Table 5.

Empiric antibiotic choice for patients with pneumonia

Stable patient, mild clinical signs	Monotherapy: Doxycycline 5 mg/kg PO every 12 h Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid 13.75 mg/kg PO every 12 h (dog) 62.5 mg PO every 12 h (cat)
Moderate clinical signs	Monotherapy: As above Dual therapy: Amoxicillin 22 mg/kg PO every 12 h Ampicillin 22–30 mg/kg IV every 8 h Clindamycin 10 mg/kg PO/SQ every 12 h (dog) 10–15 mg/kg PO/SQ every 12 h (cat) And Enrofloxacin 10 mg/kg PO/IV every 24 h (dog) 5 mg/kg PO/IV every 24 h (cat) Pradofloxacin 7.5 mg/kg PO every 24 h (cat) Amikacin 15 mg/kg SQ every 24 h
Critical patient, severe clinical signs	Dual therapy As above Monotherapy: Piperacillin-tazobactam 50 mg/kg IV every 6 h Meropenem 24 mg/kg IV every 24 h Imipenem 10 mg/kg IV every 8 h

Abbreviations: IV, intravenous; PO, by mouth; SQ, subcutaneous.

Data from Lappin MR, Blondeau J, Boothe D, et al. Antimicrobial use Guidelines for Treatment of Respiratory Tract Disease in Dogs and Cats: Antimicrobial Guidelines Working Group of the International Society for Companion Animal Infectious Diseases. J Vet Intern Med. 2017;31(2):279-294.