Amoxicillin is an aminobenzylpenicillin from the β-lactam penicillin family which prevents the bacterial cell wall formation by interfering with the final step of peptidoglycan synthesis.
Clavulanic acid is an irreversible inhibitor of intracellular and extracellular β-lactamases which protects amoxicillin from inactivation by many β-lactamases.
Amoxicillin/clavulanate has a wide range of activity which includes β‑lactamase producing strains of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative aerobes, facultative anaerobes and obligate anaerobes.
Resistance to β-lactam antibiotics is mainly mediated by β-lactamases which hydrolyze antibiotics such as amoxicillin.
After oral administration at the recommended dose in dogs and cats, the absorption of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid is fast. In dogs, the maximum plasma concentration of amoxicillin of 8.5 µg/ml is reached in 1.4 h and the maximum plasma concentration of clavulanic acid of 0.9 µg/ml is reached in 0.9h.
In cats, the maximum plasma concentration of amoxicillin of 6.6 µg/ml is reached in 1.8 h and the maximum plasma concentration of clavulanic acid of 3.7 µg/ml is reached in 0.75h. Elimination is also fast.
Half-life is 1 hour in dogs and 1-2 hours in cats for both substances.
After repeated oral administration of the recommended dose in dogs and cats, there is no accumulation of amoxicillin or clavulanic acid and the steady state is reached rapidly after first administration.
Refer to individual SPCs for further information.