Occasionally, the vets at Ballajura get requests for advice on how to treat pets with medications prescribed or manufactured for human use.

Although many of the drugs used in human and veterinary medicine are the same, the safety and efficacy of the drugs can vary considerably between species; for instance, cats are very sensitive to aspirin and a small dose may be fatal, while paracetamol can cause liver failure and death in the dog.

Similarly, antibiotics prescribed for humans should not be given to animals; apart from the fact that humans should always finish a prescribed course of antibiotics and therefore should not have any old tablets lying around, antibiotics can cause unpredictable reactions in pets and may be completely unsuitable for the disease condition present in the animal.

It is understandable that when an owner feels that their pet is in pain, they want to relieve that pain as soon as possible.

The best way to help your pet is to bring him or her down to the surgery for a full examination by one of the vets. They are all experienced in medicating domestic pets and will be able to start your pet on the most appropriate drug – both safe and effective - for the particular condition involved. All the vets at Ballajura have completed extensive training in animal pharmacology and have an understanding of medical treatments for animals not found in human pharmacies.

If necessary, treatment can be started with an injection ensuring that the drug starts working rapidly.

In summary, home medication is likely to be ineffective and may be dangerous, while   the knowledge and experience of the vets at Ballajura enables the pet to receive the best treatment for any particular medical condition thus giving the pet the very best chance of returning to full health.

Most pet owners are very careful about what their pets come into contact with outside the yard but the vast majority of pets that get poisoned each year find the poison in their own home.  

The biggest culprits are snail and rat baits.  These products are based on the same cereals found in many dog biscuits.  To dogs they look like dog food and they taste quite good.  Some dogs will pick up thinly scattered pellets from the garden, others will break into the shed to steal the box.  And it is not uncommon to treat the same dog for the same poison more than once.  Snail bait causes shaking, wild eyes, and drooling.  Death can occur within hours of eating the bait.  Rat bait is more sinister.  It takes several days before signs of poisoning can be seen, then death can be sudden.  Pets can also be poisoned by eating baited rats and mice which are much easier to catch than healthy rodents.  This is how cats are generally poisoned, they are usually not interested in eating the bait itself.  

The next most common cause of poisoning is human medications.  Dogs love to chew up tablets they find in your handbag, on the bench, or under the bed.  Many common medications can be extremely dangerous to pets, including over the counter pain killers.  Some modern pet medicines are flavoured to make them easier to give.  So easy in fact that it is not unknown for pets to help themselves to many time the recommended dose.  Please keep all medications out of reach of pets and children.

Pesticides and garden chemicals are also potentially lethal to pets.  Some dogs will chew up the containers, cats will lick products off their fur after walking through freshly sprayed gardens.  Please be sure to keep containers in a safe place and to follow all instructions carefully.  

Do not underestimate the dangers of your own home.  A few minutes extra thought may save you a lifetime of guilt and heartache of having poisoned your own pet.

If your pet has been seen by the vet but does not need to stay in hospital, medication will often be prescribed to continue treatment of your pet at home. Medical therapy often needs to continue for some days to weeks to cure disease and infection. In some cases certain pets may require medication for life. In addition, preventative medicines such as worming tablets and flea treatments need to be administered at home to keep your pet parasite free. It is therefore a very useful skill to be able to medicate your pet at home. Practise giving your puppy or kitten worm tablets from an early age to teach them to tolerate this procedure. Medications come in a variety of formulations including tablets, capsules, ointments, drops, pastes and creams. Here are some hints as to how to make medicating your pet less of a chore!

Tablets & Capsules – This can be a challenge – especially with cats! If you are able to give the tablet on its own this is the best method to ensure the proper dosage has been given and swallowed! Ask your vet or nurse to show you the proper technique and how to use a “pill-popper”. Hiding a tablet in a tasty piece of food is another good method as your pet doesn’t even know he/she has had the medicine. If you have extreme difficulty and/or a fussy pet then ask your vet if there is an alternative formulation that may be easier to give.

Oral Drops & Pastes – In general these formulations are a lot easier to give, but can be more expensive, especially for larger pets. It’s simply a matter of tipping your pet’s head back and giving the required amount of medicine! Ask your vet to show you how to do this. These medicines can sometimes be mixed with food, but discerning pets may not like the new flavour!

Ointments & Creams – These are easy to put on, you may need another pair of hands to help keep a boisterous pet still however! Take care to apply as often as prescribed, and try to make sure your pet does not lick off the medicine afterward. Going for a short walk, or giving a treat may distract your pet for long enough to prevent this from occurring. If you are instructed to wear gloves when applying the medication, make sure you do this as it is for your own safety.

Eye Drops & Ointments – You will need an assistant to help you. Once your pet is securely held, approach with the dropper bottle from behind the head so your pet cannot see the dropper or tube approaching. Your pet is far more likely to shy away and struggle if they can see a large bottle approaching their eye – this is a natural protective reflex to prevent injury to the eye! If you are not sure how to do it, ask for a demonstration.

Ear Drops & Ointments – Again, you may need an assistant to help restrain your pet. Hold the ear flap straight up, point the nozzle of the bottle straight down into the ear canal – the bottles are too short to damage the ear drum, so don’t be afraid to put the nozzle in the ear. Squeeze the bottle or tube gently for 1 second, and then massage your pet’s ear. Your pet will probably shake his/her head afterward, but this does assist in the distribution of the drops around the ear. A good ear massage also helps and will be much appreciated by your pet!

If you are still having trouble you should contact your vet to ask for help.