Veterinary Compounding

Compounding, or the preparation of customized medications, is an increasingly popular solution to veterinary patient and human patient problems. When it comes to things like skin rashes, eye and ear infections, heart conditions, cancer, and diabetes, animals and humans have a lot in common. But giving pets medication presents a unique set of challenges that can often be addressed through compounding.

Problem, Meet Solution

Cats are notorious for refusing to swallow pills (you probably have the scratches to prove it), and they’ll usually eat right around one disguised in food. Administration can be equally tricky with dogs — a dose of medication that is therapeutic for an 80-pound Golden Retriever could be deadly for a six-pound Yorkie. Large and exotic pets, such as horses, rabbits, birds, ferrets and reptiles, all pose a variety of different medication challenges, too. But the solution is often the same for them all: veterinary compounding.

In Good Taste

Compounding is ideal for pets that won’t take medication because of the taste. Cats don’t like pills, but they do like tuna. Dogs aren’t wild about medication being squirted into their mouths, but they’ll take it gladly when it’s meat-flavored or part of a tasty biscuit or treat. Birds can’t take large volumes of liquid medication, but they’ll open wide for a small dose of a tasty, fruit-flavored, concentrated solution.

Just like their owners, pets are unique. They come in all shapes and sizes.

A compounding pharmacist can work closely with your vet to prepare medicines in easy-to-give, flavored dosage forms that pets of all kinds will happily devour.

Right-Sizing

Just like their owners, pets are unique. They come in all shapes and sizes, and may be sensitive to ingredients like lactose. It makes sense that commercially available medicines aren’t always appropriate for each and every pet. But with compounding, your veterinarian can prescribe a treat, liquid or other dosage form with the exact ingredients, flavor and dose that’s right for your pet.

To Be Continued

Sometimes, manufacturers discontinue a veterinary medication because there’s not enough demand to make mass production cost effective. But that does not mean there aren’t still pets that need it. When a medication that has worked well for your pet isn’t commercially available, a compounding pharmacist can prepare a prescription and tailor the strength, dosage form, and flavor to meet your pet’s specific needs.