MISUSE OF PET MEDICATION BY COMPANION ANIMAL CAREGIVERS ON THEIR WARDS

MISUSE OF ANTIBIOTICS
Last week’s column dealt with types of medication which pet caregivers administer unnecessarily and incorrectly to their companion animals. We focused specifically on the emergencies that often arise from the misuse of Antihistamines, Anti-inflammatory Drugs, Hormones, Vitamins, Minerals, Trace Elements, and Diuretics. We even made comments on the ill-advised use of Herbs and other Folk Medicines which have not been tested and proven to be effective against specific ailments.
Purposefully, we did not lump the discussion on misuse of Antibiotics in day-to-day supposed curative interventions by folk just wanting to be relieved of the stressors associated with ailments. Yet, all of the drugs, mentioned in last week’s column, put together, do not create the havoc in the doctors’ (vets included) ability to cure their patients. Veterinarians are confronted with the same problem.
Antibiotic misuse occurs when:
1) Pet caregivers procure “medication” for their companion animals incorrectly- dare I say illegally. And how do the Pet Owners obtain the drug, if they do not get a prescription from a Registered Veterinarian? How does the worker in a Pharmacy (notice I have not mentioned from a qualified and registered Pharmacist) dispense for example, “black and red capsules” to anyone and everyone who wants such medication? Please, professionals, do not deny that this practice occurs daily. There is enough proof of this malpractice.
2) The wrong dosage is administered.
3) The dosage is stopped prematurely as soon as the animal feels better (is recovering).
4) The medicine is not the correct one for a specific disease.
5) The residual (illegally acquired antibiotic) is kept under incorrect conditions and may even have expired.
All that I have mentioned above is bad enough. But inappropriate use of Antibiotics could evoke side effects or interactions with other drugs the animal might be officially taking.
Other factors in this discussion must be taken into consideration.
N.B.
• Your pharmacist would not, during his/her training, have been exposed to the specific misuse of antibiotics on pets. Some companion animals exhibit a hypersensitivity to certain drugs. Further, if the pet is suffering from kidney-associated ailments, one must be careful when choosing which antibiotic to administer and under what conditions.
• In passing, I may be allowed to hint that certain Opioids, Narcotics, Pain Relievers, and even certain stimulants (all prescription drugs) are often misused medications by pet caregivers on the wards.
• The misuse/overuse of antibiotics may also result in digestive problems, yeast infections, and allergic reactions.

• Please do not believe that any one antibiotic is a cure for all diseases. Such an antibiotic does not exist. Actually, not every antibiotic works the same way. Some antibiotics kill bacteria (bactericidal); others keep bacteria from reproducing and growing (these are defined as bacteriostatic).
Finally, it behooves me to mention that since Graduates and Registered Pharmacists would not have been exposed too much (if at all) to Veterinary Pharmacology, the Guyana Pharmacists Association (GPA) should recommence their invitations to veterinarians to give relevant “talks” (more of a discussion) on appropriate aspects of Veterinary Pharmacology. I did several of those annual presentations to them but for some reason the event no longer takes place.
A renewed interaction between veterinarians and pharmacists will certainly foster the delivery of better health care for pets in recognition of the fact that caregivers, despite persistent advisories from veterinarians, will present themselves to pharmacists for medication for their pets. I urge pharmacists to make contact with a veterinarian or refer the caregiver to one and avoid being held accountable for a tragic outcome from the misuse of the drug provided.