Two Books on Pet Medications

Two Books on Veterinary Medications

reviewed by Pam Green, © 2003

The Pill Book Guide to Medications for Your Dog and Cat

from Bantam books in paperback for $6.99.

This book is a laypersons guide to medications and it is quite good. It explains in layperson's language

• what the various medications do and how they do it
• what alternative treatments might be (for some meds)
• counditions in which this med is counterindicated or can cause problems
• interactions with other drugs
• doseage
• side effects and overdose effects
• cautions for pups/kittens, pregnant , or older animals
• cautions for humans handling drug (where applicable)

The only thing missing , something most such books do include , is a picture chart showing the various pills. It's always a good idea to know what the pill the pharmacist is supposed to be handing you is supposed to look like because then if he hands you something that looks different you should immediately sound the alarm. Now most pet meds are handed to you by your vet and mistakes are less likely, but some drugs will be "scripted out" to the people pharmacy. (If a drug is being scripted out, ask your vet to write down the name of the drug for you in clearly printed letters so you can double check that it is the same as the lable on the drug the pharmacy gives you. Ask your vet to spell the name out to the pharmacist over the phone when phoning in the prescription or to print the name in large clear letters if FAXing the prescription in. Too many drugs that sound an awful lot alike have radically different effects; too many drugs that are spelled nearly alike have radically different effects. )

There is also "The Pill Book" for people meds from Bantam. Bit bigger and does have the pill photo gallery.

Veterinary Drug Handbook

by Donald Plumb, PharmD , Iowa State University Press

• Chemistry of the drug
• Storeage requirements , stability (useful life), and compatibility (what media it can be mixed into)
• Pharmacology (the mechanisms of action)
• Pharmokinetics (the timing of how the drug goes in and out of the body; which tissues it penetrates well, etc)
• Uses and indications (what this med is usually good for)
• Counterindications and precautions (when to avoid using it)
• Adverse effects and warnings
• Overdose effects and what to do about them
• Interactions with other drugs
• Laboratory Test Interference (what test results can be affected in what ways)
• Monitoring parameters (what to keep watching or testing to ensure safety)
• Client information (including things affecting the client's safety in handling the drug)
• Doses for various species (dogs, cats, cattle, horses , swine, avian)
• Forms and brand names in which it is available

If you are the kind of person who likes to have a recent copy of Physician's Desk Reference in your library, then you will probably also want to have Veterinary Drug Handbook. It is available in a pocket sized (smaller print) version, a regular book sized (larger print) version, and on CD-ROM.

For still more information, including information on drugs in clinical trials, you might go to the Food and Drug Administration website, which includes a section for veterinary drugs.

• Pills as a Deadly Danger to Dogs (deadly dangers of leaving human or pet medications where a dog or cat might be able to reach them and eat them) by Sue Matthews and with added contributions from others.