Does Your Dog Have Multiple Health Conditions? What You Should Know About Simultaneous Treatments
Owning a dog can be both a joy and a challenge at times. In particular, if your dog has several different health conditions, such as arthritis, allergies, and chronic skin rashes and infections all at the same time, you may find yourself wondering what you can and should do to treat all of those conditions at the same time. While the simultaneous treatment of multiple health conditions is possible in dogs, you also need to be cautious about your dog's overall comfort and well-being. Get to know some of the factors to keep in mind when you are trying to help your dog manage multiple health issues at the same time.
While Drug Combinations Can Be Safe, Your Dog May Still Have Strange Reactions
Just like with people, there are general recommendations regarding the combination of medications and drugs in dogs. Some pet meds can react and interact in negative ways when taken in combination, but others can be taken simultaneously without issue.
However, while your dog's veterinarian may prescribe your dog numerous medications that are safe to take together, that does not necessarily mean that your dog will react well to the combination. Anytime your dog starts taking a new or different medication, you will want to monitor them closely for signs of odd behaviors or issues.
For example, some dogs will react fine to an antibiotic when it is taken alone, but when they are also taking a steroid medication for allergies or arthritis, the combination can cause diarrhea or vomiting. Every dog's internal body chemistry is different, and it is important to let your veterinarian know if you notice any odd behaviors or sudden changes in their health. They can always change up one or several of their medications to resolve the issue.
It Is Important To Prioritize The Most Severe Health Conditions
You and your veterinarian will need to try to strike a balance in your dog's health care plan. While you likely want to treat and clear up all of your dog's conditions, you may need to forgo treatment of one to deal with another.
For example, if your dog has a chronic infection that needs to be cleared up using a combination of antibiotics and prednisone, any other steroid medications for joint problems like arthritis will need to be temporarily stopped to deal with the more pressing issue. You and your veterinarian will eventually come up with a long-term treatment plan that best manages all of your dog's health conditions.
Keeping these facts in mind, you can better know what to expect from your dog's multiple health conditions and the treatment of those conditions. Contact a local animal hospital, like Foothills Animal Hospital, for more information and treatment options.
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