A veterinary pharmacy that specializes in compounding can be a beneficial partner in animal health care. Working in collaboration with veterinarian and animal owner, a compounding pharmacist can, by prescription, produce tailor-made pharmaceuticals to heighten compliance when the patient cannot or will not take the commercially available form of the medication of choice. A few examples of compounding services include adjusting strength to fit patient size or to ensure accurate dosing, eliminating allergens or irritants among the inactive ingredients, and enhancing palatability. The right veterinary pharmacy will determine the patient’s individual needs and compound a drug intended to promote the desired health care outcome.

Animal patients come in all sizes, ranging from pocket pets and small birds to horses and elephants. But commercially available pharmaceuticals only come in a few strengths. Sometimes veterinary patients need a customized dose to suit their needs. This is particularly important if the animal’s owner or caretaker is trying to divide an unscored tablet or “guesstimate” the amount of liquid medication that will yield the proper dose.

When an animal has an adverse reaction to an inactive ingredient in the commercially available pharmaceutical of choice, a veterinary compounding pharmacist might be able to reformulate the drug. Animals can experience allergic reactions, and some ingredients might be irritating for veterinary patients. One example that comes to mind is a dog with a localized skin rash. The prescribed commercially available topical cream contained an inactive ingredient that further irritated the condition. Reformulation to eliminate that one particular ingredient, via substitution with another inactive agent, resulted in a medication that was reportedly non-irritating.

Have you tried to pill a cat or give an animal a foul-tasting medication? Quite the challenge, isn’t it? A compounding pharmacy can prepare flavored pharmaceuticals that may please the palate of the finickiest patients. Such compounds might save animal owners and pet parents time and money – the extra time that it takes to dose the patient and the money wasted when the dose goes flying through the air to destination unknown. Palatable compounds might also promote proper dosing, desired health care outcomes, and less anxiety for patient and caretaker.

The right veterinary pharmacy will be able to work in collaboration with veterinarians and animal owners when pharmaceutical compliance issues arise, to formulate a tailor-made medication intended to promote the desired health care outcome. Whether an animal needs a customized dose, a drug free of allergens and irritants, a flavored preparation, or another customized pharmaceutical, compounding specialists can provide individualized therapies by prescription.  Since 1995 Monument Pharmacy has been a trusted compounding veterinary pharmacy, serving patients in 22 states with integrity, professionalism, and regulatory compliance.