Tobrex is an antibiotic drug intended for ophthalmic application. Its active ingredient is tobramycin, a broad-spectrum antibiotic capable of acting against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Although this is a drug intended for use in people, it is often prescribed for the treatment of eye infections in dogs.
If you want to discover more about Tobrex for dogs, dosage, uses and side effects, don't miss the following article on our site in which we also talk about the types that exist and their contraindications.
What is Tobrex?
Tobrex is the trade name of a drug whose active ingredient is tobramycin. It is an antibiotic drug intended for administration ophthalmic, which is available in the form of eye drops and in the form of ophthalmic ointment.
Actually, this is a drug intended for use in people. However, it is frequently used in veterinary medicine using the so-called “ cascade prescription”, which consists of prescribing a drug that is not authorized for a specific animal species when there is a therapeutic gap.
What is Tobradex?
Although in this article we focus on describing the characteristics of Tobrex, it is worth mentioning the existence of a variant of this drug, Tobradex, which combines two active ingredients: tobramycin and dexamethasone. The combination of both compounds gives the drug a both antibiotic and anti-inflammatory effect
What is Tobrex used for in dogs?
Tobrex is used to treat superficial bacterial infections of the eye, caused by bacteria sensitive to tobramycin. Tobramycin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic belonging to the aminoglycoside family. It is a bactericidal antibiotic that is effective in treating both infections caused by gram-positive bacteria (such as Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus spp., Corynebacterium or Bacillus) and infections caused by by gram-negative bacteria (such as Pseudomonas, Klebsiella, Moraxella, E. coli, or Proteus).
Uses of Tobrex for dogs
As we mentioned in the previous section, tobramycin is used to treat superficial bacterial infections of the eye. Specifically, it is used as therapy in the following eye pathologies:
- Bacterial-type conjunctivitis: Generally, bacterial conjunctivitis in dogs is secondary to other disorders, such as trauma (from fights, scratches, etc.), eyelid disorders (such as entropion, ectropion or blepharitis) or other conjunctivitis. Under normal conditions, the eye has a microbiota made up of microorganisms that do not cause any ocular alteration. However, when an imbalance occurs in the eye's defensive system due to any of the alterations we have described, bacterial proliferation and overgrowth occurs, thus giving rise to infection. The bacterial genera most frequently implicated in canine conjunctivitis are Staphylococcus and Streptococcus, which are sensitive to the action of tobramycin. If you want to know more about Conjunctivitis in dogs: treatment, causes and symptoms, don't hesitate to read this article that we recommend.
- Other external eye infections: such as keratitis, keratoconjunctivitis or blepharitis caused by bacteria sensitive to the action of tobramycin. Check out this post on our site about Eye Infection in Dogs: Causes and Treatment to learn more about the subject.
- Corneal ulcers: even if there is no infection, it is important to administer an ophthalmic antibiotic to prevent possible infections and promote healing of the sore. Similarly, in the case of complicated ulcers, it is essential to establish a specific antibiotic treatment, since in these cases there is already an infection. Don't hesitate to read this article about corneal ulcers in dogs: symptoms and treatment.
- Pre and post-surgical prophylaxis: as it is a broad-spectrum antibiotic, it can also be used to prevent eye infections before and after surgery ophthalmic.
Types and doses of Tobrex for dogs
As we have already mentioned, Tobrex is available in two different presentations, both for ophthalmic administration:
- Eye drops.
- Ointment or ointment.
In veterinary medicine, Tobrex is generally prescribed in eye drops, as it is easier to apply. Specifically, the dose of Tobrex eye drops for dogs is as follows:
- In moderate infections: 1 or 2 drops should be instilled in the affected eye every 4-6 hours during the first 24-48 hours. Afterwards, the frequency of application should be reduced according to the response to treatment, to a frequency of not less than 2 drops every 8 hours. The treatment should last at least 5 days.
- In severe ophthalmic infections: 2 drops should be instilled in the affected eye every hour until a clear improvement is achieved, then continue with 2 drops every 3 or 4 hours. The treatment should be extended for at least 7 days.
However, it must be taken into account that both the dose and the frequency of administration that we have indicated are only a reference, so that the veterinarian who establishes the treatment can adjust the dosage according to his or her needs. own medical judgment.
Tobrex side effects in dogs
The systemic absorption of tobramycin after ophthalmic administration is low. In other words, the drug exerts its effect at the ocular level without hardly passing into the blood and being distributed throughout the body. This means that the side effects associated with the administration of this drug are fundamentally local:
- Ocular hyperemia (redness of the ocular conjunctiva)
- Keratitis.
- Conjunctival edema.
- Eyelid edema.
- Erythema (redness) of the eyelid.
- Skin disorders: dermatitis, urticaria, pruritus (itching).
Contraindications of Tobrex for dogs
Although it is a safe drug when applied ophthalmically, there are certain situations in which the administration of Tobrex may be counterproductive. Next, we collect the main contraindications of Tobrex for dogs:
- Allergy to tobramycin or to any of the drug's excipients.
- Viral or fungal eye infections.
- Pregnancy: Although systemic absorption of the drug is low, some animal studies have shown reproductive toxicity associated with use of Tobrex. Therefore, this drug should only be prescribed in pregnant bitches after a proper risk/benefit assessment.
- Treatment with other aminoglycosides: when the animal is receiving systemic treatment with other aminoglycosides (either orally or parenterally) caution is advised, as co-administration of Tobrex may potentiate the appearance of serious adverse effects (such as neurotoxicity, ototoxicity or nephrotoxicity).
