Clavamox & Kidney Function

Clavamox is a prescription medication that is registered for use by animals and humans. Veterinarians may prescribe Clavamox to dogs to treat a wide range of infections. This medication is generally well tolerated by dogs, and has a low incidence of side effects.

  1. Identification

    • Clavamox is a combination of amoxicillin and clavulanate. Together, these two drugs work to treat or prevent bacterial infections in dogs. Amoxicillin is a penicillin-based medication and clavulanate helps to inhibit enzymes produced by bacteria. This means that Clavamox kills bacteria by preventing production of bacteria within the cell walls of the dogs body.

    Types

    • Clavamox may treat certain types of bacterial infections such as bone infections, wound infections, infections in the mouth, pneumonia, bladder infections and some skin infections. This medication is not effective in treating parasites such as mites or worms.

    Prevention/Solution

    • Although caution should always be used when prescribing medication for dogs with chronic kidney or liver disease, Clavamox is safe for use in these dogs when monitored by a veterinarian. Clavamox has not been shown to have any adverse affects on a dog's kidney function when used according to the directions provided by a veterinarian. Clavamox may be prescribed to treat bladder and kidney infections in dogs.

    Side Effects

    • While Clavamox does not usually adversely affect kidney function in dogs, it does have some risk of side effects. Some side effects associated with the use of Clavamox are allergic reaction to the medication, loss of appetite, vomiting and diarrhea.

    Considerations

    • Dogs that have any type of infection may be at an increased risk of kidney damage if the infection is left untreated. This is especially true of bladder and kidney infections. Some symptoms of kidney infections in dogs are blood in the urine, frequent urination and having accidents in the house. Clavamox may help to protect kidney function by treating the bacteria associated with these types of infections.