After creating a prescription label, what two things do you need to check to confirm you have grabbed the correct container of medication?

• A. Read the container label and confirm the drug and strength against the label you've created.
• B. Check the expiration date only.
• C. Inspect the bottle color and cap type.
• D. Compare the bottle size to the label.

Answer: (A)

You verify that the medication is the correct drug and has the correct strength by comparing the container’s label to the prescription label you created. This two-part check ensures the product name matches what was ordered and the potency or dosage strength matches what you’re supposed to dispense. It helps prevent giving the wrong medication or an incorrect dose, which could harm the animal.

While important for safety in general, expiration dates don’t tell you you’ve grabbed the right drug, and bottle color, cap type, or even size can vary between products or look alike, so they aren’t reliable alone for confirming identity.