Giving Your Pet Medication

Giving Your Pets Medication

Whether sick with an infection, recovering from surgery, managing a chronic condition, or treating ongoing pain, pets are often prescribed medications and supplements to help. At first, having a pet in need of medications can seem overwhelming, but with these tips, it’ll be a breeze.

4 Tips for Getting Your Pets to Take Their Medications

1. Follow Instructions

Closely follow all the instructions your veterinarian provides to ensure that you store medications properly (at the correct temperature) and administer them in the correct dose to your pet.

2. Use Administration Aids

Pets – especially cats – are picky about the things they eat. You can hide medicine in food or special treats to encourage pets to take their medications. Pet pillers and special restraint techniques can also facilitate medication administration.

3. Keep a Calendar

To avoid forgetting your pet’s medicine or administering it too frequently which can easily happen in busy households, keep a calendar and mark each day and time you give your pet his or her medication. If you miss a dose or accidentally double up, be sure to contact your veterinarian right away to find out what to do.

4. Ask About Compounding

If you struggle to administer your pet’s meds, ask about whether they can be compounded into a different form (capsule, liquid, powder, or treat) and/or flavor.

4 Pet Med Safety Precautions

1. Don't Share Prescriptions

Some human and pet medications are the same. However, your pet’s dose and instructions will differ from yours. Seemingly minor differences can have catastrophic consequences in pets whose metabolism is not identical to that of their human counterparts.

2. OTC Medications Are Off-Limits

Over the counter medications are safe for people, but they can be dangerous, toxic, and deadly for pets. Store these medications in a place where your pet won’t be able to access and accidentally ingest them.

3. Store Medications Separately

It’s extremely important to store your medications and supplements separately from those of your pets. This will ensure you never inadvertently confuse them, which could have adverse consequences.

4. Choose a Reputable Pharmacy

Depending on how they are manufactured, stored, and handled, pet medications and supplements can vary greatly in quality and efficacy. Select a reputable pet pharmacy, such as the one attached to or associated with a veterinary clinic.

Pet Prescription and Supplies from Our Mobile Clinic

At Signature Veterinary Services, we stock our mobile clinic with prescription medications and can readily and expediently order most medications that we do not regularly carry. Plus, we invite our clients to use our online store, which is an extension of our in-house pharmacy. When you get your pet’s supplies and medications directly from the veterinarian, you can always count on receiving high-quality products.