What conditions can medications for dogs help address?
There's so much now. Fleas, ticks, heartworms, infections, fungal infections, heart disease, and kidney issues. There are so many medications for dogs now that can really help them live a healthier, longer life.
What are some commonly used medications for my dogs, and when would my veterinarian recommend them?
Antibiotics for any kind of infection, whether it's skin, urine, gallbladder, or anything that's infected. We have antibiotics, antiparasites, antiparasitics, and heartworm prevention, which we recommend all pets take either monthly or as an injection once a year. There's flea and tick prevention for dogs, with monthly topicals, monthly chews for flea, tick, and heartworm, a three-month flea and tick chew, and now a once-a-year flea and tick injectable. Antifungals for yeast infections in the ears or ringworm infections on the skin.
There are behavior-modifying and sedative medications. If your pet gets stressed at the groomer, there are medications we would give just for the groomer, or anxiety medicines for everyday use. Pets do go through some chemotherapy, and those are typically dispensed by oncologists, not at my level, because there's a lot of care, handling, and safety involved. We have pain relievers such as anti-inflammatories, and there are other prescription or controlled pain medications as well. We have steroids like prednisone, which help with anti-inflammatory or immune-mediated disorders in certain cases.
What are some of the side effects and adverse reactions my pet could experience from these medications?
Most medications can cause vomiting and diarrhea as side effects, with antibiotics being the number one cause. Some anti-inflammatories for pain and steroids also have side effects. Some adverse reactions we can't see.
When your pet is on long-term medication, meaning more than just a one-time dose, we require blood work once a year to ensure the liver and kidneys, which typically break down the medication and eliminate them from the body, are functioning well. If your pet's kidneys aren't functioning correctly and we put them on certain medications, it could harm them. Or if your pet's liver isn't working correctly, they may not be able to process the medication correctly, which could hurt them.
Will all dog medications require a prescription?
The majority, yes. If it is treating a condition, infection, or something diagnosed by the veterinarian, yes. There's very little over-the-counter medication for pets. There's very little you can buy at places like Walmart. Benadryl is about it. You cannot use Tylenol, ibuprofen, or naproxen in dogs and cats, as it can be fatal to them.
Do I have to bring my dog to the vet in order to have a prescription written?
It depends. If your pet has been seen recently within 30 days and the doctor is comfortable with the situation, they might write a prescription. If your pet has not been seen within 30 days, we need to do a physical exam and talk with you to ensure we're writing the right prescription and the right medication for your pet, because things can change.
We are required by the North Carolina Practice Act to do a minimum of a physical exam on your pet once a year. That's a minimum. Some medications might require a twice-a-year visit, some might require blood work, and some might require additional testing, like phenobarbital for seizures, which requires additional blood work once a year on top of regular blood work. Typically, the short answer is yes, you'll have to bring your dog in. Sometimes not, but most of the time, yes.
Where can I get my dog'sprescriptions filled?
Most local pharmacies can fill prescriptions for common medications. There are some medications that are pet-only, which they do not carry. We have our online pharmacy, which is a great resource for you, with excellent pricing. It's highly competitive. We simply put the prescription in, they email you, they text you, you pay them, and they ship it to you. You get your medicine within a few days.
One of the policies we have here is that if you want to buy the medication not from us directly or through our online pharmacy, you have to come in and get a written prescription. That's simply for documentation reasons. We have been inundated with online pharmacy requests, and it takes a lot of time to process, document, and send them out, whereas our online pharmacy handles much of that in the background. You can always get a written prescription; you just have to come in and get one, or we can fill it through our pharmacy.
How should I navigate drug interaction concerns when my dog is on more than one medication?
Always ask your veterinarian. Always ask your veterinarian. Always ask the receptionist at our office. If you use the same pharmacy for all your medications, they should have a log and should check it, similar to humans.
Do I have to follow the exact dosing instructions my veterinarian or pharmacy gives me?
