Medicine Labels – Read Them Carefully

28.7 Medicine Labels – Read Them carefully After a choice has been made to use a certain medicine, the label on the medicine must be read very carefully. Because there are many different kinds and sizes of animals, it is very important to read the label of veterinary drugs. Also, it is important to always carefully label a medicine before you give it to owners for treating their own livestock.

72 Medicines can be USEFUL but....

they can also be DANGEROUS.

Medicines can be dangerous if not used properly. To prevent mistakes, carefully read the label with the following questions in mind:

- Is the generic name correct?

- Is this medicine dangerous for the intended use or specific animal (e.g. pregnant or young animals)?

- Is this medicine dangerous for the AHA (e.g. pesticides, allergies)?

- Is the medicine expired? (Check the expiry date.)

- What is the correct dosage? (Look in this book or sometimes on the label or package insert.)

- What is the correct manner to give the medicine (injection, in the mouth, on the skin, in the teat)?

- How often should the medicine be given?