Pets Stack Exchange
Pets Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [medicines]

Regards concerns about pet medication, including prescribed, over-the-counter and homeopathic treatments.

Medicines include those which are prescribed by a doctor or veterinarian, treatments purchased over-the-counter, and extend to homeopathic options. Viable questions can include how to select medicine, where to acquire or find medicine, applying / delivering to a pet, issues with side-effects, and concerns regarding specific brands or categories of medication.

Medicines include, but are not limited to, ear drops, allergy applications, prescription feed (when relevant), and monthly preventatives (flea, tick, heartworm).

May be coupled with tags if general of the pet or the immediate of the pet is a concern. Include a pet species or breed-specific tag (, , etc.) if necessary.

235 questions
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How do I give a cat a pill?

The problem of pilling a cat is well-understood, but I've found its solution to be evasive. I understand that in principle I should be able to open the cat's mouth, toss a pill in (or use my finger to push it in the back of the throat), hold the…
Monica Cellio
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I can't afford vet treatment, what are my options?

My pet is sick/injured, and I am afraid the vet bill for treatment will be more than I can afford. How can I access free/low cost sources of veterinary assistance? This a general question per the meta post Is a canonical question about…
James Jenkins
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Can I use human medicine on dogs?

Sometimes our doctor advises us to use to use human medicines for our dogs. For example, when my sister's Labrador was small, the doctor advised us to administer children's syrup for stomach disorder. Is this good advice or should we ignore it?
Ankit Sharma
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How do I help my cat tolerate a bad-tasting liquid medicine?

My cat is currently on Atopica, which comes as a liquid. Apparently this medicine tastes awful, based on his reaction to it. Mixing it into food or tuna juice does not help; he rejects the entire bowl, even if the ratio of drug to food is fairly…
Monica Cellio
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What will help an aging dog with arthritis?

I've got a black lab going on 12 yrs. She seems to enjoy her walks and can still run, but in the mornings she seems particularly stiff and can sometimes stumble or walk with a limp. She's having a harder time navigating stairs. She's developing…
Fauxcuss
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Alternative seasonal allergy treatments for dogs

I have a 12-year-old pug who suffers from seasonal allergies, mostly skin issues. Every September and May (sometimes extending into October and June), he ends up scratching himself to death. Once it hits his peak, we generally have to take him to…
psubsee2003
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How can I medicate my big, strong cat when I can't get down on the floor?

Stardust hiding in the closet. 18 pounds, 14 years old, very strong. I am 71 and have bad knees. I know what to do to give her pills and liquids but can't get down on the floor without pain. She keeps getting away from me. I live alone so I have…
Ellen Farrell
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How do I give a cat *with a cone* liquid medication, by myself?

My cat just got spayed. She has a head cone on. She has fresh sutures on her belly. She is a fighter, and she is clearly mad about this whole thing. I have to give her 1cc of antibiotics (amoxicillin) in a syringe twice a day. Also I live alone, and…
Jason C
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How important is the insulin injection spot on a dog?

As I explained in this question, my dog is newly diagnosed with diabetes, and I'm having problems giving her the daily insulin injections without causing her pain and stress. I initially gave the shots on her leg and shoulders on alternate days,…
KutuluMike
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Canine insulin injection -- what am I doing wrong?

My dog was recently diagnosed with diabetes, so I have been giving her twice-daily insulin injections for the past 10 days. I've watched my vet do it, I've watched dozens of YouTube videos, and I've read everything I can find about the proper…
KutuluMike
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How long do subcutaneous fluids (lactated ringers) keep?

I had a cat with kidney disease who I treated with subcutaneous fluids (latated ringers) for the last few years of his life. I had bought a new case of one-liter bags not long before he died. I hope my current cats don't also develop kidney…
Monica Cellio
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Semi-feral cat broke a tooth. Should I give her aspirin?

There is a semi-feral cat that lives, by all indications happily, in my yard. I feed her mainly dry food and sometimes treats. Today I went to get the food bowl and there was blood on the rim and then when I gave her a few treats she likes (crunchy)…
AskingForASemiFeralFriend
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Is there a way to safely tranquilize my cat, so he does not remember a vet visit?

Are there different safe forms of cat sedation for vet exam/visit and travel? My cat is 13 and has not been to a vet or held by any human in 11 years. We found him (just a baby) crying in a bush, took him right to a vet. When we tried to feed it…
FloJo
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How should I schedule application of flea preventative against bathing?

I apply a flea / tick / mosquito preventative (SimpleGuard) to the back of my dog on the first of every month. I have to assume bathing my dog will affect the effectiveness of any applied preventative. I have also been informed that applying…
JoshDM
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Does L-Lysine supplementation help cats with feline herpes?

My cat has chronic congestion and sneezing (aka feline viral rhinopneumonitis (FVR) or feline herpesvirus type 1 (FHV-1)). During a recent flareup (the congestion worsened so that he stopped eating) my vet sold us a bag of L-Lysine treats and…
Zaralynda
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