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As a
veterinarian I rely on the pet owner to comply to at
home care instructions as well as to the proper
administration of medications sent home.
Too
often, however, a small percentage of what is
communicated to the pet owner, while in the exam room,
is actually remembered and followed through at home.
I often
send written instructions along with brochures that the
pet owner can refer to, if questions arise at home. My
staff and I attempt to explain everything while the pet
owner is still in the office, especially when it comes
to the administration of medications. It is important
for pet owners to have a full understanding of what
medications are being sent home.
Do not be
afraid to ask questions in the office. I also encourage
clients to call us if questions arise once they are
home. If medications or instructions are not carried out
properly, a pet may not improve or they could get worse.
One of
the most frustrating situations I deal with is
non-compliance of owners with the administration of
medications at home. Too often, owners will call or come
in for an exam with a similar or an exact problem with
their pet and ask if a medication they have a remaining
supply of — and was sent home months ago — would
help. I always give at least a puzzled look in response
when I know that the particular medication specifically
stated on the label to administer "until all have
been given."
This
common problem occurs when a pet owner stops giving the
medication midway through the prescribed regimen,
because their pet seems better. This can cause major
problems, especially with the use of antibiotics.
Stopping antibiotics before their prescribed regimen
dictates can lead to a resurgence of the bacteria in the
original location, or worse yet somewhere else. Also,
stopping an antibiotic may cause resistance to the
antibiotic if one attempts to restart the same
antibiotic shortly thereafter or in the future.
Both oral
and topical medications should always be sent home with
a clearly printed and legible prescription label that
gives exact dosing regimens. All medications should be
given as directed until all has been administered unless
specifically stated on the prescription label to do
otherwise. By federal law prescription labels must
contain certain information, including directions for
proper use. Prescription labels also contain how often a
drug should be administered.
A proper
label will state a drug should be given or applied every
12 hours instead of saying twice a day. There is a big
difference in those two instructions. The timing
associated with when a medication should be administered
has to do with optimum drug concentrations in your pet's
system to be most effective. To further complicate
matters, are those medications that have a tapering dose
over a certain time period. This is commonly seen with
steroids, and it is important to stay on schedule.
A good
way to stay on track is to mark the medication schedule
on a calendar. This usually keeps everyone in the
household aware of the dosing schedule. Remember, when a
pet is on medication, it is a good idea to put one
household member solely in charge to simplify matters,
and to eliminate mistakes in administration.
Another
common mistake is for pet owners to double up on a
prescribed dose, because they forgot one dose, or they
feel like the recommended dose was not effective. This
is never a good idea. If you have for any reason
forgotten to give your pet its medication at a certain
time, just give the medication as directed in the
prescribed amount at the next time it is due.
If you
feel a medication is not being effective and you have
given it an adequate time frame, please contact your
veterinarian before altering the administration of the
medication in any way.
When
giving your pet medication it is also important to note
whether the medication should be given on an empty
stomach or with a full meal. Just as with human
medications, this can affect the absorption and
effectiveness of a medication. Also pay attention if
certain foods should be avoided such as dairy products,
if food is allowed. These types of details are critical
to making sure medication has the optimum delivery and
effectiveness.
Please
note that even some flea and heart-worm preventatives
fall under this category, so be sure to read labels
carefully. A helpful tip for giving pets oral
medication, if allowed with food, is to use some type of
treat to hide the medication to ease in acceptance with
a pet. It is always best to offer a small tidbit of the
treat to your pet first without the medication, to first
note if the treat is even accepted by the pet. If you
have success with a treat alone, then next place the
medication in the treat and offer it to the pet. Always
make sure the medication is actually swallowed. I cannot
tell you how many times clients have told us that they
later found a hidden stash of pills that were obviously
spit out by the pet.
A great
aid to giving either your cat or dog oral medications is
the Greenies Pill Pocket. These are tasty treats with a
built in pouch designed for hiding the pill that you
have to give to your pet. These have been successful for
our in hospital treatments as well as for our clients at
home. For anyone who has ever had to give a cat a pill,
you should look into this helpful aid.
When your
pet requires either oral or topical medication, it is of
utmost importance to follow the prescription label
directions exactly. Remember, your pet is at your mercy
to receive its medication properly.
If you
have any questions about the medication once you are
home, do not hesitate to contact your veterinarian's
office to clarify any issues. If you get home and your
pet will not cooperate in the process of receiving its
medications, call your veterinarian to see if you have
any alternatives with the form of the medication or is
there another alternative altogether. Your veterinarian
wants your pet to get better, so do your part as the
responsible pet owner and follow the instructions
exactly as listed.
———
(Dr.
Tracy Acosta
, a veterinarian at
Biloxi Animal Hospital
, welcomes your questions. Call 896-8255 or toll free at
1-866-450-8255 or write to
South Mississippi Veterinary Medical Association
,
20005 Pineville Road
,
Long Beach MS
39560; include a SASE.)
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