We began, two weeks ago, to dedicate the PET CARE Column to the topic of companion animal caregivers who, with great pride and self-confidence, use/misuse questionable drugs to “cure” their pets. It seems that this topic aroused the attention of doctors (human health practitioners), veterinarians, and yes, pet owners/caregivers themselves.
More than a few opinions related to the misuse of antibiotics were received, while others advocated that it is not only antibiotics (as a group of medications) that are misapplied to animals (and humans). Today we will have a look at some of those other types of medication that are used unnecessarily and incorrectly – most of which may cause irreparable damage to the recipient immediately, and to the general population in futurity.
Some other misused medications:
1. Drugs incorrectly used to treat diarrhoea (“loose bowels”)
As mentioned previously, it does not make convincing sense for the pet owner to attempt implementing a cure when he/she does not know the cause of the ailment. In the case of “loose bowels”, one should firstly ascertain the following: Is the discharge watery or just soft? Is it tinged with blood or mixed with copious amounts of liquid blood? Is the watery discharge black in colour? Is there a frequent discharge during the course of an hour? Are worms visible in the stool? Is the smell of the faeces extraordinarily high and putrid? Has the animal been in contact with any toxic substance(s), for example rat bait, contaminated food/water, cleansers of the premises, plant fertilizers and pesticides, chemicals placed on the animal’s skin to get rid of ticks, fleas, lice, mites, etc? Is the animal reacting to stress and fear caused by explosive devices, and/or music with extremely high decibel levels? Are other animals in the yard suffering from a diarrhoea with similar symptoms? Is the caregiver routinely deworming his/her pets?
You see where I am going with all these questions? If one cannot correctly answer those questions delineated above, then how can one implement the correct treatment? In fact, administering drugs willy-nilly can cause more damage than good – precipitating a worsening of the condition, and even death. The caregiver /Veterinarian/Animal Health Assistant must be sure what the causative agent is before attempting a cure.
2. Drugs used to eradicate worms (Anthelminthics)
Let’s be clear: a worm is not a worm, is not a worm. Tapeworms are very different from Roundworms, which are very different from Heartworms. Their life cycles are often totally different, as are their associated symptoms, as are the meds used to control/destroy these internal parasites. We have a tendency to “worm out” without a clue of what the internal parasite may be; and worse, we decide to double the dose of the OTC (over-the-counter) dewormer, which may be totally inappropriate for the causative agent.
3. Drugs used to prevent diseases (vaccinations)
Firstly, I have to query where (from whom) the caregiver is receiving/ purchasing vaccines? All vaccines are not the same. Clearly, a cat vaccine cannot be used on a dog. How often must the vaccine be given within the context of administering the primary course, and how many weeks apart must the vaccine be given in order to achieve optimal efficiency (so important to know)? Let me also emphasize, and remind the caregivers, that all vaccines are not the same – even when they are originating from the same drug company. For example, using a multivalent vaccine (protecting against many diseases simultaneously) may not be fully relevant here in Guyana, where some of the diseases are not known to exist.
4. Antifungals
Again, so often pet owners are fooled by words that portray an inaccurate meaning. For example, the skin ailment “Ringworm” is not associated with any worm at all. It is a disease caused by fungi. Therefore, it follows that deworming products will not be effective against “Ringworm”. Further, all fungus infections are not optimally treated by all anti-fungal medications. “Jock Itch” and “Athlete’s foot” in humans are skin ailments caused by fungi, and should not be treated with products that are specifically produced for canine and feline pets.
Your veterinarian can provide you with information about any treatment that may be appropriated for your companion animals, as well as advise you regarding precautions you should take to avoid “Ringworm” infection to yourself and to all the members of your family, especially the children who tend to closely play with fungus-infected pets daily.
Also, your vet will advise you properly on the usage of anti-fungal preparations, and their applicability and functionality, bearing in mind that skin lesions/ infections may also be caused by bacteria and even by mange mites and other ecto-parasites living in/on the skin.
