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Owner compliance with short term antimicrobial medication in dogs
L S Barter1, A D Watson, J E Maddison
1Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Sydney, New South Wales.
Australian Veterinary Journal
|October 1, 1996
Summary
Dog owners administered 84% of prescribed antimicrobial doses, but timing was often incorrect. Dosing frequency did not impact overall adherence, though interval accuracy varied slightly.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Pharmacology
- Animal Health
Background:
- Accurate administration of antimicrobial medications is crucial for effective treatment in dogs.
- Owner compliance with prescribed veterinary drug regimens can significantly impact treatment outcomes.
- Monitoring medication adherence in pets presents unique challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the compliance of dog owners with antimicrobial medication instructions.
- To evaluate the impact of dosing frequency (twice vs. thrice daily) on medication adherence.
- To analyze the accuracy of medication timing in a real-world veterinary setting.
Main Methods:
- Utilized microprocessor-based monitoring devices to track medication administration.
- Enrolled 22 clients administering amoxycillin-clavulanate to their dogs over 5 to 10 days.
- Compared adherence rates and dosing interval accuracy between twice and thrice daily regimens.
Main Results:
- Owners provided an average of 84% of the prescribed amoxycillin-clavulanate doses.
- No significant difference in overall dose percentage was observed between twice and thrice daily dosing.
- Only 34% of doses were administered within the optimal time window, indicating poor timing adherence.
- Twice daily dosing showed a trend towards better adherence to desired dosing intervals, though not statistically significant.
Conclusions:
- While overall dose quantity adherence was moderate, precise timing of antimicrobial administration in dogs remains a significant challenge.
- Dosing frequency (twice vs. thrice daily) did not substantially influence the total amount of medication given.
- Further strategies are needed to improve the accuracy of medication timing for optimal therapeutic efficacy in canine antimicrobial therapy.