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250 Tasks for the Veterinary Assistant

recommendations for at‐home care. The reason these Classification of Medications
misunderstanding happen are that the veterinarian used
terminology with which the client is unfamiliar; the There are many types of medications found within the
presence of the pet can distract the owner; the owner veterinary practice. They all have specific uses, and some
might be overwhelmed with information; or the procedure have “off‐label” uses meaning it has been found that they
can be unfamiliar to the client. Whatever the reason, the may work for unspecified treatment of a condition or ill-
result is delay or failure in patient recovery. ness. It is really beyond the scope of this text and the
If you are asked to explain a prescription to the owner
it is done at the very end of the office visit, before the training of an assistant to learn all of these drugs.
However, becoming familiar with the medications may
client leaves the examination room with the patient. be of some help when starting to work in a facility.
Have the patient’s record, medication, and written Therefore, Table 13.1 provides categories of pharma-
instruction form in hand. Greet the client and patient ceuticals found in a veterinary practice with some
with a smile as you enter the room. Face the owner and examples.
start relaying the information at a slow pace, speaking
clearly and a bit loudly (especially for older clients).
Remember to use layman’s terms, not veterinary termi-
nology. Explain to the owner what the medication is and Learning Exercise
its purpose. Show the drug label and read the instruc-
tions to them. Ask if they have any questions. Wait for a Practice explaining a medication with a class-
reply! Demonstrate how to open and close the container mate. Ask for honest feedback and do the same
and, if possible, demonstrate how to administer the med- for her/him.
ication to the patient, or go over how to give the medica-
tion if it cannot be given at the appointment. Ask them if
they have any questions! For more complicated proce-
dures, you may ask the owner to repeat the procedure
after you demonstrate it or explain it. Chapter Reflection
Review the instruction form with the client and point
out the phone numbers to use if they have a question or Now that you have learned a bit about
concern. Ask the owner if there is anything else needed at pharmacy skills, what are your takeaway points
this time. If not, thank them for trusting their pet’s care to from this chapter?
the clinic and tell them you will meet them at the recep-
tion desk with the prescription and information sheet.

Suggested Reading
Learning Exercise
Utilize the programs pharmacy and the list Bill RL. 1997. Pharmacology for Veterinary Technicians, 2nd edn.
provided in Table 13.1. Make a chart and fill in Mosby.
the drug name and what category of medicine it Bill R. 2000. Medical Mathematics and Dosage Calculations for Veterinary
Professionals. Iowa Press.
represents. Sirois M. 2011. Principles and Practices of Veterinary Technology, 3rd edn.
Elsevier.