TID, tid, t.i.d. and T.I.D. all are abbreviations for the Latin words ter in die, meaning three times in a day. These abbreviations are commonly used on prescription pads when a medication is given on a schedule with an 8 hours between doses.
Currently, few medications are used on this interval. Experience has shown that compliance with medicine instructions is inversely proportional to frequency of administration. Erythromycin, for example, is an excellent, inexpensive, broad-spectrum antibiotic that is rarely used anymore because it must be administered every eight hours in dogs.
Pet owners who work eight or more hours in a day often have difficulty keeping a TID schedule. Some medications for some pets may be suitable for a modification of the schedule. You must check with your pet’s doctor before making this modifiction, but if he approves, give it a try:
- give your first dose the very last thing before you leave for work,
- give the second dose of the day as soon as you (or another family member) gets home. For example, if the children arrive home from school before you’re off work, teach them how to administer the medicine.
- give the last dose of the day just before bedtime.
This schedule won’t necessarily give you an 8-hour interval, but for many situations it is close enough.
See you tomorrow, Dr. Randolph.
MMTID
