AVOIDING COMMON PET MEDICINE MISHAPS!
Everyone laughs at the email describing "how to pill a cat", but insuring that our pets get the appropriate medications is not a funny matter. Too often, pets are injured or even killed due to errors made in providing medication for them. Be sure to keep your pets safe by following these common sense guidelines whenever your veterinarian prescribes medications.
By Dr. Deb Eldredge, Veterinary News Network
- Always give the full prescription unless told otherwise. Using only part of an antibiotic prescription can lead to drug resistant bacteria.
- Always make sure you understand the directions, especially if the label is hand written not typed. One pill twice daily is NOT the same as two pills once daily.
- Some medications may have specific directions such as to give with food or to avoid giving with food. For example, tetracycline type antibiotics should not be given with dairy products like cheese. Most nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories such as Rimadyl, aspirin or Deramaxx should be given with some food.
- Make sure your veterinarian knows ALL the other medications and supplements your dog is taking. This includes herbal supplements and ANY other things including the regular diet. Some combinations could be deadly.
- If your dog starts to show symptoms that might be a side effect of the medication, such as vomiting, diarrhea, incoordination, etc, call your veterinarian right away.
- If you have multiple pets and even if another dog starts to show similar symptoms, do not simply give that dog the same medication. Dosages need to be adjusted for age and other health problems, especially chronic ones such as liver or kidney damage. Check with your veterinarian.
- Don’t give your medicine to your dog. Dosages may be off, your medication may not be safe for your dog, etc.
- Never adjust your pet's medication without first consulting with your veterinarian.
- Store medication properly – some may need to be refrigerated, some kept in a dark cupboard.
- Do not use medications after their “out date”. The expiration date should be on the label.
- Keep a chart for senior dogs or any dog with multiple medications so that the whole family knows when to dose and if a dose has been given.
Dr. Debra Eldredge is a graduate of Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine and has practice in both small animal hospitals and been involved in exotics work at the Utica Zoo. She currently lives with a menagerie of animals that include horses, donkeys, sheep, ducks, dogs, a goat and a cat!!
Dr. Eldredge is an award-winning writer and her blogs about her canine agility training and other pet related topics can be found at http://www.examiner.com/x=37369-Utica-Dogs-Examiner, http://www.examiner.com/x-52858-Utica-Pet-Health-Examiner and http://www.examiner.com/x-60116-Belgian-Breeds-Examiner. More information about Dr. Deb and her interests can also be found at http://coyote-run.net.
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