LIFESTYLE

Making a treatment plan — and sticking to it

Work with your veterinarian to build a plan that fits both your pet’s needs, and your everyday routine

Share the article:

Why sticking to the plan matters.

When your veterinarian prescribes a treatment, it is not arbitrary. The medication, the dose, and the frequency have all been chosen based on your pet’s specific condition, weight, age, and health history. That plan is designed to work — and how closely it is followed is one of the most important factors in giving it the best chance to do so. ^1,2

Staying on track can be challenging. You are not alone.

Research shows that many pet owners find it difficult to follow treatment plans exactly as prescribed, particularly when they involve frequent dosing or long-term care.¹ The most common obstacles are practical ones, listed below. If any of these feel familiar, the most important thing you can do is tell your veterinarian. While a different approach may not always be available, your veterinarian will gladly help you find an alternative when it’s possible.⁵

Busy or unpredictable schedules
Forgetting doses
Difficulty administering the medication to the pet
Complex routines involving multiple treatments

Your veterinarian needs honest information, not perfection.

Open communication between pet owners and veterinarians has been shown to support better outcomes.⁵ If you are struggling with a routine, finding administration difficult, or worried about doses you have missed — say so.  

Be specific: mention the timing issues, the side effects, or the moments when your pet refuses to cooperate. That information helps your veterinarian assess whether the current plan is realistic, and whether clinically appropriate alternatives exist.

For some conditions and medications, there may exist simpler options — formulations requiring once-daily dosing, or longer-acting treatments that your veterinarian can administer during a clinic visit. But these alternatives are not available for every condition, and whether they are appropriate for your pet is a clinical decision only your veterinarian can make. Any change to a prescribed protocol must go through them.

Start with the right questions

At your next appointment — or whenever a new treatment is prescribed — these questions can help you set a realistic plan from the start:

How often does this need to be given, and what happens if a dose is missed?
Are there situations where a missed dose requires me to contact the clinic urgently?
Is there a simpler or less frequent option that would be clinically appropriate for my pet?
What is the most realistic long-term plan given my pet’s condition?

Practical ways to stay on track

Even with the best intentions, consistency requires structure. Adopting a few habits make a meaningful difference.

Build it into your routine

Linking treatment to an existing habit — such as mealtimes or a morning ritual — reduces the cognitive load of remembering.

Keep up with regular checkups

Ongoing contact with your veterinarian supports better adherence and allows for early course correction.^8,9

Use reminders and take notes

Phone alerts can help with consistency. Recording any missed doses and the reason why gives your veterinarian the information they need to assess your pet’s progress accurately.

Keep it visible

Storing treatment somewhere safe but easy to see reduces the risk of forgetting.

Talk to your veterinarian before changing anything

If something isn’t working, don’t hesitate to consult your veterinary team. This will allow them to guide you in finding solutions, or to recommend a treatment adjustment, as needed.^1,5,8

References

Wareham KJ, Brennan ML, Dean RS. Systematic review of the factors affecting cat and dog owner compliance with pharmaceutical treatment recommendations. Veterinary Record. 2019;184(5):154. doi:10.1136/vr.104471
Claxton AJ, Cramer J, Pierce C. A systematic review of the associations between dose regimens and medication compliance. Clinical Therapeutics. 2001;23(8):1296–1310. doi:10.1016/s0149-2918(01)80109-0
Martin LR, Williams SL, Haskard KB, DiMatteo MR. The challenge of patient adherence. Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management. 2005;1(3):189–199. doi:10.2147/tcrm.1.3.189.66635
Lavan RP, Tunceli K, Zhang D, et al. Assessment of dog owner adherence to veterinarian-prescribed flea and tick prevention recommendations in the United States. Parasites & Vectors. 2017;10:284. doi:10.1186/s13071-017-2227-5
Maddison J, Cannon M, Davies R, et al. Owner compliance in veterinary practice: recommendations from a roundtable discussion. Companion Animal. 2022;27(Sup1):1–10. doi:10.12968/coan.2022.0015
Badawy SM, Radovic A. Digital approaches to remote pediatric health care delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic: existing evidence and a call for further research. JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting. 2020;3(1):e20049. doi:10.2196/20049
Wood W, Neal DT. A new look at habits and the habit-goal interface. Psychological Review. 2007;114(4):843–863. doi:10.1037/0033-295X.114.4.843
Kanji N, Coe JB, Adams CL, Shaw JR. Effect of veterinarian-client-patient interactions on client adherence to dentistry and surgery recommendations in companion-animal practice. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 2012;240(4):427–436. doi:10.2460/javma.240.4.427
Lamb L, Affenzeller N, Hewison L, et al. Development and application of adherence tools in veterinary behavioural medicine. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. 2018;5:290. doi:10.3389/fvets.2018.00290

Are you looking for a veterinarian?

Your veterinarian plays an essential role in ensuring the good health of your dog or cat. Find a professional near you!

Find a vet

In the spotlight

Wag-worthy updates!

Subscribe to our newsletter for pet information and advice.

*By entering my email address and clicking the “Submit” button, I authorize Merck Animal Health to use my   email address for the purpose of sending me communications by email about products, promotions and   educational articles. I understand that my email address will be accessible for this purpose to a limited   number of Merck Animal Health’s employees, agents and representatives. I also understand that I can   unsubscribe at any time. I agree to the Merck Animal Health privacy policy. Contact us for more information.