Your pet is part of your loving family. To keep them healthy and happy, you may need to treat them with veterinarian prescribed medications. Veterinary care is quite different than human healthcare — even the types of medication, though similar to other human drugs, can impact your pet in vastly different ways. That’s why it’s important to consider all issues when giving medications to your animal.

Issues to Consider While Giving Medications to Your Pet

Understand dosages. 
The medication schedule your pet is placed on by a veterinarian must always be followed. Changing the amount of medication given or altering the dosage schedule in any way could harm your pet. Too much medication could make them sick and infrequent dosages may not heal their health issue.

Understand side effects.
Though medications are administered to help your pet heal, some of them can cause unwanted side effects. Pain, discomfort, inflammation and swelling could occur. If the side effects are severe, it could cause internal bleeding, sickness and even death. It’s important to be aware of the potential side effects of every medication and monitor you pet while they’re taking them.

Understand the difference between human and animal medications.
At face value, some medications seem like they could be administered to both species. After all, humans and pets are often prescribed pain relievers, antihistamines, steroids and antibiotics. Even though these drugs are used to treat similar health conditions, they may be very different in chemical structure. You should never give an animal any human medication or any other medication not specifically prescribed by your veterinarian.

Understand drug interactions.
Certain medications do not interact well when used together. For instance, corticosteroids and NSAIDs should never be taken at the same time. Various drugs will also increase serotonin levels and cause serotonin syndrome. Other drugs will increase or decrease CYP enzymes which could lead to overdose symptoms. 

Pet Medications Albuquerque
While necessary, pet medications can be dangerous if used incorrectly. You should only let a licensed veterinarian prescribe your pet medication and determine a dosage schedule. Speak with the caring veterinarians at Petroglyph Animal Hospital to discover which pet medications Albuquerque pets need.

Original Source: http://petroglyphanimalhospital.blogspot.com/2018/08/issues-to-consider-while-giving.html

Petroglyph Animal Hospital is the emergency vet care Albuquerque pet owners trust in their time of need. While it is important that your pet receives consistent care from a veterinarian that is familiar with their medical history, some veterinary offices are only open during weekly business hours. When your pet falls sick or becomes injured, you need a reliable animal hospital that offers emergency care on nights, weekends and holidays.

Importance of Emergency Vet Care
Having access to emergency veterinary care is crucial in preserving the wellbeing of your animal. Because medical symptoms can range in severity, it’s necessary that your pet receives medical intervention immediately.

There are three critical reasons why emergency vet care is important:

• Emergency animal hospitals are available when you need them most. Unfortunately, a pet emergency can happen at any time of the day or night. An animal hospital that offers emergency vet care on nights, weekends and holidays will be available to treat your pet at a moment’s notice.
  
• Symptoms can change quickly. While some injuries or illnesses may progressively get worse over time, there are many types of trauma that can quickly become medical emergencies. It’s never wise to wait until symptoms become too serious to seek treatment. If your pet needs immediate medical intervention, an emergency animal hospital will be ready to provide life-saving treatment.  
• Having an emergency vet as your primary veterinarian keeps them prepared. Although you may have a primary veterinarian, choosing to provide your pet with a veterinary office that also offers emergency care is ideal. An emergency vet will be prepared with the specific treatment options your pet needs to stay healthy.  

Emergency Vet Care Albuquerque
Pet medical emergencies can happen at any time. It’s important that you have a reliable and knowledgeable emergency veterinarian available to provide your pet with the healthcare they need. Petroglyph Animal Hospital has provided Albuquerque pets with emergency veterinarian services for over twenty years. Our staff of compassionate veterinarians is available to care for your pet 364 days of the year. Trust Petroglyph Animal Hospital for your entire emergency vet needs.