When your pets fall ill or are recovering from surgery, they’ll often require a prescription medication. Health issues can be extremely complex, however, and each pet is different, which is why the pharmacy may make a few adjustments. Known as veterinary compounding, this service ensures that your pet will receive the best care and get optimal results from the treatment.

An Overview of Veterinary Compounding for Pet Owners 

What Is It?

Veterinary compounding is when a pharmacist decides to alter a prescribed FDA-approved medication to best meet the health needs of a pet. This can range from combining drugs to mashing them into a flavored paste so they’re easier for your dog to take. This process only includes drugs that are already manufactured; a pharmacy cannot combine raw compounds to formulate something new, per FDA guidelines.

What Are Common Examples?

Many medications are compounded so that they can be administered more easily. If a pet has had an oral injury or surgery, they may have difficulty swallowing medication; as a solution, a pharmacy may create a dissolving paste or injection that’s easier to administer. Likewise, for pets that require multiple shots but are skittish, a pharmacist and veterinarian may combine solutions into a single injection. Pets may also be unwilling to take pills for heartworms or infections, in which case a pharmacist may flavor the medication to make it more appealing.

How Can a Pharmacist Help?

To get the most from your pharmacist, explain any previous issues with medication that your pet has experienced. Share these with the prescribing veterinarian also, as they often advise the pharmacist on veterinary compounding. Provide feedback as well, keeping your pet’s needs and habits in mind. This way, you’ll get the best possible option for treatment.

To explore veterinary compounding further, speak with the pharmacists at Pack Pharmacy. They’ve served Cincinnati, OH, since 1949, and are committed to creating a seamless refill and pickup process for their customers. Call (513) 871-7770 to refill a prescription or visit their website to learn more about their drugstore.