Pets bring a lot of happiness into our lives. In return, we need to be very responsible and committed to their health and happiness. A pet requires vaccinations, supplements, emergency medication, flea preventives, de-worming, heartworm prevention, and more. All of us would like to see our pets with healthy skin, shining eyes and good teeth.
If you are buying medicines online or by mail order, get the animal checked by a vet. Dosage will be fixed according to the size and needs of the pet and some tests must be done. After administering the medicine, watch out for side effects. Regular follow-ups with the veterinarian will help in dosage adjustment, if required.
Medicines, if given incorrectly, can be harmful. So do not administer medicine without advice. For example, precautionary heartworm medicines cannot be given to a dog with active heartworm infection. Many medicines should only be kept at specified temperatures, or else they risk getting spoiled. Vets and pharmacies have refrigerators and other equipment to keep these medications in the right conditions, so if you are ordering online, watch out for these specifications.
Medicines meant for one type of animal may not be effective for another. Dogs and cats are different from each other and so are the medicines they need. Flea powders and other medicines made for a dog cannot be given to a cat, since cats tend to lick themselves all over. When you buy medicines from online stores, do check whether all standards have been followed. Also look closely at the expiration date of the medicine, clearly stated on the label. Medication may be ineffective for the animal after the expiration date.
Antibiotics are very useful in curing many diseases, but the correct dosage must be followed. Calculated in milligrams, a tiny increase in the dosage can harm your pet. If misused, they can be fatal, so give them as per the prescription. Avoid medication if your vet says so, as certain diseases, like diarrhea, could be treated better without antibiotics. If you are ordering antibiotics via mail order or through a web store, make sure that you have a proper prescription from your vet.
All retailers should have a proper license to sell pet medicines. Make sure that the medicines are USDA or FDA approved. Your pet deserves all the care you can give it, and medication is an important part of pet care.