Dog Medicine for your Furry Friend

When you own a pet it is inevitable that at some point in their lives they will need medication for one reason or another. Sometimes it is for a common infection that requires a one time short term treatment. Other times it is for preventative measures against maladies like heartworm or fleas. But sometimes as dogs age they get chronic ailments where medication is needed for the rest of their lives. While no one wants to see their furry friends relegated to a life of drugs, in most cases these medications improve the length and quality of their lives and owners gladly provide whatever is necessary to keep their pets happy and healthy.

One common ailment that many senior dogs face is arthritis. Like humans, with age a canine’s joints stiffen up making walking, running and moving more difficult. One common medication that can help alleviate the symptoms of canine arthritis is Deracoxib. Deracoxib is an oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) of the COX2 inhibitor class that helps to control osteoarthritis-related pain and inflammation and improves mobility. Available in 25, 75 and 100 mg chewable tablets, Deracoxib is flavored to make it a bit more palatable. It can be given with or without food, though an empty stomach is preferred.

Another common ailment that crops up usually as dogs age is diabetes. This is especially prevalent in dogs that are overweight and less active.  One common medication that is used to control diabetes-related hypoglycemia in dogs is Humulin N Insulin. This injectable med is produced to most closely match your pet’s natural insulin as it regulates blood sugar and alleviates diabetes symptoms such as excess thirst, appetite and urination and weight loss.

If your veterinarian has prescribed injectable insulin such as Humulin N Insulin, you will need syringes such as U-40 medium dose syringes for doses of 20 units or less. These are available in 100 count packs.

Though the prospect of injecting your dog is daunting, with a bit of practice you will get the hang of it and it will become less stressful for both you and your pet. Begin by first rolling the vial of insulin between your palms 10 times without shaking it. Then, hold the bottle vertically and draw up the insulin. If air bubbles are present in the syringe, flick it with your fingers until they rise to the top and then push the plunger a bit until they disappear.

Once the syringe is prepped and at room temperature pull up a handful of your dog’s scruff. At this triangle of skin aim your needle in the center and insert it in the skin, pulling back slightly on the plunger to ensure that you don’t get blood back in the syringe. If blood is present, remove the syringe and begin again in a different spot. Once you do not see blood, press the plunger down and inject. Be sure to reward your dog afterwards and rotate the injection site the next time. This is all easier said than done so be patient and over time both you and your dog will get accustomed to it.

Once your dog starts on insulin you will need some method to measure his glucose levels to make sure the dosage is correct. The iPet kit is a great option as it contains everything you need to start testing.  The kits comes with a blood glucose meter, 10 test strips, 1 glucode chip, the battery, lancing device, 10 lancets, a carrying case, control solution, a log book, user manual and quick reference guide. To use this kit just insert the test strip into the meter and apply blood as instructed by your vet. The results show in 8 seconds.

Though medications for diseases like arthritis and diabetes are more commonly prescribed to older dogs, preventative medications like those for fleas and heartworm are beneficial for canines of all ages. One of the most popular brands of parasite medications are Sentinel® Flavor Tabs. This monthly pill is used to prevent heartworm and flea infestation. It also kills parasites like hookworms, whipworms and roundworms. The active ingredients in Sentinel are Lufenuron and Milbemycin oxime. Milbemycin prevents heartworm at the larvae stage and the adult stages of hook, round and whipworms. Lufenuron interrupts fleas’ lifecycles to stop reproductions of new generations but it does not kill adult fleas. Sentinel tabs are given once a month orally with meals and should be given on the same day of each month.

Though no dog owner wants to see their best friend suffering with ailments like diabetes, arthritis or even fleas, the one positive in all of this is that modern veterinary medicine has developed medications to treat diseases like these. While these meds may not necessarily cure what ails Fido, they can at the least manage the condition or prevent it from happening in the first place. This not only can add years to your dog’s life but also improved the quality of it. Just be sure to take your pet for regular check-ups so if anything is wrong it will be caught early enough to be treated with the various medications commonly used by our furry friends.

Jen Crawford is a freelance writer who writes about pet care and products such as dog medicine.