Pet Medications

About Pet Medications

Medical research has resulted in the development of a wide range of pet medications designed to bring relief to any number of illnesses and disorders your dog may suffer from. While some of these medicines are available in your local pet supply store, other meds may only be obtained with a prescription from your veterinarian.

But why should you have to go through your vet to get the medicine your pet needs? The answer is quite clear. The average pet owner simply doesn't have the necessary skills and knowledge of veterinary medicine to make a creditable diagnosis for every sick dog symptom. Even if an owner does make a correct diagnosis, there are questions about proper dosage and duration of treatment to effectively route the illness.

As you may already know, many of our current antibiotics are loosing their effectiveness against certain bacteria, and this may be due in part to the fact that a number of pet owners don't give their pet medications on a set schedule. This allows the bacteria to overwhelm the medication, mutate, and become more resistant to it. This is why it's so important to let your vet determine the prescription and to follow his instructions to the letter.

Forms of Pet Meds

Pet medications may be given in several different forms, including:

• Pills
• Liquids
• Injections
• Topical creams and ointments

How to Give Your Dog Medication

Most medicines administered at home are given orally or topically; although some medications, such as insulin, are usually given by subcutaneous injection.

Ointments are among the easiest medications to apply, while other forms of medicine can be more difficult to deliver.

Pills

There are two main ways to give your dog a pill. Some owners are able to hide the medication in a piece of hot dog or a spoonful of peanut butter, which they easily feed to their dog. Others choose to administer each pill by hand.

To do this:

1. Stand or sit behind your dog and grasp his muzzle in your weaker hand.
2. Open his jaws and tilt his head back.
3. With your other hand, place the pill as far back on his tongue as you can.
4. Hold his mouth closed and gently stroke his throat, encouraging him to swallow.
5. Check his mouth to make sure the pill went down.

Liquids

Most liquid pet medication is given by dropper.

To do this:

1. Fill the dropper with the prescribed amount of medicine.
2. Position yourself behind your pet, and open her mouth with your weaker hand.
3. Tilt the head back and empty the dropper on the rear middle of the tongue.
4. Let your dog close her mouth, but keep her head tilted back slightly until you're sure she's swallowed all of the liquid.

Subcutaneous Injections

Subcutaneous injections are given just under the skin, where the medicine is gradually absorbed into the bloodstream.

To do this:

1. Fill the syringe with the correct amount of medication.
2. Hold the needle straight up and tap the syringe to make any air bubbles float to the top.
3. Slowly press the syringe to force the air out through the needle until a small amount of the liquid comes out.
4. Pull up a section of the loose skin behind your dog's neck and gently insert the needle.
5. Press the syringe until all of the liquid has been delivered beneath your dog's skin.
6. Cap the needle and properly dispose of the syringe.

Summary

To keep your dog in top condition, take him to the vet for regular check ups, feed a healthy diet, provide regular exercise, and when the need arises give your pet medications only as directed by your veterinarian. Your dog will thank you.

External Links

Over-the-counter and prescription pet medications are also available online.

• 1-800-PetMeds