This thread is 2 years old. Excerpt from
WSAVA 2001 - Diagnosis and Management of Bacterial Pneumonia
Treatment
Antibiotics, re-hydration (i.e., fluid therapy), and elimination or control of predisposing factors, are the highest priorities in treating bacterial pneumonia. Any bacterial isolate from the lower respiratory tract of a pneumonia suspect should be submitted for a susceptibility test, especially since the offending organisms in dogs and cats are often Gram-negative bacteria, which are extremely variable in their antibiotic sensitivity. While awaiting the results of culture and susceptibility, the initial choice of an antibiotic may be guided by a cytologic determination of the shape of the bacteria (cocci are assumed to be Gram-positives and rods are assumed to be Gram-negatives). Mixed infections occur in approximately 40% of cases. Suggested antibacterial regimens for pneumonia are as follows. For initial treatment of Gram-positive cocci, consider amoxicillin-clavulanate, cephalosporin, or trimethoprim-sulfa. For initial treatment of Gram-negative rods, consider amoxicillin-clavulanate, fluoroquinolone, cephalosporin, or trimethoprim-sulfa. For life-threatening sepsis, consider amoxicillin-clavulanate and fluoroquinolone in combination, amoxicillin-clavulanate and amikacin in combination, cephalosporin and amikacin in combination, or a third generation cephalosporin. For Bordetella bronchiseptica, consider amoxicillin-clavulanate, doxycycline, fluoroquinolone, or aerosolized gentamycin. For mycoplasma, consider doxycycline or fluoroquinolone. The antibiotic regimen should be continued for at least one week beyond clinical and radiographic remission of the infection; thus, the usual minimum duration is two or three weeks.