Yowzer, Wrong Med, Wrong Pet

[Snowshoe]

For heaven's sake, I nearly put 6 pound Itty Bitty Kitty's transdermal ear gel for hyperthyroidism in 68 pound Oban's ear. Hey, they Are both black. I actually had Oban's ear in my hand before I clued in. He was lying down so I had to bend over just as far as for Bitty. I guess there would be little consequence to either; Oban could hardly be much affected by a dose so small and Bitty isn't going to fall apart if she misses one of her two daily doses. But it makes me wonder if I've made any other mistakes with meds that I didn't catch. Like, did I ever mix up Ginger cat and Oban's Cartrophen Vet injections?

What about you? Have you just barely caught yourself about to give a med to the wrong one?

[POPTOP]

Oh yea especially when Bandit was on so many medications after his TECA surgery. I had to make a chart to keep up with it all. At the same time, Melody was on medication. Caught myself double and triple checking the charts and the names and directions on the bottles.

[Tanya]

haha oops!

Yeah having a rough go with Rocky's gabapentin meds. One morning I took both (so that was like 600mg). Called ontario health and they laughed at me a bit I was feeling light and with no aches that morning Then a few weeks after I gave one of rocks gabapentin to Penny. Called the vet and they said she' dbe fine - thankfully it was before bed and not before agility class...

Since this I changed up the pill routine I no longer take mines until after rocky gets his and Pen doesn't get freebie PB just because rocky does

[smartrock]

I'm pretty obsessive when it comes to giving meds (to others) so to my knowledge I've never made an error. Considering my profession, that's a good thing. I've made charts to use at home when the dogs are on meds that are not optional as their supplements technically are. I have reminders that pop up on my computer for their heartworm meds and Frontline. When I take my dogs to the kennel all their meds, (Dasquin, Vitamins, etc) are packaged by dose in tiny ziplock bags with detailed written instructions. I started doing that after there was a mix up one time when I just gave the prescription bottles to the kennel staff- the dog only got one dose per day rather than 2. Last time I dropped the pups off the staff member checking them in said she'd never seen anyone pack their dogs meds like I had.

Actually, the dogs get their meds more reliably than I take my own!

[Annette47]

Don’t think I’ve messed up actual meds, but Chloe has been known to get some of the old dog’s joint supplements before - she was doing her Mulder impression and I wasn’t paying close enough attention, LOL.

[barry581]

I take 7 different prescription meds a day. Some are once a day, some are twice a day, and some are three times a day. I constantly have to think "did I take this or that"?

[Snowshoe]

Maybe I'm not quite as dopey as I thought then.

Yes, Smartrock, I always took pains to package up the meds and supplements for the boarding kennel. That was after we got home from an early visit and it was obvious the required number had not been dispensed. I took to telling them, you should need x amount, I put in so many extra. But then I wondered, suppose they just threw some out?

I do have a chart. Even if I read it though, apparently I can still mistake one critter for another less one tenth his size.

Tanya, oh my gosh.

[Maxx&Emma]

I can definitely see how easy this would be to do. It makes me wonder if I have done it and never realized, lol!

Tanya - taking Rocky's med, oh my!! As long as there were no ill effects, no harm I guess. It definitely would have stopped me in my tracks once I realized what I had done!

[Scoutpout]

yup, back when i was running the Geriatric Animal Home, 2 old dogs, 2 old cats, and over the winters, 1 somewhat younger cat but still on meds....plus the occasional 2 dogs extra for 4 or 5 days, both with meds..... i started writing it on the calendar who got what when, and had a sheet beside the telephone with the "normal" 4's medications for AM and PM.. yikes. I don't think i actually ever goofed, but i know i came close a time or 2.

[Tanya]

haha gapabentin is harmless for the most part. it's a nerve pain killer (among other uses). it's actually a human drug as well. so no harm done