Tetracycline for Tearstain ? (long)
by Jay Bianco
ORIGINAL MESSAGE:
I was forwarded this message this morning and thought it was well written and therefore am passing it along. I hope this is alright with the author, I didn't ask her permission to publish it so I left her name off.

I'm really concerned that a lot of people are turning to antibiotics for tearstaining as I think that quite a few aren't aware of the possible consequences. I've even seen posts suggesting to new pet owners that they buy fish tetracycline from pet shops and use that! As you and Jay pointed out in your recent posts, tetracycline causes permanent tooth discolouration in young puppies and can cause digestive upsets. I think more people are aware of this now but many still think it's perfectly safe to give to their maltese once the adult teeth are in and, even worse, without veterinary advice! I've responded on a couple of ocasions to this but I'm reluctant to do so again - I don't want to be too boring and repetitive! Do you think it would be possible to put something up on the main MO menu which outlines the risks involved with antibiotics? That way if people read that first and still decide to go ahead with it, at least they've made an informed choice. Does Jay have a piece he could put up? Maybe the PetDoc would write something for you, people are more likely to take notice of a vet than me or even Jay and I'm sure she wouldn't condone the willy-nilly use of antibiotics without veterinary advice. I'm tacking on a slighly amended part of a reply I made before - if you want to use any of that feel free to do so, but remember I'm not an expert (although I do have a science degree with a major in microbiology and have worked in medical laboratory science and research for 10 years - including a couple of years in immunology.) Bobbie Linden is not only a breeder but also a microbiologist and I'm pretty sure she would give you something that would carry more weight with readers than anything I have to say.

I know that the pressure is really on the breeders for show purposes so that "cosmetic reasons" for them are not the same as for pet owners, also they keep in close contact with their vets and are generally pretty knowledgable about antibiotics and administering medications. It's the pet owners like me that I'm more concerned about, after all if a breeder recommends a course of action we usually rely on their experience and take it, unless we have a little knowledge on the subject ourselves which conflicts with that. A breeder that I have the utmost respect for recommended antibiotics for tear staining to me. I don't think any less of her for that, especially as she thought that she was being helpful but I was aware of the down side of antibiotics and so was able to make an informed and unbiased decision - this is what I hope others will be able to do if the "pros and cons of antibiotics for tear staining" could be included somewhere, regardless of what that decision is. We all love our precious babies and NONE of us would give them ANYTHING which we thought might be harmful, so you know that I'm not implying that people who give their maltese antibiotics for tear staining think more about their looks than their health, far from it - gee, I know that people probably think I'M a bad mum because I give the Beasties raw chicken wings- I just want people to know that antibiotics are powerful drugs which shouldn't be given without veterinary advice unless you really know what you're doing. OK, I'll get off my soapbox now!

................it is a personal choice so just be aware of the possible consequences before you take the decision. Every time you (or your dog) take a course of antibiotics you are selecting out resistant strains. This has 2 main consequences: Firstly you decimate the all the susceptible bacteria - including beneficial ones - this can allow resistant strains to take a hold (which can come back to haunt you or your dog in old age in the form of constant urinary tract infections which no longer respond to antibiotic treatment). Secondly, you are contributing to the global pool of resistant bacteria, which increases chances of re-infection (especially if you have no natural immunity because antibiotics have been doing all the infection fighting). Antibiotics, used sensibly and when necessary, check the spread of bacterial disease and save lives. If one of the Beasties had a nasty bacterial infection I would be the first one asking the vet for antibiotics. But please think carefully about possible repercussions if the use is purely for cosmetic reasons, and discuss it with your vet before you go ahead - there is a chance that the staining may not be bacteria-related and could be prevented by changes to food, water or eating and drinking utensils. I know that most people who are thinking of trying the antibiotics only plan to give one course, just to see if it works. Many people say that tearstaining clears after a single course, in which case it is pretty unlikely there will be a long-term harmful effect. But repeated courses of antibiotics, which may be necessary to achieve that white face, just don't make sense. I wonder what effect all the antibiotics which are currently given to poultry and other livestock to make them grow are going to have on us meateaters years down the track. Makes you want to be a vegetarian (almost!).
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I did more research this morning after reading the above message and in a very short time came across the following from very good responsible sources with regards to humans taking Tetracycline that I hope that anyone considering giving Tetracycline to help control tearstaining on your Maltese will read this first before making that decision. ~Jay

Tetracycline makes you more sensitive to sunlight. In other words, it's easier to get a sunburn while taking Tetracycline. Ten percent of female patients will develop a yeast infection while taking antibiotics. The onset of genital itching and vaginal discharge suggests the beginning of a yeast infection. Tetracycline should be discontinued if you become pregnant because it is incorporated into the baby's bones and teeth. Tetracycline often causes temporary nausea and abdominal cramps.

Do not take tetracycline when taking iron, calcium or antacids. (there have been suggestions of giving your Maltese Tums to help eliminate tearstain. a Tum is an antacid and does contain calcium) Do not take tetracycline if you are nursing an infant or if you are under 8 years old. Anemia, blood disorders, blurred vision and headache (in adults), bulging soft spot on the head (in infants), diarrhea, difficult or painful swallowing, dizziness, extreme allergic reactions, genital or anal sores or rash, hives, inflammation of large bowel, inflammation of the tongue, inflammation of the upper digestive tract, loss of appetite, ringing in the ears, swelling due to fluid accumulation, vision disturbance, vomiting. May cause rare problems in liver, kidney or bone marrow.

Less common or rare side effects may include:

Inflamed skin, inflammation of the penis, liver poisoning, muscle weakness, peeling, skin eruptions, throat sores and inflammation. Tetracycline can cause yellow, tan, creamy or grey discoloration of the teeth.

Tetracyclines are generally regarded as relatively non-toxic, but they produce a fairly large number of adverse effects, some of which can be life threatening under the right circumstances. Therefore, they should not be used casually.

Tetracyline given at higher doses can result in bone deformation.

DISCUSSION:

Thanks for the info, Jay. I would never give tetracycline for tearstaining. I remember my sister-in-law's vet recommending it to her for her white toy poodle. Fortunately, after I told her what could happen, she decided not to do it.
April B