What to do if you think a dose was doubled or missed
It happens in many households. You are not sure whether the morning pill was given. Or you gave it, and then a family member gave it too. Your heart sinks. This guide explains what to do next, and how to make the situation less likely in the first place.
Do not guess
When you are not sure whether a dose was given, the tempting responses are the wrong ones. Do not assume it was given. Do not assume it was not. Do not decide on your own what to do next. Guessing in either direction can turn a small mix-up into a bigger one.
Do not make up for it on your own
If a dose was missed, do not give an extra one later to catch up. If a dose may have been doubled, do not skip the next one to balance it out. Your vet decides the amount and the timing, and only your vet, or a poison hotline, can tell you what is safe for your pet and your pet's specific medication. What is right depends on the medication, so a rule of thumb from a website or a friend can do harm.
Call your vet, or a pet poison hotline
Call your vet. Explain what happened and ask what to do. If your vet's office is closed, call an emergency clinic. If your pet may have received two doses, or got into a medication bottle, a pet poison hotline is another option. It is worth looking up a hotline in advance and saving the number in your phone. Some charge a fee, so check before you call.
If your pet seems unwell in any way, do not wait for a callback. Go to an emergency clinic.
Have this ready before you call
- The name of the medication, and the bottle or label in your hand.
- Your pet's name and current weight.
- The times of the last doses, and who gave them.
- What you think may have happened, in plain words.
- Anything unusual you have noticed in your pet since.
You do not need to work out the answer. You only need to describe the situation clearly, and let the professional decide.
Why a written log makes the call faster
This is the moment a log earns its place. With a written record, you can say: "The last entry was at 7:40 this morning, initialed by my daughter, and there is no entry since." Without one, you are trying to reconstruct the morning from memory while someone waits on the line.
A log with times and names also answers the questions a vet is likely to ask. When was the last dose? Who gave it? Was it taken normally? A clear answer means a clear recommendation, and less time worrying. A sheet is easy to start with: try the free printable medication log.
How to make it less likely
- Log right away. Write the time and your initials as soon as the dose is given, before you put the bottle away.
- Check first. Look at the log before you give a dose. If it is already written down, you are done.
- Use one shared log. Two separate records invite two different answers.
- Name one person as responsible for each time of day, and let the others know when they hand over.
- Brief anyone who steps in. Our guide on preparing a pet sitter for medications covers handoffs.
Where an app can help
PetDose was built around this problem. It shows what is done, what is due and who gave it, and warns you before a second dose. It still lets you save the entry if you decide to go ahead, and flags it so it is visible later. It sends a reminder only when something is overdue. It is a record-keeping aid and never recommends or changes a dose, so the call to your vet still comes first. Records stay on your phone, and tracking is free. Get it on the App Store.