Coming soon...a whole lot more information
Like most of our pages, I've set up a plan and outline of future contents, but I need more time to fill in the details. If you're a veterinarian and wish to contribute information...please do. My eMail address is foxnest@metacrawler.com
This is a work in progress.
Comments and Warnings about Medications
Comments about the Warnings
Comments about off label use of Medications
coming soon; discussion about various antibiotics, steroids, etc about their use, precautions and so forth.
Most really useful medications have some problems you need to be aware of...I'll be reviewing these problems here soon.
All medications, even when used correctly, are capable of causing harm, usually in a tiny percentage of patients...it's important not to freak out if you read the warning labels. The warning labels have to mention every possible known side effect, including those at large overdoses or those that are usually minor (such as GI irritatbility), or those that affect only a small percentage of patients. Think of these warning labels as compared to a "Slippery when Wet" sign on a highway bridge: You still go over the bridge...you just use extra caution when you do so.
The Veterinary Pharmacy
coming soon...a general discussion about the different types of medications a typical veterinary clinic has available such as antibiotics, pain medication, anti-diarrheals, etc.
Plus; specific information about individual drugs.
Also; Links to the manufactuer's Web site
And; Links to other drug information sites on the internet
http://www.rxlist.com/ Internet drug Index lots of info on individual drugs including alternative and herbal medications
DrugBase http://www.drugbase.co.za - guide to package inserts, medical information, medication and pharmaceutical products.
http://www.infomed.org/100drugs/ easy alphabetical list of 100 drugs
About Different Medications...especially those with potential problems
coming soon...highlighting medications with special problems
Giving Medicine to Cats and Dogs
ll the medications you have been given for your pet are important. Be sure you understand how to give each one before leaving the Animal Medical Center. If questions arise once you are at home, do not hesitate to contact your veterinarian during his or her phone time.
First, check the label of your medications(s) for specifics such as whether it should be refridgerated and whether it should be given before or after meals, etc. It is important that you understand when to give your pet its medication. In addition to the oral instructions given to you by your veterinarian, written instructions accompany each medication. Unless otherwise instructed by your veterinarian, start with the first dose when you get up in the morning and space the other doses equally throughout the day until bedtime.
How to Give a Pill or Capsule
Dogs: Have your dog sit at your side. Place one hand on the upper jaw and press the dog's lips gently against the sides of the teeth with your fingers. With the fingers of your other hand, pull the lower jaw down and place the pill on the base of the tongue, far back in the mouth. Close the mouth, return the head and neck to normal position, and blow on the dog's nose or massage his throat to encourage swallowing. Any form of distraction (praising, stroking, etc) will also help to get the dog to swallow.
Some dogs are easier to medicate if you put the pill in a small amount of canned dog food, cheese, or peanut butter. Offer it to your pet and be sure that he swallows it. Some pets will appear to have eaten something only to spit it out when you are not looking.
Cats: Place a towel on a table and put your cat on the towel (this gives the cat something to cling to), or place the cat on your rug. Gently open the mouth and insert the pill at the back of the tongue. If your cat tries to scratch you, try wrapping its body and legs in a towel, leaving only its head sticking out. If you cradle your cat in one arm, and place your thumb and forefinger on either side of its face, you can force the mouth open by applying gentle pressure at the space between the teeth. This should allow you to deposit the pill in your cat's mouth, preferably at the back of the tongue. Next, return the head and neck to a normal position, massage your cat's throat, blow on his nose, or otherwise distract him until he swallows.
Administering Liquid Medication
Some medications are available in liquid form. Make sure that you tell your veterinarian if you have a preference.
Dogs and Cats: Gently pull the corner of the mouth away from the face to form a "pocket." Slowly give a small amount of the liquid. Allow your pet to swallow before giving more liquid. Do not squirt all the mediation into your pet's mouth at once.
Applying Ear Drops and Ear Ointments
Before administering ear medication, the ears may need to be cleaned. Your veterinarian may recommend a cleanser, or you can use moistened swabs. To apply the medication, push back the ear flap and gently position the applicator or tip of the tube in the base of the ear. Discharge the number of drops or amount of ointment prescribed. Gently massage the base of the ear with your fingers to help the medication work its way into the ear canal.
Applying Eye Drops and Ointments
Before administering eye medication, be sure that the eye lids are clear of discharge. Ask your veterinarian if a special eye wash is needed, or you can use warm water on a cotton ball to gently cleanse around the eyes. Next, use your thumb and forefinger to open the eyelids. With your other hand, place the 1 to 2 drops or a tiny amount of ointment on the eye or the pink tissue around the eye. Your pet will blink and the medication will cover the entire eye. When applying medication to the eye, try to avoid your pet's direct line of vision when approaching, and avoid touching the eye with the container of medication.
·
Be sure to give all medication as directed by your veterinarian.
·Be sure that you understand whether you are to give the medication until it is entirely used up or for a specified number of days.
·Be sure that you understand how the medication should be stored and special instructions for giving the medication.
·If you have any problems administering the medication, contact your veterinarian.
·If the condition worsens or does not improve as expected, contact your veterinarian.
Alternative Treatments
coming soon...comments about the huge number of claims being made for alternative treatments.
Also coming soon...positive comments about alternative medicine, links and articles
coming soon...negative comments and discussions about "alternative" medicine. For starters, check out the web site that discourages the use of most neutriceuticals and alternative medicine. It has scathing comments about most miracle herbs and treatments...including some of the ones I like such as colloidal minerals. At any rate, for a dose of reality, before spending a lot of money and hopes on heavily promoted "alternative" treatments whether it be magnets or herbs, check out
QuackWatch.com
Veterinary Pesticide Use and Safety
coming soon...what you need to know about the more common pesticides we use in veterinary medicine.
