Mary Fisher wrote:
"Harry Bloomfield" wrote in message
k...
We took a dog to a vet on Sunday for him to check out what turned out to
be a much more serious wound than it at first appeared and paid a bill of
£150.

We were given anti-biotics, but not a full course and asked to return the
animal mid week for another check up.

My understanding of anti-biotics is that if a course is started, the full
course should always be given.

....

That's changed now, for humans at least. Doctors will vary but our practice
(about eight doctors and several nurses) advise to stop taking the
antibiotics when symptoms have gone.

Mary



Symptoms can disappear very quickly, but the bacteria causing the infection
are still there in significant numbers. For example one of my kids had am
eye infection, two doses of antibiotics and 4 hours later all visible
symptoms had effectively disappeared, but it would be irresponsible to then
stop taking the treatment.

Any health professional that tells you otherwise is giving poor advice. In
some cases I could see them telling you to take for a minimum of x days and
then if you are all clear stop taking them. But the simple statement you
make above strikes me as dangerous advice.

cheers

David