[Antibiotic treatment of diarrhea in dogs and cats]

The most important reason for diarrhea in dogs and cats are dietary errors. In addition there is a multitude of other influences which may lead to diarrhea. Bacteria play a minor role in diarrhea-associated disease. The so-called primary bacterial intestinal infections occur rarely as it is shown in the examinations presented. Except for the situation in which a specific bacterial activator is the cause of continuous diarrhea in general the administration of antibiotics is ineffective. The treatment of diarrhea should rather consist of food deprivation, oral or parenteral rehydration, use of antisecretory medicaments and of adsorbents, diet and, in case of spasms, administration of anti-cholinergics.