In a multiple-dog, multiple-person household, a sick or injured dog can make things harried and confusing, especially if the dog needs multiple medications! For years, we’ve grabbed a pad of paper, sketched out a chart and used that to track administration of medications, leaving notes for each other (and ourselves) as needed.
Rather than reinvent the wheel each time, I created a chart to make this task easier and are sharing it with you as our holiday gift. This is a gift we hope you never need, but if you do, it’s here and available for download as a PDF.
Once-Daily Medication Chart. Click image to download
Twice-Daily Medication Chart. Click image to download.
There are two versions of the chart, 1) once-daily medication, and 2) twice-daily medication, each with slots for 10 days.
Each PDF file is set up to print two per 8 1/2″ X 11″ page. Either cut the page in half or simply fold it in half. Use the second side if medication dosage exceeds 10 days or save for later use.
For medications ending sooner, or those which need to be tapered off, just scribble out the days to be missed. (See the example below for the fictional dog Max.)
To make a drug’s name fit at the top of the column you may need to abbreviate it, but you will have the full name at the bottom, once you fill in that information.
The chart is black & white so it won’t use up expensive color ink or toner. This also allows any highlighter or colored pen to stand out if you want to do some color-coding.
Scribble out blocks for days a medicine is no longer needed.
The wide space to the left is in case you want to use a small clipboard. Some clipboards have magnets on the back making them idea for keeping a chart on the refrigerator door.
Once you’ve completed a chart, add it to your dog’s home records to give yourself a reference in case he or she has another incident in the future.
So there you have it: a gift we hope your dog’s continued good health never requires. Happy, healthful holidays to you and yours!
