As veterinary practitioners, we face the potential for drug interactions every single time we prescribe more than one medication. It’s impossible to remember every potential drug interaction, and combing through drug monographs for that information takes time—a resource we never seem to have enough of in veterinary practice.
Enter drug interaction checkers. These tools have been game-changers in human medicine since the early 2000s, evolving from clunky desktop software to user-friendly mobile apps.
But while human drug interaction checkers are invaluable tools for physicians, they simply aren’t equipped to meet the unique needs of veterinary patients.
Here are 3 reasons why veterinarians need veterinary drug interaction checkers to help protect their patients.
See the Plumb’s Interaction Checker
Watch this brief video to see the Plumb’s veterinary drug interaction checker in action.
1. Human Interaction Checkers Can Overlook Key Veterinary Drugs
How often do you reach for maropitant to control vomiting or oclacitinib to soothe itchy skin? These drugs are staples in veterinary practice—yet aren’t used in human medicine.
Other drugs we may depend on in veterinary practice that aren’t used in human medicine include (but aren’t limited to):
- Canine and feline monoclonal antibodies (eg, lokivetmab, frunevetmab)
- Carprofen
- Enrofloxacin
- Fluralaner
- Grapiprant
- Pimobendan
- Robenacoxib
- Selamectin
These medications won’t appear in a human drug interaction checker, which puts you at risk of missing important drug interactions.
Imagine your canine patient on pimobendan helps herself to a gourmet grape buffet, and you need to induce vomiting with ropinirole. Without a veterinary drug interaction checker, you might miss the warning to keep an eye on your patient’s blood pressure and monitor for hypotension.
2. Safe Drug Combinations for Humans Can Be Harmful to Animals
Drug combinations that are safe for people aren’t always safe for animals. Physiological differences between species mean that medications well-tolerated in human medicine can be harmful—or even deadly—in veterinary patients.
Take nonsteroidal antiinflammatories (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids, for example. While this combination can sometimes be used in humans with careful monitoring, it’s a firm no in veterinary medicine. The risk of severe gastrointestinal toxicity—including ulcers, perforations, and life-threatening complications—is simply too high.
3. Human Interaction Checkers Don’t Account for Breed-Specific Risks
Genetics play a huge role in how animals respond to medications, and breed-specific quirks can mean the difference between a safe treatment and a dangerous one.
The MDR1 gene mutation, common in herding breeds like collies and Australian shepherds, impairs the function of the P-glycoprotein transporter, which removes certain drugs and toxins from the brain.
In affected dogs, this transporter is less effective or nonfunctional, making them vulnerable to drug accumulation in the brain.
Some drugs, like ketoconazole, further inhibit P-glycoprotein function, exacerbating the issue. When ketoconazole is administered alongside ivermectin, it can lead to ivermectin accumulation in the brain and increase the risk of neurotoxicity.
Unlike a human drug interaction checker, the Plumb’s veterinary drug interaction checker will flag this interaction and provide tailored recommendations so you can make confident treatment decisions.
Plumb’s Drug Interaction Checker: Veterinary-Specific Expertise
Human-specific drug interaction checkers leave dangerous information gaps for veterinary patients, as they don’t account for species-specific drug sensitivities, unique metabolic pathways, or breed-related risks.
The drug interaction checker in Plumb’s is designed specifically for veterinarians. Created and continually updated by veterinarians and veterinary pharmacists, it provides animal-specific insights based on current evidence and is accessible from any internet-connected device.
Enter all your patient’s medications at once for a comprehensive view of potential interactions. Results are color-coded with classifications ranging from contraindicated to no known interaction, including major, moderate, and minor caution levels.
When you use Plumb’s drug interaction checker, you can eliminate the guesswork of managing drug interactions and know you’re doing all you can to safeguard your patients.