After yesterday's ordeal with the compounding pharmacy, we starting thinking to ourselves, why is it that in today's society, we do not insist on having a package insert, the form containing the indications, side effects and other relevant information known about a prescription or non prescription drug, included with all medications prescribed for our pets?
Why do we as a society accept less information on the medications given to our pets? We know full well that medications can cause side effects, so why aren't pet owners informed in a proper manner about the potential side effects? Why are we not provided with all of the relevant information related to the drugs used to treat our animals? Do we simple chose not to be informed? What are your thoughts and opinions on the subject? Should we as responsible pet owners start demanding more information about the drugs prescribed for our pets?
16 comments:
Well said. You are absolutely right! We as a society should demand that pet prescriptions have package inserts and information about the medications, including the side effects. We whole heartedly agree!
Yes, I agree with this completely! I guess I didn't realize how lucky I was because my vet always gives me a print out of all the information about my medicines whenever I need to take them.
Very good point Moki. Years ago I asked my old vets about this and was told that "most people aren't interested and we tell them if there are things to watch for". Worse still, on occasion, I was told there are no side effects and discovered there are! These days (in the UK) I think there has been a change in the law and all packaged medicines (animal and human) come with manufacturer information sheets. The drugs dispensed into bottles and blister sheets (less than a whole pack) however, don't always come with such info and I always ask if it does. If it doesn't, this means we have to look it all up on the net, which is not always easy if the manufacturer doesn't have drug info published online.
Maybe you have to ask the vets for a copy of the data sheet each time you get a medicine, we do. I hope you are getting on ok with the Baytril :)
Good point. Maybe the vets should have a website where you could find all this information.
My vet will write all the info down for you, so you know the side effects, and how to get the right dose.
Maybe we as consumers should demand more.
You raise a very excellent point. There really should be more oversight not only of the pet medicine area but given the events of last year- the pet food industry as well.
Most of the stuff we've ever gotten has not been pet specific and we've known all the side effect already. I can't say the same about the Human medications, but then my human tends to develop some of the strangest side effects.
Very good point! About ten years ago one of my cats was being treated for a very subborn case of ghiardia and was on an antibiotic for it. Then all of a sudden she started peeing what looked like bloody urine so I rushed her to the vet. After all sorts of tests were done and nothing showed up my vet finally took out her huge drug info book and saw that one of the side affects could be a discoloration in their urine. Boy, were we ever relieved! Whenever my kids are put on something new I always get on the internet and scope out the side affects.
Hugs and purrs to our dear Moki!
Moki, They won't even tell us what is really in the pet food in most cases, and the law doesn't require even that! http://www.defendourpets.org has more on pet food, and the companies fighting any type of quality control that could prevent tragidies such as the "pet food scare" of Spring, '07.
Sometimes human meds aren't clear about side effects either. Paxil wasn't. At least they stopped having those annoying commercials!I really worry about pet meds and vaccinations. Mecury in the vaccines, vaccines that cause tumors, etc. The FIP vaccine has caused numerous fatalities. Also I wonder about pet meds being mislabled somewhere along the line. Whenever I get a new people med, I look online for a picture of the tablet to be sure it looks how it is supposed to. Might be good to try with pet meds to. We should deffinatly recieve fact sheets with pet meds, detailing all the side effects, risks, etc. My vet gives this with vaccines, but not pills. I'm going to ask him next time. It won't hurt him to run me off a copy of whatever info the pharmacuitcal company gave him, assuming they gave him anything.
Keep on fighting, Moki. I'm sorry your mom got jerked around so much, but maybe it is a good wake up call for us all to start questioning our pet providers on these things. We trust them with our lives, after all. You feel better, buddy.
WOW - you don't have package inserts here? I guess things are a bit different.... In Germany, where the maid comes from, is a long package insert in all medicine telling you ALL about it!
But then - in Germany they actually have a health car system.......
Hi-Nique, Tun Tun's mom, here again. I am so glad you brought these questions up. Much of this society does not value animals the way humans are. Hence the lack attitude. IT'S NOT RIGHT!!!! I'm lucky, my precious prince is healthy. But I dread the time that will come when his health wanes. I need to find a vet that will let me go into the 'back room' when they have to do something. I DO NOT like being kept in the exam room while they take my baby away for some sort of treatment. NOT COOL! What are your thoughts on this? Please tell. oh and how are Moki's lungs? Is his cough better? I worry about your boy.
my VET is careful with what I get cause I have FIV and IBS but sometimes he forgets to tell us about side effects. why mommy doesn't just ask I don't know. she'll wait until i get puky or have loose stool then call and see if it is a side effect.
she has decided from this moment on to be totally informed.
how is Moki feeling? i hope he is showing improvement already. purrrrrrrrrrrrsssss
Our vet always explains potential side effects and our pharmacy always gives us a print out about the drug and the side effects. I really hope Moki is feeling better!
Smooches!
Good questions Moki....
Meowm used to work in a bean pharmacy and they didn't give out the inserts in the original bottles cause every little side effect is listed....even if it only happened to one person. Plus sometimes beans read about side effects and then think they are getting them.....well you know...they are weak minded....unlike us cats..
Thanks everyone for sharing your input and experiences. I am glad to hear that some of your vets do indeed include the manufacturer's information sheet with your pet's medications. I am also happy that I can draw attention to the issue for those of you who's veterinarians do not include such information with your pet's prescription medications.
Many of you inquired about how Moki is doing on his new medication. We will be answering that question and updating everyone on Moki's status in tomorrows posting! We hope to see you all again then!!!
That's a very good point. Some vets don't want us to know anything about the meds - just trust them. But we should be informed.
We Ballicai agree with you, Moki -- it's furry impawtant fur the beans to be informed about any medicines we take! We hope you are feelin bettur!
Kittyhugs and purrs from MaoMao!
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