Would you question your vet's dosage?

[Dunpony]

My pony has been prescribed steroids. However it looks like my vet has overestimated his weight; the pony is less than 400kg on weightape but has been prescribed the 450-600kg dose.

I usually wouldn't bother as the vet knows what they are doing but with a pony and steroids I'm a bit worried. We did have the steroids & laminitis discussion and decided the risk was worth it.

If you would raise it how would you approach it?

Thanks

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

'Hiya, I can see this this dosage is for a 450kg - 600kg horse, I just wanted to confirm that I have the correct amount to give before I start administer it to him/her. I think 'x' may weigh a bit less than the bottom figure so just wanted to double check with you.'

Nothing wrong with asking, people are people and people make mistakes.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Do check.

Just phrase it neutrally, maybe 'Can I just check that x is the right dose for *pony's name*, he weigh tapes at x kg.'

 

[ycbm]

Yes, check. I told my vet that the horse he was about to sedate was extremely reactive to sedative and had previously almost collapsed on a half dose. I thought he was holding a pretty full syringe and reminded him. He then squirted half the syringe out on the floor. If I hadn't checked the horse would definitely have been knocked out. Vets are human
.

 

[rara007]

No harm in checking. There’s a massive dose range for steroids depending on what’s being tested.

 

[shortstuff99]

Never hurts to check, but bare in mind weigh tapes normally under estimate weight by 10-20%.

 

[windand rain]

If you have transport I would get an accurate weight on a weigh bridge before administering drugs that could cause laminitis

 

[Midlifecrisis]

I did....over a tapewormer....it had been miscalculated and I needed more for each horse....vet very apologetic and glad I’m the kind of person who tries hard to understand treatments etc.

 

[little_critter]

Do check, my vet did this with antibiotics, he said one thing, the packet said a lower dose so I went with the packet dose. When I mentioned it at the next visit he said he’d prescribed that dose on purpose to hit the infection hard in the first week. Doh!

 

[Dunpony]

Thanks everyone. I did check - but haven't been able to get hold of the vet!!! He was supposed to ring me back but didn't - no wonder people ask inappropriate vet questions on forums... Have decided to adjust dosage in consultation with receptionist while waiting until Monday when a vet can review the notes and decide if the original vet had a reason for the higher dosage.