Scientific Name: Enrofloxacin
Brand names include: Baytril and Enrotril.
Enrofloxacin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that is used in veterinary medicine to treat respiratory, digestive, urinary, joint, genital, and skin infections in animals caused by bacteria.
It is effective against a wide range of bacteria, such as E. coli, salmonella, mycoplasma, and chlamydia psittaci. However, it is not effective against pseudomonas spp, a bacteria that causes respiratory infection. Additionally, it doesn’t treat anaerobic bacteria that don’t live with the presence of oxygen.
In 2005, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the use of the enrofloxacin (Baytril) on meat and egg production poultry since it belongs to a class of antibiotic called fluoroquinolones commonly used in human medicine.
The FDA has found that campylobacter bacteria, which infect chickens and humans, resist enrofloxacin. This potentially makes the bacteria resist the fluoroquinolones class of drugs used in human medicine.
Warnings on the use of enrofloxacin
- Adhere to dosage and duration of treatment.
- Prepare a fresh mix daily if the administration is via drinking water.
- Consult your veterinarian before use.
Disclaimer: This article is neither medical advice nor does it cover all uses, warnings, and side effects. Always consult your venetrian before using any medicine.
Reviewed by Dr. Wael Abuhmoud.