Clavamox contains both clavulanic acid and amoxycillin.  The
clavulanic acid acts as a potentiator to improve the action of the
penicillin type drug, amoxicillin.  It acts by inhibiting the
penicillinase enzyme produced by some types of bacteria.  This enzyme
normally breaks down the penicillin so that it doesn't work.  The
cephalosporin class of antibiotics are similar to the penicillins in
their actions except that they were designed to be resistant to this
enzyme (penicillinase).
    Michigan State will have it's open house (Vet-A-Visit) on April
17th.  We will have a table on ferrets there along with info on the
present status of legal ferret ownership legislation in Michigan.
 
[Posted in FML issue 0446]