A pet can bring forth some of the happiest moments of your life. Yet, no matter how much love you have for your furry friend, your pet will still face the inevitability of illness. Your veterinarian might instruct you to administer a few medications to your pet, commonly called pet meds. These pet meds are administered with the goal of managing or curing an illness. With the exception of some veterinary-specific medication, most types of animal medications are similar to medicines administered to humans.

The most commonly found pets are dogs and cats, so here is a list of the types of pet meds administered to them. Do keep in mind that this is not in any way a complete list of medication in veterinary medicine.

• Antibiotics
  These are drugs that primarily destroy microbes, including bacteria and yeast, along with other infections. While unable to kill viruses, these pet meds are used to fix secondary bacterial infections that happen when your pet suffers from viral infections. Common antibiotics include Cephalexin and Penicillin, among others.

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories
  These pet meds serve the simple purpose of reducing swelling and pain among other issues. The list of anti-inflammatories consists of Carprofen, Firocoxib, and Deracoxib, among others.

• Opioid pain relievers
  These pet meds are powerful pain relievers. Usually created from morphine, these medicines include Hydromorphone, Meperidine, and Butorphanol. These medicines are highly controlled substances as they can be quite addictive.

• Steroids
  Steroids are administered to suppress the immune system and control allergies in your pet. This class of pet meds includes Prednisolone and Dexamethasone.

• Antiparasitics
  These medicines are developed for the sole purpose of managing parasitic infections in pets. Parasites can be either internal or external. Antiparasitics are used to treat heartworms, intestinal worms, fleas, and ticks.

• Sedatives
  These pet meds specialize in managing behavioral and mental issues in a pet. They can help quiet down anxious pets and also decrease anxiety and other behavioral problems. Sedatives also serve the function of decreasing movement during important procedures. Common sedatives include Xylazine and Diazepam, among other medications.

• Specific disease-related medication
  These medications differ based on the medical condition your pet suffers from. For example, insulin is used for the treatment of diabetes and atenolol for cardiac issues, and so on. These vary greatly depending on the medical issue at hand.

• Chemotherapeutics
  Chemotherapeutics are drugs used for treating tumors due to cancer. They include Vincristine, Doxorubicin, and Cisplatin among other medications.

Remember that the veterinarian is well-equipped at taking care of your pet. As such, the veterinarian should be made aware of all medications and supplements that you are administering to your pet. As a better option, write down the frequency, the amount, and the manner in which you administer the medication to your pet. This will help your the doctor keep an accurate track of your pet’s health and plan any changes required for your furry friend’s wellbeing.