What’s your prescription IQ?

 

How much do you know about your pet’s medications. Most pet owners know what the medication is aimed to treat, but do they know the name … how often the drug should be used … the milligram strength of the drug … or how the body metabolizes it? Do you? These are some of the important questions that you need to be asking your vet before he/she starts your animal on a new medication. Many drugs to have harmful interactions with other drugs. Some cannot be prescribed in conjunction with certain disease processes … so first you need to be able to let your veterinarian know exactly what your animal is currently being prescribed, and for what reason. Knowing this simple information can be the difference between a good or grave prognosis.

Now your veterinarian is prescribing a new medication. Because you have provided a good drug history, he/she knows that the new medication is not going to interact with any of the drugs that your animal is already being prescribed. The next set of questions you should ask is:

What is this new medication for? If you have a proper understanding of the illness, you can better understand how the drug works.

Next you should be asking: How is this medication supposed to be given … and how often? If it is an antibiotic, for example, since they are notorious for causing an upset stomach, you should always give with food. If it is a topical medication such as those prescribed for the eyes and ears, you want to avoid ingestion, and meal time is of no consequence. If it is a liquid, you should know if it needs refrigeration, and most often you will see “shake well” on the label. Make sure you also know how often you are to give the medications … if you do not follow the doctors instructions precisely you may not be achieving the full effectiveness of the drug.

How long should my pet stay on this medication? The diagnosis determines the prognosis … Once diagnosed, thyroid disease in dogs (hypothyroidism) is managed with daily doses of a thyroid supplement, and is a life long medication. Topical ear medications used to treat a simple ear infection (otitis externa) are usually only used for a relatively short duration. Under no circumstances should you discontinue your animal’s medication unless otherwise directed by your veterinarian. Many pet owners will discontinue the medication prematurely on the basis that the animal is no longer exhibiting any signs or symptoms. This is wrong … most often … the illness that you are trying to eliminate will only be stifled, and grow stronger as soon as you stop the medication. This action can also create resistance to the medication, thus making it difficult to clear an otherwise simple infection.

What happens if I forget to give my pet his/her medication? This is one of the most important questions you can ask, and it varies greatly from medication to medication. If you get home at 3pm and realize that your dog has spit out the Heartgard Plus® chew that you gave him last night … re-administering the chew is the right thing to do. If you realize that you forgot to give your cat his insulin shot in the morning … DO NOT double up with the next dose. Give the next dose at the regular increment at the regular time.

You should always be aware of the possible side effects of the medication … short term, and long term side effects. Some side effects should be avoided at all costs, and if your animal experiences such side effects, call your vet immediately. Others, unfortunately, cannot be avoided however being aware of them will make them easier to cope with. Prednisone is a steroid that is used for a multitude of ailments. It carries with it the unfortunate side effects of a veracious appetite, weight gain, and excessive urination. Phenobarbital is a drug primarily used to control seizure activity, and it can cause sedation. These side effects may come as a complete surprise to someone who didn’t ask the right questions. In addition to anticipating the short term side effects, there are sometimes long term side effects to consider. Phenobarbital is one of the drugs that is usually prescribed long term, and is metabolized by the liver. Knowing this little piece of information is vitally important because this drug can cause liver toxicity. Regular blood screenings are required to make sure that the body is tolerating the drug … no liver … no life …

Always know when you pet is due to be rechecked … Medicating an animal can be as difficult for a veterinarian as it is for the pet owner. That’s why owner compliance is a must. If the doctor is recommending a recheck and the owner does not comply … the animal’s health may be in jeopardy. Most medications need to be strictly monitored. If the reason that you are not making the re-check appointment is cost … please talk with your veterinarian about an alternate plan.