My Shih Tsu-Bichon mixs back top gum is bleeding, can I give him antibiotics?
Q: I have noticed my Shih Tsu-Bichon mix’s back top gum is bleeding. My other Shih Tsu has allergies and was given antibiotics. Could I possibly give the antibiotics to him to keep from infection until I can get him to the vets? A: There are many different types of antibiotics, and some should only be used for very specific conditions. Most antibiotics will also have certain side-effects. Without knowing the extent of your dog’s problem, I would not advise using the antibiotic you have at home – the drug or the dose may not be appropriate, or there may be important side-effects to consider. There are a number of reasons your dog’s gum may be bleeding. The bleeding could simply be caused by an injury, which should be easily treatable. Tooth infections can also lead to gum bleeding, in which case the tooth causing the problem will need to be cleaned under general anaesthesia, and sometimes even extracted. Dogs can develop bleeding problems, either because they don’t have enough platelets
