We have a lot of fun at Town N Country, but behind the fun is a foundation of very serious medicine. That includes the controlled substances that we administer to pets. Believe it or not, like all veterinarians, Town N Country must register with the Drug Enforcement Agency of the United States. They give us strict guidelines to follow as we prescribe, administer, and dispense controlled medications. They give us rules for keeping records, security, and reporting. And yes, they inspect us!
Our controlled substances are very securely locked up, and only a few trained technicians are able to access them. Every pill, every bottle of medicine must be accounted for – even meds which are dropped or ordered but not administered for some reason.
Any controlled substance that goes out of the hospital is logged with us, but also with the state of North Carolina’s website for controlled substances. Before we send drugs home, we must also see the client’s driver’s license.
Recently we have installed a new medicine cabinet that has made us even safer. It has a touch screen, and all the log entries are made via computer before the drawers open. It has an added protection of fingerprint entry.
At Town N Country, we’re committed to keeping pets and pet families safe. We have to ensure there is no abuse or theft of drugs at the hospital, and that the controlled substances that we send home with a patient are used only for that pet.
This allows us to provide necessary medical treatments to animals while contributing to the broader effort of preventing drug abuse and ensuring public safety. If you have concerns about the questions we ask you, about the necessity of showing ID, or about any of our drug protocols, ask us. We’re always here to answer your questions about your pet – and about you!
