Buying antibiotics for cats online

An online consultation may be useful where veterinary rules permit it, but the vet may still need to examine the cat or collect a sample. Avoid sellers that offer prescription medicines without veterinary oversight or conceal the product source.

Poor appetite, hiding, vomiting, eye discharge, coughing and urinary changes can arise from infections or from problems that antibiotics cannot treat. Cats also metabolise some medicines differently from people and dogs, so a human product or another animal's dose may be harmful.

A veterinarian identifies the likely source of illness, checks hydration and organ function when relevant, and selects a medicine that reaches the affected tissue. Testing may be advised when the infection is recurrent, unusual or has not responded to earlier care.

Use the pharmacy named or accepted by your veterinary clinic. Check that the package is sealed, the label names your cat, and the medicine, strength and directions match the prescription. Ask the clinic before giving a delayed, damaged or unexpectedly different product.

Give each dose exactly as directed and use the supplied measuring device for liquids. Do not crush or open a dose unless the vet or pharmacist confirms this is suitable. Contact the clinic if your cat spits out medicine, misses doses, vomits after dosing or develops diarrhoea, swelling or marked lethargy.

Seek emergency veterinary help if your cat has open-mouth breathing, collapses, has a seizure, cannot stand, has pale or blue gums, or develops facial swelling or breathing difficulty after medicine. These signs should not wait for an online delivery.

Prompt same-day advice is also needed if a cat strains without passing urine, repeatedly vomits, cannot keep water down, becomes unusually unresponsive, or stops eating. Kittens, older cats and cats with kidney, liver or immune problems can deteriorate quickly.

Confirm the suspected diagnosis, whether an examination or sample is required, how to give each dose, which reactions require urgent contact, and when improvement should become noticeable. Ask how the medicine should be stored and what to do with unused doses.