Being a pet owner has its ups and downs. Our animal companions add so much to our lives, but whenever they get sick, the experience is often overwhelming for everyone involved.
In reality, treating animals is not a simple task, especially if your pet has unique needs that must be accounted for. Commercially available medications rarely cater to the variety of requirements and sensitivities that different species have. And then you must consider that administering medication to pets is a whole other ordeal in itself.
Understanding Veterinary & Animal Compounding
Veterinary & Animal Compounding is the practice of preparing customised medications tailored specifically for pets. Instead of relying on standard dosages and formulations created primarily for humans, compounding pharmacies work directly with veterinarians to develop medications that are suited to each individual animal.
At its core, compounding ensures your pet receives medication that is safe and effective. Is this personalised approach overkill for veterinary medicine? If anything, it’s the opposite.
Pets have always required a more specific approach to treatment. Not only are animals often sensitive to ingredients that would otherwise be harmless for humans, but they are also more susceptible to the side effects of poorly calibrated medicine, due to their physiology. As a result, the importance of proper treatment cannot be understated. Compounding is an opportunity to customise several aspects of a treatment plan, so that the risks are severely diminished.
When Does Your Pet Need Compounded Medication?
Pets, like humans, can have complex health conditions or unique medical needs. Here are some common situations where veterinary compounding proves beneficial:
- Allergies or Sensitivities: Commercial medications may contain additives or preservatives that pets are sensitive or allergic to. Funny enough, pets rarely have issues with the active ingredients that humans use, if they are appropriately dosed. However, the excipients are another story. For example, the sweetener Xylitol is a common and harmless ingredient for humans, but it’s actually toxic for pets, especially dogs. Compounding removes these harmful additives, making medication accessible and safe for sensitive species.
- Chronic or Complex Conditions: Pets suffering from conditions like chronic pain, kidney disease, thyroid issues, or anxiety often require precise dosing and tailored formulations to manage their conditions safely and effectively.
- Difficulty Swallowing Pills: Many pets owners know the struggle of pill administration. Customised medication forms can help ease the stress of treatment.
Benefits of Compounding for your Pet
Precise Dosage Control
Standard medications come in predetermined strengths. When these fixed dosages don’t align with an animal’s weight or specific medical needs, the flexibility of compounding becomes essential. By adjusting dosages precisely, a pharmacist can effectively reduce the risks of over- or under-dosing. For instance, Meloxicam, an anti-inflammatory drug, can be precisely dosed and tailored for smaller breeds that require lower doses. These breeds would be at much greater risk if forced to take standard doses, or imprecise, DIY attempts at dosage customisation.
Easier Administration
Giving medication to a reluctant pet is a genuine struggle, and sometimes this struggle is a daily occurrence. There’s always a high chance that these frustrating battles will lead to missed dosages and incorrect treatment.
Compounded medications offer various potential adjustments to suit your pet's preferences. Not only will this spare you from endless frustration, but it can also play an important role in maintaining medication adherence. As with humans, proper adherence is strongly linked to the likelihood of better health outcomes in veterinary treatment:
- Flavoured Liquids: Easily administered directly or mixed with food. Flavours like chicken, beef, or tuna encourage pets to willingly take their medications.
- Topical Gels and Creams: Applying medication directly to the skin or inner ear can be an alternative for pets resistant to oral medications. There can also be advantages to applying treatment locally, and it avoids any gastrointestinal side effects.
- Prefilled Syringes: For chronic conditions needing regular, precise dosing, convenient and accurate dosages are a valuable option.
- Suppositories: Useful in situations where oral medication isn't practical, such as severe nausea or refusal to eat.
Customised Flavours
The taste of medication significantly affects treatment compliance, and pets can be very picky when it comes to flavours. Luckily, compounded medications can be flavoured specifically to your pet’s preferences, reducing stress for you and your pet. Popular flavours include chicken, beef, tuna, and even fruit flavours for certain species.
Adjustments for Species-Specific Needs
Different species have unique metabolic rates and sensitivities to medications. Veterinary compounding takes these factors into account, creating formulations that match the specific needs and characteristics of your pet's species. For example, the dosage and formulation for a cat would differ significantly from that of a large dog. Having a treatment formulated by someone who is trained to understand and account for these differences can provide valuable peace of mind.
What About Safety?
Safety is paramount when it comes to compounded medications. So, how exactly do compounding pharmacists ensure the safety of your pet?
Licensed veterinary compounding pharmacists will collaborate closely with veterinarians. This combined expertise helps ensure that each medication meets stringent quality standards, dosage accuracy, and suitability for animal use.
Furthermore, compounded medications are prepared using pharmaceutical-grade ingredients in specialised compounding facilities that adhere to strict protocols. This applies to all compounding fields, and veterinary compounding is no exception.
Similarly, pharmacies performing veterinary compounding are subject to regular oversight to maintain high standards. When reputable compounding pharmacies comply with these regulations, custom medications remain consistent and safe.
Choosing a Veterinary Compounding Pharmacy
It’s worth noting that the above safety measures might not be equally adhered to across all compounding providers. Therefore, some research into the reputation and credentials of your compounding pharmacy is always recommended. We’ve written our own Guide to Finding a Reliable Compounding Pharmacy for Your Pet which details all the considerations that need to be made when selecting a veterinary compounding pharmacy. But for the sake of this article, we’ve selected three aspects that believe are essential to consider:
- Pharmacy Credentials: Ensure the pharmacy employs pharmacists specially trained in compounding and look for specific certification regarding veterinary compounding.
- Ingredient Quality: Pharmacies should source pharmaceutical-grade ingredients to ensure medication purity and efficacy. For example, at Zenith Pharmacy, we make sure all our ingredients are sourced from GMP facilities.
- Communication and Collaboration: A reputable pharmacy maintains open communication with you across the entire process. That means providing guidance, addressing concerns, and ensuring clear dosage instructions once the medication has been completed. As with any personalised service, proper communication is essential for maximising the benefits of compounding.
It's also beneficial to look for a pharmacy with a track record of experience and positive testimonials from other pet owners and veterinary professionals.
Next Steps
At the end of the day, veterinary compounding is about providing safer, more effective care tailored precisely to your pet’s unique health requirements. The numerous ways that us pharmacists can customise your treatment (aka. adjusting medication forms, strengths, and flavours) are all aimed at enhancing treatment compliance and effectiveness. Ultimately, improving your pet’s quality of life through personalised care is the goal.
At Zenith Pharmacy, we’re dedicated to working alongside veterinarians to ensure your beloved pets receive the compassionate care they deserve. If you have been struggling with standard medications for your animal, feel free to reach out to us or consult your veterinarian.
Ready to explore tailored treatment options for your pet? Contact Zenith Pharmacy today for expert advice and personalised medication solutions.
Written By
Zen Xiao
