I saw a post the other day saying “by the time you’re 30 you need to have a dog, anxiety and a dog with anxiety” Yes I get it, for some it’s funny, and not to be an internet killjoy or anything, but it made me think of the time when my poor Sammy was showing signs of anxiety. Let me tell you, there’s nothing funny about seeing your beloved puppy shiver in fear every time there is a thunderstorm or fireworks.
I’ve tried everything from behavioural therapy to cuddles, but there weren’t any signs of improvement until the vet prescribed anti-anxiety medication. At first, I didn’t really want to give my dog sedatives as I thought there was another way to help this anxious ball of fluff. But then, after doing some research and spamming the vet both in person and via email with questions, I’ve come to realize that pet meds have come a long way and sometimes in extreme cases like this one, they’re unavoidable.
If you’re a new pet parent, you probably already know everything about essential doggo supplies to keep your pooch happy. Or, if you have a kitten, you’re surely well familiar with the must-have Cat Pet Supply store to keep your feline friend purring with joy. But how well do you know the pet medications needed to mitigate the cosmic injustice of pets getting sick?
Do Pets Really Need Meds?
According to several studies, animals in the wild have a remarkable ability to heal themselves when wounded or stricken by a disease. For instance, Capuchin monkeys rub millipedes on their fur to get rid of insects, chimpanzees eat plants that kill intestinal worms, wild cats lick their wounds and rest after a hunt, birds grasp ants to kill feather lice and the list goes on. However, since pets can’t always use nature’s ways to treat their ailments, they sometimes need prescription meds to overcome diseases and injuries.
Just like us mere mortals, pets can suffer from Cardiomyopathy, UTIs, cancer, allergies, osteoarthritis, anxiety, depression, etc. If your pet has one of these medical conditions, perish the thought, your vet might write pet prescriptions to treat the problem. Finding out that your fur baby is suffering from a disease can be devastating, but fret not, it’s not the end of the world. There’s a myriad of vet-approved pet medications that’ll get your pooch or Mr Whiskers back on all fours in no time. Care to learn more about pet prescriptions? Keep reading!
How Many Pet Medication Types are There?
Unfortunately, there’s no one magic pill or potion that’ll make all pet diseases go away. There are several types of pet medications prescribed to treat various medical conditions. Their classification is quite similar to human drug classification i.e there are:
- Antibiotics – used to treat bacterial infections (Amoxycillin, Tetracycline, Gentamicin etc)
- NSAIDs – used to reduce inflammation and pain (Carprofen, Meloxicam, Deracoxib etc)
- Steroids – various uses, typically for allergic reactions (Prednisone, Dexamethasone etc)
- Hormones – used to treat endocrine disorders (insulin, Methimazole, etc)
- Antiparasitics – used to prevent and kill internal and external parasites (dewormers)
- ACE Inhibitors – used to treat heart failure (Benazepril, Enalapril etc)
- Behavioural Meds- used to treat anxiety, stress, depression (Xylazine, Midazolam etc)
- Chemotherapeutics – used to treat tumours and cancer (Cisplatin, Doxorubicin etc)
Although this is not the definite list of all the pet meds available nowadays, you get the idea of how far veterinary pharmacology has come.
Pet Parents Beware!
Some of these meds may seem similar if not the same as human medications. However, not all human medications can be given to pets. Human NSAIDs for instance can be extremely poisonous to dogs, so you can’t just share your Advil with your pooch. You must buy the veterinary-specific NSAID pet meds that your vet prescribed. The same goes for other types of medication as well.
Should You Be Worried About the Side Effects?
Pet meds, just like human meds, are a necessary evil. This means that they offer numerous benefits, but their use isn’t risk-free. Although most vets take special precautions when prescribing meds (low doses, short period,0 etc.), sometimes pets do have adverse reactions to some type of medicine. If you notice that your pet is experiencing side effects, you should immediately stop giving the medicine and contact your vet for further instructions.
Where to Buy Pet Meds?
After your vet has prescribed a certain type of medication, your duty as a pet parent is to obtain that therapy. Here you’ll be faced with three options: you can get your pet’s prescriptions from a regular pharmacy that stocks vet-specific meds, buy pet medications from a registered pet pharmacy or order pet meds online from a reputable pharmacy.
Buying pet meds for the first time can be scary because you’re worried about your furry BFF, but don’t make the mistake of frantic meds shopping, especially if you’re buying several products or long-term therapy such as insulin because it can cost a lot of money. Instead, take your time to find the lowest prices and check if your supplier offers a price match guarantee.
How to Administer Medication to Pets?
If you don’t have experience, meds administration can quickly turn into a nightmare for you and your pet. Instead of wrestling with your cat or dog to get them to swallow that bitter little pill, you can hide it in their favourite treat or strong flavour wet food. Another great trick that works with powdered or liquid medication is to mix the medicine with something delicious and spread it on top of your pet’s paws. This works equally well with cats and dogs because neither of them can’t stand anything on their paws, especially cheese or peanut butter.