Safety Data Sheets, Medication Insert Sheets, and other sources for more detailed information
coming soon...I'll try to find on line copies or links to lists of safety data sheets. If you're not familiar with these sheets, they are the OSHA required fact sheets that are available for many drugs, pesticides, and most other potentially hazardous materials.
Also, for each prescription medication, the manufactuer usually has a detailed fact sheet about every possible known side effect, official dose rates, safety in pregnancy if known etc. I hope to find and offer links to good sites for this kind of information:
Some of the links I've been able to find so far:
http://www.rxlist.com/ Internet drug Index lots of info on individual drugs to include alternative
DrugBase http://www.drugbase.co.za> - guide to package inserts, medical information, medication and pharmaceutical products.
http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/
Welcome to MedWatch, your Internet gateway for timely safety information on the drugs and other medical products regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
MedWatch, the FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program, serves both healthcare professionals and the medical product-using public. We provide important and timely clinical information about safety issues involving medical products, including prescription and over-the-counter drugs, biologics, dietary supplements, and medical devices.
MSDA safety data sheets
http://msds.pdc.cornell.edu/msdssrch.asp Cornell's list
http://siri.uvm.edu/msds/ forn the University of Vermont Archives
http://www.msdssearch.com/ MSDA Search National Depository
Web Directory: Where to Find Material Safety Data Sheets on the Internet http://www.ilpi.com/msds/>
Chemical File Index
http://www.camd.lsu.edu/msds/Chemical-index.html> - offers toxicity, safety, and handling considerations for a wide array of chemicals.
Material Safety Data Sheets http://msds.pdc.cornell.edu/msdssrch.asp> - searchable database of MSDS files.
Material Safety Data Sheets (PDF) http://www.boc.com/gases/msds_us/> - downloadable documents in the Adobe pdf file format.
MSDS Archive http://siri.uvm.edu/msds/> - provides access to Material Safety Data Sheets.
MSDS Provider http://www.msdsprovider.com/> - connects customers directly to manufacturer specific material safety data sheets.
MSDS Search http://www.msdssearch.com> - comprehensive information, including links directly to manufacturers.
MSDS's on the Internet http://www.msc.CORNELL.edu/helpful_data/msds.html>
Portfolio: Chemical Safety http://www-portfolio.stanford.edu/100369> - searchable database providing information about hazardous properties of materials.
CURIOUS USES OF SOME PRODUCTS
* Budweiser beer conditions the hair
* Pam cooking spray will dry finger nail polish
* Cool whip will condition your hair in 15 min
* Shiny Hair-use brewed Lipton Tea
* Sunburn -empty a large jar of Nestea into your bath water
* Minor burn-Colgate or Crest toothpaste
* Burn your tongue? put sugar on it!
* Arthritis? WD-40 Spray and rub in, kills insect stings too
* Bee stings - meat tenderizer
* Chigger bite - Preparation H
* Paper cut - crazy glue or chap stick (glue is used instead of sutures at
most hospitals)
* Stinky feet - Jello!! (How about washing 'em!)
* Athletes feet - cornstarch
* Fungus on toenails or fingernails - Vicks vapor rub
* Kool aid to clean dishwasher pipes. Just put in the detergent section and
run a cycle, it will also clean a toilet.
* Kool Aid can be used as a dye in paint also
* Kool aid in Dannon plain yogurt as a finger paint, your kids will love it
and it won't hurt them if they eat it!
* Peanut butter - will get scratches out of CD's! Wipe off with a coffee
filter paper
* Sticking bicycle chain - Pam no-stick cooking spray
* Pam will also remove paint, and grease from your hands! Keep a can in
your garage for your hubb
* Heavy dandruff - pour on the vinegar!
* Body paint - Crisco mixed with food coloring. Heat the Crisco in the
microwave, pour into a empty film container and mix with the food color of
your choice!
* Tie Dye T-Shirt - mix a solution of Kool Aid in a container, tie a rubber
band around a section of the t-shirt and soak
* Preserving a newspaper clipping - large bottle of club soda and 1/2 cup
of milk of magnesia, soak for 20 min. and let dry, will last for many years
* To keep goggles and glasses from fogging, coat with Colgate toothpaste
* Pampers as an absorbent! Remove stains from the carpet with club soda,
and a pamper to absorb. Wine stains, pour on the Morton salt and watch it
absorb into the salt.
* To remove wax - Take a paper towel and iron it over the wax stain, it
will absorb into the towel.
* Remove labels off glassware etc. rub with peanut butter!
* Baked on food -fill container with water, get a Bounce paper softener and
the static from the Bounce towel will cause the baked on food to adhere to
it. Soak overnight.
Also; you can use 2 Efferdent tablets, soak overnight!
* Crayon on the wall - Colgate toothpaste and brush it!
* Dirty grout - Listerine
* Stains on clothes - Colgate
* Grass stains - Karo Syrup
* Grease Stains- Coca Cola, it will also remove grease stains from the
driveway overnight. We know it will take corrosion from batteries
* Sweat Stains - Efferdent, or vinegar
* Fleas in your carpet? 20 Mule Team Borax- sprinkle and let stand for 24
hours. Maybe this will work if you get them back again.
* To keep FRESH FLOWERS longer Add a little Clorox, or 2 Bayer aspirin, or
just use 7-up instead of water.
