Pet Medication Guide: Keeping Your Furry Friend Happy and Healthy is Important

More and more people are becoming proud pet owners and it’s for a good number of reasons. Pets make the absolute perfect companions who will always be happy to join you on any kind of adventure. Multiple studies have also shown that they can even aid in lowering stress and relieving anxiety. Pets can even help treat your depression, as they will be by your side at all times. They are loyal friends and they are super cute too!

Sadly, even our innocent furry companions are regular living creatures who are living at the mercy of this world. They can also get sick or injured, no matter how hard we try to keep them safe. However, as it is our duty to look out for them, it’s also our job to care for them when they are sick and make sure they keep healthy. Thankfully, today there are various animal medications and supplies made for all sorts of diseases and injuries that can help your pet overcome his illness and relieve the pain. Read on below to find out more about pet medications and ensure that you are giving your furry friend the proper health care.

dog at the vet
source: companionconsultancy.co.uk

Everything You Need to Know About Pet Medication

When getting your pet the needed meds, the most crucial thing is buying them from a trusted source to avoid any kind of complications. This is why it’s important to take your time when browsing and make sure you get your furry pal the suitable vet medications for a fast and smooth recovery.

For starters, it’s always best to pay your trusted vet a visit whenever you sense that something is wrong. Your vet will do examinations that will determine exactly what is wrong with your buddy and will prescribe him the needed remedy. From here on, it is up to you to decide where you can get the prescription pet medicine. As mentioned above, it doesn’t matter if you purchase online or in-person as long as you go for a trusted source like a vet clinic that can provide certain meds or a certified pharmacy.

Another thing you must remember to do when purchasing is to always check the expiration date and the contents. If the medication is expired, then it is definitely risky and dangerous to give it to your pet as it might cause poisoning or other reactions. The contents should also never be neglected. Always read them to make certain that you have the correct prescribed product and to avoid giving your pet any substance that he or she might be allergic to. Lastly, never rely on the high price tag as a reason to buy a certain medicine. Not all pricey products are proven to be of good quality and effective, so choose wisely.

dog getting meds
source: k9ofmine.com

After providing the needed pet meds, you must learn the proper ways on how to administer and store them. All meds usually come with well explained and detailed instructions on how to properly give them to your pet, in what dosage and how many times a day. Beware if you happen to miss or double a dose, then immediately contact your vet. As for storage, the first step would be to place them in areas that your pets or children cannot reach. This is so you can avoid either of them ingesting the meds which will lead to bad consequences.

Next up, you should definitely label the meds and separate them from your personal human medicine, so you can avoid any kind of mix up. And also be cautious on how you throw out any finished or expired products because some pets are curious by instinct and may pay regular visits to the trash can. To be safe, opt for flushing meds down the toilet, and disposing of the bottles or bags in outdoor garbage containers.

And finally, don’t forget to pay close attention to your little one’s diet. Always provide fresh water and go for quality, wet food to ensure good digestion and easy chewing. Do remember to visit your vet for annual check-ups.

Tips and Tricks on Administering Pet Medicine

Now, we come to the hard part. As we know, not all pets are well-trained and disciplined, or some of them just happen to be stubborn by nature. This can be a problem, especially when it comes to administering medicine. So, let’s dive into the question – How do I get my pet to take medicine? Here are some effective tips and tricks you can try out:

medication for pets
source: petmd.com

“Hide” your pet’s medicine in their food

This is one of the smartest techniques you can use, just be careful not to use foods that might interact with the medicine itself. You can choose your pet’s favourite food, or opt for bread, cheese or peanut butter. He will be so into the flavourful food that he won’t even notice the meds.

Turn medication time into a game

Your pet mainly mimics your whole attitude. You can pretend to be all excited when you are about to administer medicine to your pet, and then turn it into a fun playtime. The best idea would be to play a fun game of catch. You can throw around treats so your pet can catch and eat them, and chances are he might be so distracted that he won’t notice that you gave him a pill instead of a regular treat.

Opt for adding more flavour

doctor giving dog a medicine
source: akc.org

If nothing works, you can ask your vet to give you a more tasty, flavoured medicine so your pet can eat it. If you already have the meds and they aren’t flavourful, then you can ask a veterinary compounding pharmacy to convert the medication into something that’s a lot tastier.

To Summarise

If you are a pet owner yourself, then you are one of the many people that have experienced what life with a furry friend is like. Pets really do have a positive effect on our lives, so the least we can do is take care of them properly. If your little friend is feeling sick, or if you have a feeling that something is wrong, take that trip to your vet and provide the needed vet medications and supplies which will ensure your pet a long, healthy life.