Page 3 - Pet Medication
- August 31, 2023
As devoted pet owners, we want nothing but the best for our furry friends, especially when it comes to their health and well-being. When our beloved companions face heart and kidney issues, veterinarians may prescribe medications to manage their conditions effectively. Today, we'll unravel the distinctions between three commonly prescribed pet medications: Fortekor, Vetace, and Benazepril. As a leading Australian pet pharmacy, we're committed to providing you with the knowledge you need to make informed decisions for your cherished pets.
Fortekor: Understanding the Medication
What is Fortekor?
Fortekor is a prescription medication primarily used to manage heart conditions in dogs and cats. Its active ingredient, benazepril, is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, which helps dilate blood vessels and reduce the workload on the heart.
How Does Fortekor Work?
Fortekor inhibits the production of angiotensin II, a hormone
- June 18, 2023
When our furry companions face medical conditions that require specific treatments, it's essential to have a clear understanding of the differences between medications. In the realm of pet medicine, two commonly prescribed drugs, Vetmedin (Pimobendan) and Gabapentin, play distinct roles in managing various health concerns. By exploring the unique properties of these medications, we can make informed decisions regarding our pets' well-being. Whether it's supporting a healthy heart or easing nerve pain and seizures, let's delve into the differences between Vetmedin and Gabapentin to ensure our pets receive the most suitable treatment options available.
Vetmedin (Pimobendan): Supporting a Healthy Heart
Vetmedin, also known by its generic name Pimobendan, is a medication specifically designed to manage heart conditions in dogs, such as congestive heart failure (CHF) and dilated cardiomyopathy
- February 16, 2023
Skin complaints are a common issue among dogs in Australia. Some of the most common symptoms of skin irritation in dogs include constant scratching and itching, hair loss, areas of small bumps on skin, redness or swelling, scaling, crusting, or hardening of the skin, dry skin, abnormal odour and excessive oil production. The most common skin conditions found in Australian dogs include flea allergy dermatitis (FAD), atopic dermatitis (AD), food allergies, contact dermatitis and pyoderma.
There are several medications that Australian vets use to treat dog skin complaints. Some of the most popular medicines include Apoquel which is an anti-itch tablet medication for pets with allergies, Cytopoint which is another anti-itch medication made - September 14, 2022
My vet prescribed Redipred for my dog. What does that mean?
Prednisone and Prednisolone are corticosteroid drugs, used to treat a variety of illnesses in animals (as well as humans). It is sold in Australia for animal use under brand names including Redipred, Pred-X, Macrolone and Microlone. The different brands offer the same active
- September 13, 2022
My vet prescribed Neocort for my dog. What does that mean?
Neocort for dogs is a cream that combines antibiotic, anti-inflammatory and anaesthetic effect to help remove the pain and irritation of the skin lesion so that it can heal
Neocort is a topical cream that is often prescribed for dogs with skin irritation or skin conditions caused by neomycin-sensitive bacterial organisms. Neocort has three active ingredients and these work to make your dog more comfortable and heal in three different ways.
This article answers some of your common questions, such as how Neocort helps your dog, the dosage for Neocort, and the side-effects of Neocort for dogs.
How does Neocort help my dog?
- August 25, 2021
- July 14, 2021
My vet put my pet on Meloxicam / Mobic / Loxicom / Metacam. What does that mean?
Meloxicam is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), used as a painkiller or to relieve pain, inflammation and fever in dogs (and more rarely,cats). It is often prescribed for pets that are diagnosed with osteoarthritis, and is also used to manage post-surgical pain.
- April 05, 2021
Carprofen is prescribed for treat osteoarthritis in dogs and is also used to provide pain relief after surgery.
What is osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis (also called Degenerative Joint Disease or DJD) refers to the medical condition when your pet has progressively worsening inflammation of a joint. In a healthy joint, which moves smoothly and painlessly, cartilage acts as a cushion - when the cartilage in the joint starts deteriorating, or breaking down, it is called osteoarthritis. This can happen due to “wear & tear” or due to disease, age, injury, repetitive stress, or obesity.
You may have seen your dog show pain, or a decreased range of motion or your pet may develop inflammation or bone spurs. Joints most likely to be affected are the legs and lower back.
Dogs are really good at hiding their pain, so the early symptoms of osteoarthritis may not be immediately seen by pet owners. Here are some signs to watch for in your dog:
- Stiffness, lameness, limping, or difficulty getting up
- Lethargy, or reluctance to run, jump, or play
- Weight gain
- Pain when petted or touched
- Irritability or changes in behavior
- Difficulty posturing to urinate or defecate, or having accidents in the house
- Loss of muscle mass over the limbs and spine
You should discuss any changes with your vet, as vets estimate that 1 in 5 dogs suffer from osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis can be managed!
Fortunately, osteoarthritis in dogs can be managed. With medicine, such as Carprofen, your dog’s pain can be managed and joint inflammation decreased, and this means their movement is improved. This improves your pet’s quality of life!
Other treatments may be recommended for your dog, such as physiotherapy or changes in diet. For dogs that have developed or who are at risk of developing osteoarthritis, maintaining a healthy weight is very important.
What is Carprofen?
Carprofen is both the brand name of the drug, and the name of the active ingredient. It is an NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug) that acts as pain relief and treats joint inflammation and is in the same family of drugs as ibuprofen. (Obviously, it is NOT exactly the same as ibuprofen, which is not for use in dogs - never give your dog ibuprofen or other human drugs!) Carprofen is sold as Rimadyl or Novox in some parts of the world.
Carprofen slows down or stops the body producing an enzyme called COX-2 (cyclooxygenase-2). This enzyme produces prostaglandins - substances that are primarily responsible for inflammation and pain, and so Carprofen works to control pain and inflammation at the source.
Carprofen can’t cure osteoarthritis in dogs -
- April 01, 2021
Lovan is used by veterinarians to reduce anxiety and aggression in dogs and cats. It is the equivalent to the human drug Prozac, but in a different dose.
Anxiety in pets
Pets can suffer many different types of anxiety, and your pet may be showing that anxiety in different ways. It may be a fear or phobia that your pet shows - when new people arrive at the house, or when a storm approaches, or it may be separation anxiety (this affects approximately 14% of dogs!), which may result in destructiveness, distressed vocalization (crying, howling or constant barking), or “housesoiling” (a nicer term
- March 31, 2021
Cardisure is prescribed by vets to treat dogs with heart diseases. Cardisure is used for congestive heart failure (CHF) which can be caused by either:
- Mitral valve disease (MVD)
- Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)
Heart disease in dogs
Heart disease affects about 10% of all dogs. Some of the causes of heart diseases can be:
- a valve defect (eg. mitral valve disease)
- a cardiac muscle disease (eg. dilated cardiomyopathy) or
- a parasite like heartworm.
