Boarding pets on medication is commonplace. However, many animal caretakers do not know what they’re giving and why. In vet school, we had one examination in which the teacher would give you a syringe and say “Give this subcutaneously”. If you didn’t ask “What is it?” before administering the liquid in the needle…you failed!

You don’t need a medical degree to understand the basics of common medications. In fact, knowing what the medications are can give you an important clue as to what problems you should be looking out for to avoid a kennel disaster. Here are some common medications, what they mean, and what you should look out for to avoid being liable.

Rimadyl / Dermaxx

This is an Anti-inflammatory, commonly prescribed to pets with arthritis, joint problems, older dogs, or post operatively to help with arthritis pain/ inflammation. It can cause GI upset including anorexia, diarrhea, or melena (black feces from upper GI bleeding). If the pet is not eating or vomiting DO NOT give this medicine and call a vet. If you notice any diarrhea or abnormal stool issues DO NOT give and call a vet. Catching an early problem will alleviate some major catastrophes.

Doxycycline / Clavamox

These are common antibiotics used for respiratory conditions. If you have a pet come in on either one of these medications, make sure to clarify with the owner why pet is on the medication. If the pet has a contagious respiratory condition, you should recommend boarding at a hospital - NOT at your facility. NOTE: These antibiotics can also be used for many other issues such as skin infections, urinary infections, dental infections, and tick borne diseases, just to name a few.

Lasix

This is a diuretic and is typically given to pets in heart failure or with heart conditions. I would recommend asking the owner if you can speak with their vet to know what signs to look for while the pet is boarding with you. In general, if the pet is coughing or having increased respiratory effort (abdominal breathing), notify the veterinarian ASAP.

Dasaquin / Cosequin

These are Nutraceutical supplements for joint support that include MSN and glucosamine. Dasaquin has added avocado extract for natural anti-inflammatory action.

Phenobarbitol / Zonisamide

This is an Antiseizure medication. If pets board on these medications ask the owners how often the pet has seizures, what the seizures look like, and are there any triggers to the seizures you should look out for (eg loud noises, weather changes, stress, etc).

Acepromazine

This is a tranquilizer commonly used for pets that have anxiety. Acepromazine can cause depression and changes in the blood pressure. There are other options that are better for pets with anxiety that should be considered if this is given over a long period of time. If the pet is too sleepy on this medication, contact the veterinarian and let them know.

Do you have questions that you want the vet to answer? Send your questions to [email protected] Dr. Lisa Aumiller is a veterinarian that has been serving pets in NJ and PA for over 15 years. She is the founder and CEO of HousePaws Mobile Veterinary Service, the largest mobile veterinary service in North America.

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