How to keep track of your pet's medication
Copy the vet's dose and times, record each dose after you give it, and leave that same record where a sitter will see it.
Write down the vet's instructions
Copy the label or the discharge note.
- Name, amount, and times.
- How to give it, and any stop date.
Include the course end date, even if your pet seems better sooner. Ask the clinic about unclear instructions or doses that are difficult to give.
Set reminders, including weekly or monthly ones. Keep the original packaging so a sitter or an emergency vet can read the name.
Make a plan with anyone helping
If more than one person gives medicines, use a shared record to avoid confusion.
- Agree who covers which time.
- Give the dose, then write the date, time, medicine, and who gave it.
- The next person checks that record first.
- If it is blank, and you did not see the dose given, do not give another until you have checked.
Leave the sitter the plan, the packaging, the vet's number, and enough doses for their dates. One spare day only if the vet said the course continues.
Show the sitter where the record is and how to update it.
If you are not sure the dose was given
If you are unsure whether your pet swallowed a tablet, or someone else may have given it, check with them and call the clinic before repeating the dose.
Pillbo Pro gives each pet a separate profile. A paper chart can also work if everyone uses the same record.
If giving a tablet is difficult
Ask the clinic before hiding a tablet in meat, bread, or cheese. Food can affect some medicines. Check that your pet swallows the tablet, not just the food around it.
If they will not take it as prescribed, ask about another form. Do not crush or open a capsule, and record the dose only after it is swallowed.
If a dose goes wrong
Call your vet if a dose was missed, given twice, or you are not sure which. Have the label and your record with you.
If your pet has collapsed, is struggling to breathe, or has taken something you know is dangerous, contact an emergency vet now.
For suspected poisoning in Australia, call the Animal Poisons Helpline on 1300 869 738, 24 hours a day. It does not replace an emergency clinic.
Outside Australia, contact your vet or the local animal poison service. Do not use a human missed-dose rule, and do not induce vomiting unless a vet or the helpline has told you to.
Common questions
How do I remember my pet's medication?
Write down the vet's dose and times, set reminders for that schedule, and mark each dose after you give it.
Can I hide a tablet in cheese?
Ask your vet or pharmacist first. Not all medications are compatible with cheese.
What if I think my pet had the dose twice?
Contact your vet. In Australia, call the Animal Poisons Helpline on 1300 869 738, 24 hours a day, for suspected poisoning.
Sources
- Giving your dog oral medications, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
- Contact the Animal Poisons Helpline, Animal Poisons Helpline
