Vet prescribed wrong dose of antibiotics

[PurrsAndBarks]

Hi - looking for some advice.

My dog (12kg cockapoo) developed an abscess near her tail several weeks ago. The vet prescribed Cladaxxa antibiotics 40mg x 10 - and then again when the infection didn’t resolve. My dog also had the area cleaned out and no grass seeds or similar were found under sedation.

After all that it was noticed my dog had been on the wrong dose all along - should have been 200mg based on her size, so a huge difference! So she went on the new dose x 14 and then again after persistent infection. Then a swab was also given and Metrobactin antibiotics prescribed to deal with another bacteria. The infection is still not fully cleared.

My questions:

• Could the incorrect dose have made my dog resistant to the Cladaxxa?
• Could it have allowed a new bacteria to get in and take root or is it more likely that bacteria was present from the start?

I’m worried about the mounting cost and not clued up enough to know how much my dog’s problem infection is due to the vet’s mistake.

Any vets who can comment?

Not a vet nor do I have any medical training, but just thinking about when humans take antibiotics, we’re told to finish the full course or the infection could get worse, so I imagine this is similar? No idea re an answer to your first question, but I’d say possibly yes to your second, though there’s no way of proving it.

I would raise a complaint with them and explain that 1) you should be refunded for the consult and the meds that were prescribed in the wrong dose and 2) you will consider taking this further if more treatment is needed due to their mistake. This is their mistake and I’d be wanting to know how it happened.

Fingers crossed your poor dog feels better soon!

Thanks @Endlesswandering
Yes, they have apologised profusely and given me free consultations and meds since the error … but I’m still paying for the exploratory op, swab and possibly CT imaging - the next step if it doesn’t resolve.
She had a biopsy that was clear. Fall ridiculously expensive.

Just trying to get some more info before I make a request for more in the way of compensation!

That’s good to hear, though a nightmare that you’ve still the other bits to pay for. Do you have insurance? If so I’d be chatting with them ASAP and potentially putting a claim in. I wonder if they’d be able to advise re the vets mistake and if this has led to more tests etc needing to be done.

Your poor dog, wishing them a speedy recovery!