Veterinary Compounding
What is it?
Veterinary compounding is a specialized pharmacy practice allowing veterinarians to prescribe uniquely formulated medications to provide the personalized care their patients deserve.
Whether we are treating an animal weighing 2 pounds or 1200 pounds, Inclusive Care Clinic Pharmacy can provide you with the dose, dosage form, and custom flavor to meet the needs of your unique veterinary patient.
Why?
Here are some of the reasons why veterinary drugs are compounded:
To create a medication that has been discontinued or is no longer commercially produced
To mix one or more drugs together for easier administration
To customize the strength of the medication
To change the drug’s route of administration
The most common forms of compounded drugs used in veterinary medicine include transdermal gels, capsules, flavored suspensions (oral liquids), tablets and medicated chew treats.
FAQs:
Are Compounded Drugs FDA-Approved?
Compounded medications are not FDA-approved.
They’re created by a licensed pharmacist who has received a prescription from the veterinarian on an individual basis to best suit a patient’s particular needs.
Compounded drugs are offered by prescription only and must be filled by a pharmacist or veterinarian. They are not the same as generic drugs, which are FDA-approved.
Why Do Some Pets Need Medications from a Compounding Pharmacy?
Compounded medications are prescribed if there’s a specific reason your pet’s health can’t be managed by an FDA-approved drug, such as:
If your pet has trouble taking pills in capsule or tablet form
The dosage strength is not commercially available
Your pet is allergic to an ingredient in the FDA-approved medication
For example, your cat may need a daily pill to treat hyperthyroidism but rejects tablets that are hidden in their food or given by mouth. We can create a formulation that is rubbed into the inside of the ear and absorbed transdermally.
Or perhaps your dog requires anti-seizure medication, but their required dose isn’t available in tablet form. We can customize a medication into specific doses and formulations that are easier to administer.
What Kinds of Compounded Medications Do Pets Use?
The most common forms of compounded drugs used in veterinary medicine include transdermal gels, capsules, flavored suspensions (oral liquids), and chewable treats!
What Flavorings Can Be Added to Compounded Pet Medications?
Popular flavorings used in oral liquids for pets include beef, chicken pot pie, tuna, and apple. We even carry marshmallow flavoring for the discerning feline.
What Are Some Examples of Compounded Medications for Pets?
Methimazole for cats with hyperthyroidism – we typically make this as a transdermal gel applied to the inside of the ear. This works well and keeps the medication off the owner’s hands.
Combination treats containing pimobendan, spironolactone, furosemide, and enalapril
Extended-release injectable buprenorphine for 72-hour post-procedural pain control
Enrofloxacin/Ketoconazole/Triamcinolone combination emulsion for ear infections