Changes and challenges |
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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.
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
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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.
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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
Changes in routine
Travelling with your dog
Things can sometimes go awry when we're away!
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
Changes in routine
Travelling with your dog
Things can sometimes go awry when we're away!
Bringing spare medication and any treatment-related kit your dog may need can help keep holidays on track
Common issues while away include:
The following are some of the things I think about (& have on my camping checklist!) before I go away.
Before going away
To be able to relax and enjoy the sandcastles, margaritas, margheritas and other holiday delights once we're there, before setting off, it’s worth:
While away
- 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
- Journeys or changes making our dog stressed, perhaps causing:
- motion sickness soon after crucial pill
- reluctance to eat, making it hard to hide pills in food, or give medication that requires food with it
- Our dog becoming unwell and needing new medication
The following are some of the things I think about (& have on my camping checklist!) before I go away.
Before going away
To be able to relax and enjoy the sandcastles, margaritas, margheritas and other holiday delights once we're there, before setting off, it’s worth:
- allowing plenty of time in advance to make sure there’s enough medication for the whole trip, with some spare in case of delays or mishaps, and considering any occasional medication you may need, such as something your dog uses for travel sickness or stomach upsets
- checking how the medication needs to be stored, including during the journey, and making any arrangements needed to keep it cool. For example, could you use a minibar or fridge where you’re staying, or might you need a reliable coolbox or portable fridge? (There's a good fridge on our Products page)
- preparing what you’ll carry the medication in – your usual medicine box may work, or a smaller container or zipped wallet may be more practical for travelling. Keeping liquid medication separately in something waterproof protects against potential leaks
- making sure you have any equipment you need, such as pill cutters or syringes. Also considering kit that your dog sometimes needs alongside treatment, such as a cone or recovery suit to stop them licking or interfering with a treated area – particularly if they have an ongoing condition that may flare up while you’re away
- preparing whatever you use to record medication – for example, printing a chart that covers the whole trip or taking your usual calendar with you
- keeping labels and instructions easy to find
- taking a photo or list of current medications and doses
- bringing a note or record of crucial information that can be difficult to remember in stressful situations – for example, any medications your dog is allergic to
While away
- keeping medication in a consistent place that’s easy for whoever is giving it to find and access, but safely out of reach of dogs, children and anyone else who shouldn’t get hold of it
- watching out for unfamiliar holiday hazards and distractions – medication can get lost in sand, picnic rugs or hotel bedding, or encounter anything from enthusiastic rummaging in bags to melted ice cream!
- trying to keep medication times linked to familiar parts of the day where possible
- if your dog needs medication with food, remembering that travel, excitement or motion sickness may affect their appetite
- keeping the local vet’s details somewhere that’s always with you, perhaps on your phone – just in case
Even medication enjoys the occasional day trip... just make sure it travels safely too!
(With thanks to, no surprises here, ChatGPT for gag and image).
(With thanks to, no surprises here, ChatGPT for gag and image).
When someone else is looking after your dog
Someone else may look after our dog regularly, or just occasionally because we're away, ill or dealing with an emergency. Even someone who knows our dog well may not know their current medication routine.
A little preparation can make the handover easier for everyone – including the dog!
Have enough medication!
For everyone’s peace of mind, as well as practical purposes, make sure there is enough medication for the whole period, with some spare in case plans change.
Make the medication routine clear
Some or even all of these might help:
- leaving clear written information about:
- what medication to give
- how much (ie the dose)
- when
- how to give it
- keeping medication and information together somewhere that’s easy for the person giving it to find and use, but safely out of reach of dogs, children and anyone else who shouldn't get hold of it
- using a medication chart or checklist so each dose can be recorded when it’s given. This might be your usual one, or one made just for the time that the other person is looking after your dog.
- talking the routine through beforehand where possible, particularly if it is complicated.
- using photos or short videos where they make something easier to understand. A photo might show, for example, how to measure a liquid. A video can be particularly useful for something that is easier to show than describe, such as how you usually give medication to a nervous or reluctant dog.
How they give the medication
Someone else may find that a different way of giving medication works for them and your dog. What matters is that the medication is given safely and according to any important instructions from your vet.
It can help to leave information about methods that usually work – for example, favourite food coverings – without assuming that another experienced person has to do everything exactly as you do.
If your dog can be reluctant to take medication or difficult to treat, it may be particularly useful for you to demonstrate giving the medication. The other person may also want to try giving the medication while you're there to watch and advise. You could make a short video of them doing it successfully so they can refer back to it later.
If something doesn't go to plan
Make sure the person knows:
- what to do if a dose is missed, spilt or they're not sure how much was given
- who to contact if they're struggling to give the medication
- your vet practice's contact details
- how to reach you, and who else to contact if you can't be reached
- any crucial medication information, such as medicines your dog is allergic to.
If your dog needs veterinary treatment
It's worth thinking in advance about what should happen if your dog becomes unwell while someone else is caring for them.
Depending on the circumstances, this might include:
- letting your vet practice know who will be looking after your dog
- discussing what decisions the person can make if they can't reach you
- checking with your vet practice whether they need anything from you to authorise someone else to arrange or consent to treatment.
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!
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!
