MIAMIVILLE, OHIO (FOX19) -
All Sarah Schuck has left of her beloved eight-year-old lab
"Rafter" is his collar, pictures, and fond memories. The Clermont County woman
blames her dog's death on a pharmacy error.
The label on the dog's prescription bottle said to give
Rafter "two and one-fourth teaspoon" of the medicine. But the vet says the
dosage he called into the pharmacy was for much less: "two and one-fourth
CC's."
The overdose, combined with Rafter's health problems, was
too much. Sarah says she had to put him to sleep.
"It was a tough realization," she said.
Just days after Rafter's death, the FDA issued a warning
about a pattern of pet prescription mistakes. FDA investigators discovered
errors stemming from simple issues like: look-alike packaging, drugs with
similar names, and simple penmanship errors.
"The consequences can be completely devastating," said Dr.
Howard Silberman, a veterinarian.
He takes prescription precautions at his office: all
medications and dosages are typed into a computer, only vets and vet
technicians fill prescriptions, and pets' pictures are printed on the label so
there aren't any mix-ups.
"We do a tremendous amount to make sure that those things
don't happen," he said.
The FDA says while mistakes happen at vet-based pharmacies,
when pet prescriptions are filled in "human pharmacies" --- like in Rafter's
case --- different systems may be to blame. There are sometimes abbreviation
errors because prescription shorthand taught in veterinary schools is different
than in medical schools. So some pharmacists may not be as familiar with vet
abbreviations.
"Currently most of the pharmacy curriculums don't touch upon
vet medicine," said Carmen Catizone of the National Association Boards of
Pharmacy.
FDA investigators also found pet medication errors stemmed
from pet owners misinterpreting labels and accidentally giving pets human
drugs.
To avoid a pet prescription mix-up, the American Veterinary
Medical Association says communication is key. Make sure the pharmacist speaks
to your vet if there are any questions. Meanwhile, the FDA advises you to
verify the name and dosage of your pet's drug.
Sarah says she hopes Rafter's legacy lives on to help other
pet owners avoid medication mistakes.
"Don't be afraid to ask questions," she said.
Rafter, killed by pharmacy error
Sarah Schuck of Miamiville
FOX19-WXIX
