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Before you give your pet any medication, always read what the label says. start by making sure the medicine bottle has the proper pet name on it; it is possible that someone might have made a mistake and given you medication intended for another pet. It’s also possible that you grabbed the wrong bottle from the area where you store your medication. checking the name is the absolute first thing that must be done whenever before giving anything to the pet.
Just because two medications are for heartworms or for fleas doesn’t necessarily indicate that they are interchangeable or that the dose is the same. It could be very hazardous in some cases to give a medication indicated for dogs to a cat. The dose for a 160 pound bullmastiff could cause major problems for a 6 pound cat. Some pet dog medications have not been checked in cats and some must never be given to cats regardless of the weight of the animal.Even though some cats are as great and intelligent as some people I have met, they are not little people!
One of the most common calls we get at the pharmacy is a panicked customer wondering if the pet dog medication that was just given by mistake to the cat will cause any severe problems. lots of times people put a whole bunch of medications in a drawer all mixed together. Human, cat, dog, ferret, and all the different medications are in one pile. If space is absolutely limited and you have to put all the family’s medication in one area, what works well is to make a small box for each pet and place all the medications belonging to that pet in the box. write the name clearly with a magic marker so there is no confusion.
When your pet is being examined, listen to the veterinarian to hear the name of the medication that is being prescribed. If what the bottle says does not match with what the veterinarian spoke to you about, don’t hesitate to ask. Don’t assume it’s a similar product with a different name. It is always better to ask and keep asking until you feel comfortable with what you are giving your pet.
After verifying that the pet and drug names are right the next thing to do is look at the directions of use. If there is anything that is not clear about the instructions, ideal away call your pharmacist and ask questions. If the directions say “give as directed” and your veterinarian hasn’t informed you how to give the medication, give the office a call for clarification. never be terrified to ask.
If the directions read give 5cc or 5ml or 15ml or if they give the dose in milligrams or any other measurement or weight that you are not familiar with, don’t guess on how much to give. A pharmacist is normally only a phone call away and could save you much trouble and aggravation trying to figure out what to do if the wrong dose is given.
The next thing to notice on the label is if there are any additional warnings or instructions. Some medication must be given with food, and some must be given on an empty stomach. Some labels alert about the potential for causing drowsiness. Although the pet is not going to be concerned with operating heavy machinery it is still crucial to know that the medication is causing a certain side effect so you don’t worry unnecessarily when your pet is looking sleepy in the corner of the room.
Another very crucial thing that the label will say is how to store the medication. In our pharmacy the temperature and humidity are measured 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and it is recorded daily to make sure there are no fluctuation in temperature or humidity. These thermometers that we use are very state-of-the-art and cost a considerable amount of money to purchase and maintain. The reason for all these precautions is because it’s very crucial to always store the medications the way that is suggested by the manufacturer. stability and effectiveness of the medication is maintained as long as possible only if certain storage guidelines are met. I’m not suggesting that you spend thousands of dollars to purchase high caliber thermometers, but following some basic guidelines will help maintain the medication as fresh as possible for as long as possible.
Some medications belong in the refrigerator and some need to be at a controlled room temperature. It is never a good idea to put the medications on a window sill where there is exposure to direct sunlight. The medicine cabinet in the shower room is also not the best place for storing medicines; the temperature in the shower room is always fluctuating between hot and cold and there is quite a bit of humidity in there on a regular basis. nearly any room is better than the bathroom. At my home we store the medication in bins with covers that close and we place them in the top shelf of my bedroom closet.
There are lots of labels that are crucial because they instruct us how long to keep the medication after it has been opened or after it has been mixed. As is the case with certain antibiotics, once they are mixed they can no longer maintain their stability until the original expiration date. After mixing, some antibiotics only last 10 days before they have to be discarded.
Some medication labels have a description of the medication that is meant to be inside the vial. These must match what is inside the bottle. If you’re getting a refill of a medication that you’re been getting all along and you notice a discrepancy in appearance from the last time you gave it to this time, call your pharmacist to make sure you are in fact giving the right medication.
Developing a good relationship with the veterinarian and with the pharmacist is an vital component for maintaining the health of your pet. The better the relationship you have, the much easier it will be for you to ask questions if the need arises. As always, a PetMeds pharmacist is available to answer any medication related question or concern.
Pet Safety