A client brings in a puppy for its first examination at your clinic. The routine physical exam is normal; however, the puppy has intestinal parasites. The puppy is prescribed an oral liquid dewormer that is prepared and dispensed in a syringe to the client. The client is advised to bring in a follow-up stool sample 2–3 weeks after the last dose of dewormer is given to the puppy. When the client

Question

gets home, he attempts to give the puppy its dewormer. He is having trouble restraining the puppy to insert the syringe rectally. The client believes that the medication has to be given rectally because the worms were present in the puppy's stool. How could this confusion have been avoided?

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

When dispensing medication to a client, it is important to be as clear and concise as possible. Since the parasites are present in the stool, it may make sense to some clients to administer the medication where the problem is. This problem could have been avoided by clearly writing on the prescription

label to give the medication amount orally for the prescribed time. Another helpful thing to do when dispensing medication is to demonstrate how to give the medication (proper restraint, how to manipulate the syringe, etc.). This demonstration would have shown the client exactly how to administer medication and brought up any questions he may have had before he left the clinic.