Medications for your dogs

If your pet has a medical condition, our veterinarian can recommend one or more drugs to control, treat, or cure the problem. Although some veterinary-specific drugs are available, many of the medications used in veterinary medicine are the same as those used in humans.

Commonly used medication types

Antibiotics 

These are drugs that kill microbes, such as bacteria and yeast, and are used to treat infections. They don’t kill viruses, but they are sometimes prescribed to treat secondary bacterial infections that can occur when an animal is ill from a viral infection.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory 

These common drugs reduce swelling, inflammation, pain, and lameness. Examples include carprofen, deracoxib, firocoxib, and meloxicam.

Steroids

Steroids have many different uses. They can be potent anti-inflammatory and are frequently used to reduce allergic and anaphylactic reactions. They are also used at high doses to suppress the immune system.  Examples include prednisone, prednisolone, and dexamethasone.

Antiparasitics

These products are intended to prevent, repel or kill internal or external parasites such as intestinal worms, intestinal protozoans, heartworms, fleas, and ticks.

Behavior-modifying drugs and sedatives

These drugs are used to quiet anxious pets or help in reducing anxiety associated with various behavioral issues in pets, prepare pets for anesthesia, and to reduce pet movement during delicate procedures. Examples include diazepam, xylazine, acepromazine, and midazolam.

Hormones and other medications used to treat specific conditions

Examples include insulin used for diabetes treatment, methimazole or levothyroxine for abnormal thyroid hormone levels, and heart medications such as atenolol, digoxin, and pimobendan.

Side effects and adverse reactions

In general, medication choices involve weighing the advantages of the medication against the potential risks and taking measures to reduce side effects as much as possible. These preventive measures vary with the medication but can include keeping the drug dose and frequency as low as possible giving the drug for the shortest time needed.

When your pet is suffering from a medical issue, your veterinarian may prescribe one or more drugs to help manage, treat, or even cure the illness at hand. However, despite the fact that there are certain pharmaceuticals that are only used in veterinary medicine, many of the drugs that are used in human medicine are also utilized in veterinary medicine.

Medication for the long term

Some drugs must be administered for extended periods of time, or even for the duration of your pet’s life, in order to be effective. Your pet may need to be tested on a regular basis in order to check his or her health, ensure that the medication is still functioning as it should, and limit the danger of toxicity or other negative consequences from the medication.

In certain cases, your veterinarian may demand further tests before issuing a refill or refill a prescription, and these tests may include blood tests, urine tests, or other tests as indicated by your veterinarian.

This is especially crucial when it comes to pharmaceuticals such as insulin and thyroid meds, where over-or under-dosing may be life-threatening. In the case of heartworm treatment, your pet should be examined for heartworm infection on a regular basis since providing the preventative to a heartworm-positive pet will not cure the illness and may produce a serious adverse response.

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