I cant get to a vet until tomorrow and my horse is really swollen and hurting on his back knee. I have tetracycline, amoxicillian and erythrocin....DOES ANYONE KNOW THE DOES FOR A HORSE AND WHICH ONE CAN BE GIVEN SAFELY?? Thanks for any and all help!

Answer 1

Don't give her human antibiotics! Whatever you do. They are for HUMANS, not HORSES! Oh and btw, the "back knee" is called the hock, and if you don't know that and that you shouldn't give horses antibiotics designed for humans, then maybe you should consider learning more about horses. Sometimes vets DO perscribe human medication, but please don't give your horse it without consulting your vet. Hopefully your horse will be fine until tommorow, and good luck with himéher:)

Answer 2

Ask your vet!  They always get a kick out of a question like this! I dont mean to be arrogant, but vets spend years in colledge for equine medicine.  Most people that answer here are so called trainers that work elsewhere....

Answer 3

Why would you even consider giving your horse people medicine?  If you "can't get to the vet til tomorrow" - then unfortunately your horse has a bad owner and will have to suffer til it's convenient for you.  Anyone who would even consider giving unauthorized med to a horse w/o a vets advice is an idiot and doesn't deserve a horse.

Answer 4

I'm a little concerned that if you don't know that the "back knee" is the hock, you might not be able to follow this advice. But for a swollen joint that isn't cut, chances are you have a bit of infection somewhere. Assuming it isn't broken, of course. If the horse can walk on it, you can put a sweat wrap on it to help draw out the infection. The vet will put one on anyway and you can get a jump start on treating the problem.

You will need iodine paste, furisom paste, or other paste antibiotic for horses. A feminine napkin. A roll or two of self adhesive bandage. A roll of plastic wrap for food, some Elasticon tape and something to cut with.

Clean the leg with cold water and look for any small punctures, hot spots, soft, puffy places or draining holes or scratches.

Cut the napkin in half and smear a liberal helping of the paste on it. Put it over any draining or hot area. Wind a wrap of the plastic over the pad. Cover that with the adhesive bandage. Don't wrap too tight, but get it above and below the joint so it will stay on. Use the Elasticon tape to stick the top wrap of the bandage to the hair above the hock and another wrap below to keep the bandage from sliding down. Your vet can cut it off in the morning. Check it every couple hours to make sure it's not too tight. If it keeps swelling, you could cut the circulation off to his leg and kill him.

Take  

Answer 5

I would not risk an "off label use" of human vaccines...they're not designed for equines.  Doubt they'd be effective for you.

Get busy and hose off that hot hock!!!!  And, contact your vet!!

Answer 6

Not only do you not give human antibiotics to your horse, but without knowing whether your horse has a bacterial infection, giving any antibiotic is a bad idea.  Infections are not all bacterial...and if antibiotics are not given in the right dose for the right amount of time, superbacteria can develop that nothing will kill.

Call your vet again and get advice on what you can do until he gets there tomorrow.  Cold hosing it in the meantime will not hurt it and may give the horse some relief.

Answer 7

No and don't. You can't give horses antibiotics like humans take them. You should only give antibiotics at the direction of your vet.  

Answer 8

Horses don't have back knees.

You have NO BUSINESS trying to medicate your own horse.  Run a cold hose over his HOCK and let the vet take care of it tomorrow.

Answer 9

DO NOT, under any circumstances, give a horse human antibiotics. You can give him bute (or a similar painkiller for livestock). Human antibiotics aren't meant for horses and could cause them to become ill. If you don't have any bute, call up the vet and ask him/her to bring some. You could also run to the nearest feed shop and pick some up

Answer 10

I have actualy had some Vets Recomend Human Antibiotics for horses. But it depends, I would defiantly ask a vet before giveing it to a horse though.

Answer 11

Do NOT use bute if you intend of showing\racing this horse anytime soon. I would suggest penecillin. You can get it at a co-op. But like bute its tested for.

Try soaking a cloth in hot water and epsom salt. Apply the water to the swollen part for 10-20minutes. Than take poultice or Animalintex and cover the effected area to draw out heat. Personally if you are inexperienced wait for the vet to do any internal healing per say (anitbiotics). Some horses may be allegic to penecillin so if its your first time using it have a vet present. Also NEVER try to experiment with human medicines. There may be ingriedients that are fatal to hroses.

Answer 12

A the most cold hose the swelling. Otherwise wait for the vet as it seems you may not be experienced with horse injuries and you don't want to make things worse. So that's my advice, wait for the vet. As long as your horse is eating and pooping he will survive until tomorrow with a swollen hock.

Good Luck :)