Yes. A lot of medications have toxic levels, and if you do not follow them, you could either be underdosing your dog, which does nothing and wastes your money, or overdosing your dog and hurting them. Please follow the instructions.
If my dog is feeling better, do I have to finish the entire course of medication?
Yes, unless your doctor tells you otherwise. With most infections, we do a 10-day course to ensure we clear the infection. Like us, sometimes after you've had something like strep throat, three or four days later, you're feeling better, and you don't feel like you need the antibiotics.
But it is very important, like with humans, if you have strep throat, you've got to take a full 10-day course because some bacteria could still be there and come back worse, causing other issues. Same with dogs. Finish the prescription. We prescribe it for a certain period for a reason. Your dog may be feeling better, and that's great. We want them to feel better, but you need to finish the prescription to help prevent it from coming back.
What happens if I miss a dose of my dog's medicine?
Give it when you remember or at the next dosing schedule. Do not double-dose. It can hurt your pet.
How do I get my dog to take oral medication?
When you're getting medications through us, let us know if you have an issue. Many times, we can get things compounded by a compounding pharmacy into a liquid, especially for small dogs that are finicky. You can always administer it directly, which is what I do with my dog, as she won't take pills hidden in anything. So, I administer it twice a day. You can hide medication in cheese, bread, or peanut butter, or we can get it compounded into a formulation that your dog will accept.
Can I give my dog medicine that's meant for humans?
No. Don't do it. Many medications are at too high a dose for dogs and will hurt them. Many medications aren't tolerated by dogs or are made for their metabolisms, livers, and kidneys. They may not have the right enzymes in their body to break it down. Do not give anything meant for humans to your dogs. Call your veterinarian.
What's the difference between brand name, trade name, and generic?
A brand name is the name of a medication on the market that you recognize, like Motrin, which is a brand name for ibuprofen. The generic name would be ibuprofen, which is the physical compound. As time goes on, brand name medications usually have patents, typically running for 20 years, though I could be wrong on that.
After a while, generics come out. In some cases, the generic is not as bioavailable, meaning when it's broken down by the body, it is not as usable. There are cases, like with chemotherapies or heart medications, where brand names are preferred because generics aren't as effective.
Is it safe to buy my dog's medicine online?
It depends. If it's an online pharmacy through a veterinarian's office, yes. If it is Chewy, Amazon, or Dr. Doolittle's online pharmacy, I don't know. Often, Chewy can't buy the medication directly from the companies that make the medicine for dogs, and they want to enter the market and make money. They might source it through veterinarians who buy in bulk and sell to Chewy, or it could be fakes from China.
While it may be more expensive to buy from your veterinarian or their online pharmacy, it is safer than buying from a third party where the source is unknown. I have seen fake products from China, and some have harmed pets to the point that they pass away. Stick with your veterinarian and their online pharmacy.
Are there any natural alternatives to medications I can use instead for anxiety?
Yes, there are chews and pheromones. However, I have seen many people try to use natural heartworm preventions, and they do not work. I have seen more heartworm-positive dogs with natural preventions. The same goes for ticks. Many people want to use essential oils. Please stay away from essential oils, as many are toxic to dogs and cats, causing severe skin issues, burns, and internal toxicity affecting the liver or kidneys. Do not use anything unless the bottle says it's labeled for a dog or a cat. There's a lot of talk about CBD, but as veterinarians, we don't typically recommend it because it's not regulated by the state. We recommend products made for pets that are regulated and tested.
What can I do if I'm worried about giving my dog medication?
Talk to your veterinarian. There may be alternatives, but we won't know unless you say something. Cost is a big issue, and we're here to help. We might be able to advise you on where it might be cheaper to get it, safer medications, and different options. Just talk to your veterinarian, bring up your concerns, and we'll help you through it.
At Catawba Heights Animal Hospital, your pet always comes first. Whether they need routine care or something more urgent, call (704) 827-0616 or email [email protected] to schedule a visit. Our team is here for you and your pet.