I think ^(link) therefore I err

Friday, May 12, 2006

Pets and Drugs

Evidence that everyone should pay attention to. Prescription drugs can do great things. Relieve pain, prevent heart disease etc, etc. But as soon as you start messing with your or your pet's chemistry there are bound to be side effects. In humans people (or should I say insurance companies) pay for blood tests before, during, and after drug trials on a new patient. You should be up to that with your pet to or realize that you're not going to know what's going on without them. Regarding Deramaxx:
He said the company tells veterinarians not only to inform pet owners of possible side effects -- especially stomach problems with anti-inflammatory drugs such as Deramaxx -- but also to conduct blood and sometimes urine tests before the drug is prescribed. Those tests can be expensive, however, and are not routinely done.
Therein lies the problem. You hear all the time about how expensive veterinary medicine is, but pets are living beings and their care is incredibly cheap compared to humans. Yes, strong drugs have strong effects. Both good and bad. Be an informed consumer is the lesson of the day for both yourself and your pet!