Our pets are just like family. When your cat or dog is sick or needs ongoing treatment, your life can be totally flipped around. You will find yourself having to do frequent trips back and forth to the vet and always worrying about their comfort. In addition to this, you also need to know about their meds. Being a responsible pet owner is being rightfully educated on their medication. This article gives a medication guide that takes you through the fundamentals you need to know as a pet owner in Elizabeth, NJ.
The Vet Visit is Only the Start
When your veterinarian hands you a prescription, it might feel like the biggest task is completed. But this is where becoming a pet healthcare manager truly begins. The prescription is an order, and it is your duty to comply. Don’t hesitate to question your vet in the office.
Does Your Pet Need Medication?
A good policy is to make sure you are leaving with knowledge of the “what, why, and how” of the medication. Having clear answers to these questions beforehand prevents problems later. Just like with people, animals can have medication for every sort of disease.
Common Pet Drugs and Their Uses
Tick, Flea & Heartworm Preventatives
With our parks and random humid days experienced in our area, these are a must. Preventatives are typically administered once per month in a chewable tablet or liquid form applied to the skin. They work by keeping parasites from producing severe diseases such as Lyme disease or heartworm.
Antibiotics
These ones cure bacterial infections, from a small skin infection to an internal one that is more severe. It is totally critical to finish the whole course your vet gave. Stopping in the middle because your pet appears to be better can let the infection come back, worse than it was to begin with.
Pain Relievers and Anti-inflammatory Drugs
Provided that your senior pet dog is pacing itself on its walks or your cat is not mobile, they may require help with joint discomfort. Not only do these drugs ease pain and swelling, but they can also have a significant change in their daily lives. Never administer human pain relievers as they weren’t designed for your pet’s system. Older pets with heart disease, diabetes, or thyroid are managed by an everyday, ongoing medication regimen, sometimes throughout the life of the animal.
The “How-To” of Administering Medicine
Giving the prescribed medication will likely be the biggest challenge for pet owners. A wriggling dog or smart cat can make giving pills a war.
For tablets, by all means, hide them inside a special treat. Smelly, soft treats like a bit of cheese, a spoonful of peanut butter if it is xylitol-free, or a commercial “pill pocket” treat work well. If your dog is more intelligent than that, you can place the pill as far toward the back of the tongue as you are able and then follow this with some tasty liquid to encourage them to swallow. Hold the muzzle gently, push their head back, and let the pill slip in to encourage swallowing. Then, carefully close their mouth and rub their throat. A dropper or a syringe can turn out to be effective when giving oral liquid medication.
Safe Filling and Storage
The space where you store your pet’s medication is very important as it prevents early expiry or ineffectiveness. Consider placing all medication in a cool and dry space that is out of sight. Use original containers to store the medicine and keep them far from both children and pets all times.
It is important to plan ahead so you never run out of pills, especially if they are for a chronic condition. You don’t want your pet to miss an injection when things are hectic. Count your remaining medications and order a refill a few days before you run out.
Caring for your pet’s health is not something that you have to undertake alone. Although your vet is still your initial advisor on diagnosis and treatment, someone that you can leave your script with is also important. You need someone who understands the special bond that you have with your pet.
It is here that you need to have a specialty pharmacy service right here in Elizabeth. An exclusive pharmacy that focuses on one-on-one care can offer you the treatment and attention your beloved family pet requires. For most of our residents, that warm, hometown favorite is Legacy Pharmacy. We work together with you to ensure your pet’s health is in top condition at all times.
