Balancing different priorities

Managing medications at home often involves balancing different priorities. In an ideal world, every medication would be given exactly as directed, at exactly the right time, in exactly the right way. Real life is often more complicated. As one survey respondent expressed: "Dog deciding that they don’t require their medication just now thank you very much."

As dogs age or develop more health conditions, medication routines can become more complicated. Some people find themselves managing multiple medications, repeat prescriptions and regular vet visits. One survey respondent described so poignantly:
“We have gone over time from one pill a day to eight, but the prescriptions are all out of phase (run out at different times). I’m trying to get them aligned so I can do one big refill a month instead of needing to go to the vet’s office every week. Not sure how long this will be an issue as two of these pills are for heart failure; his little ticker is winding down.”

If medication routines are becoming difficult to manage, it usually helps to talk to your vet. They may be able to help simplify repeat prescriptions, align collection dates or suggest other ways of making things easier.

Sometimes there are trade-offs between:
• Accuracy and practicality
• Certainty and reducing stress
• Ideal timing and a sustainable routine
• Following instructions exactly and finding a method your dog will actually accept
• Simplicity and flexibility

For example, after discussing it with my vet, I gave one of BooBoo's medications six hours apart rather than twelve because it was the only way to fit in with her meals and other routines. It wasn't the perfect solution on paper, but it was a safe and sustainable one in practice.

When things aren't going to plan

Giving medication can suddenly become harder because of changes with our dogs, our location or how we're feeling. There are often things that can help.

Sometimes medication routines become difficult. Our dog may refuse medication, ear drops may become a struggle, side effects may occur, or we may feel overwhelmed by it all. Changes to routine can also create challenges, even for positive reasons such as holidays, travelling or someone else caring for our dogs. We might expect complex medication regimes to be difficult, but simple or occasional ones can sometimes be more vulnerable to mistakes because we're not in the swing of the routine.

​And, as a survey respondent neatly put it:  "Multiple medications and multiple dogs create multiple problems!", which was illustrated by another person writing: "I’ve got three dogs and one dog has medication...This morning he left one tablet in his bowl so I put it out of reach, I thought, until he came in from the garden. I turned round and dog no. 2 had jumped up on the table and eaten it. It’s the first time this has happened but I’ll be more careful now."

Getting unstuck

When we feel stuck, the good news is that there are often other options to try and people who can help such as:
• Speaking to your vet receptionist or veterinary nurse.
• Calling a vet or veterinary nurse advice line, especially if this is included with your pet insurance or another pet product. These services can be particularly helpful out of hours and may offer fresh ideas as well as reassurance.
• Contacting your dog's specialist, if they have one (for example, a dermatologist or ophthalmologist).
• Looking back at any health updates, notes or medication records you keep for your dog.
• With caution, consulting online sources such as Google, ChatGPT, pet forums and charity websites. There's an excellent vet-written guide with a wide range of practical techniques, from how to hide tablets in food to direct administration and alternative medication forms.

And, as ever, checking any information with your veterinary team if you're unsure

If medication has become a struggle, you may find it helpful to read BooBoo's Blobs Method, which describes the approach that eventually helped when BooBoo became increasingly reluctant to take her medication.
 You can download this PDF of the Blobs Method
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Changes in routine 
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Travelling with your dog
 
When you’re away from home, medication routines can be disrupted in unexpected ways.
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Keeping spare medication and other kit (eg bandages, syringes) can help keep holidays on track

​Common issues while away include:

• Running out of medication
• Forgetting part of the medication or equipment (e.g. syringes, pill cutters)
• Storage problems (e.g. refrigeration, heat, moisture)
• Changes to routine affecting timing of doses
• Our dog becoming unwell and needing new medication 

 
Helpful approaches can include:

• Taking more medication than we think we’ll need
• Always bringing a “just in case” set of essentials and spare medication
• Keeping medication in a consistent, easy-to-access place while travelling
• Checking in advance where the nearest vet or emergency vet is
• Taking a photo or list of current medication and doses

When someone else is looking after your dog
 
This might be an everyday or regular situation like partners, other family members, dog minders. Or less frequently for happy reasons (holidays, weddings, bar mitzvahs) or tough ones such as emergencies or hospital admissions. Even very experienced and caring people can find medication routines challenging if they’re unfamiliar with them. And there's miscommunication blips such as this one described by a survey respondent: "We missed administering meds returning from holiday as we assumed the carer would give them - she assumed we would!"

 
Common issues include:

• Confusion about which medication to give, when and how much
• Missed doses or doses given twice
• Difficulty giving medication (especially if the dog is reluctant)
• Uncertainty about what to do if something goes wrong

 
Helpful approaches can include:

• Writing clear, simple instructions (what, when, how much, how to give it) for the person
• Sharing your vet’s contact details
• Keeping medication and instructions together in one place
• Using a chart or checklist that can be ticked off
• Making time to talk everything through in advance, including what to do in emergencies
• Leaving extra medication and clear guidance about what to do if there are problems

 
And different people often give medication in different ways. For example, I found that disguising BooBoo's medication in tasty coverings worked best, but one of her very skilful dog minders could put the pill directly into her mouth. I tried this once and it was a terrible experience for both BooBoo and me! One survey respondent said that their boarding kennel crushes tablets and mixes them with food.
The important thing is not necessarily that someone uses exactly the same method as we do, but that they understand what medication needs to be given, when it needs to be given, and any important instructions from your vet.
So it can be helpful, or even essential, to leave written notes about medications, timings, favourite food coverings and anything else that might make the process easier for both your dog and their temporary caregiver.
If your dog takes regular medication, it can be reassuring to have a blank medication information sheet ready to complete if someone else suddenly needs to take over their care.
We will be adding some downloadable resources.

Consent for treatment
 
If someone else is caring for your dog, it’s important to think about what should happen if your dog needs veterinary treatment. Vets will usually try to contact you before carrying out treatment. In emergencies, they may act without permission if it’s in the dog’s best interests.
For non-urgent or major procedures, they may wait for your consent.
It can help to:

• Let your vet practice know in advance who is caring for your dog
• Leave written permission for your dog to receive treatment if needed
• Agree in advance with the carer what decisions they can make

What to do with left over medication 

Left over medication (including after a dog has died), has to go to the vets, or to a charity set up to take donated pet medication. Worldwide Veterinary Service distribute all sorts of medical supplies around the world and Vets in the Community support homeless people in the UK. We’re not supposed to keep or reuse medication prescribed for one dog for another, even if it seems similar.
 
 
Being kind to ourselves! 
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There’s this lovely advice from a vet nurse: “It's worth remembering that some days are easier than others, and both dog & their human are doing their best to be tolerant of each other! A missed dose occasionally is not cause for alarm and will be unlikely to affect your dog’s long term health. You're all just doing your best!” Or, as the Helpily strapline says

​ Because we're only human!