HELPING IDAHO MEET HEALTH AND WELLNESS GOALS THROUGH
PERSONALIZED MEDICINE AND EDUCATION

Compounding for
Veterinary Patients
Unique Conditions, Preferences, and Toxicities
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Animals come in all shapes and sizes so they have a true need for the customized dosing and delivery vehicles. Compounding allows veterinarians and pharmacists to work together with owners and their pets to create unique compounded medicine to suit their individual needs. Weight-based dosing, flavor preferences, and ingredient sensitivities are a few examples of how compounding can provide customized flexibility for different species. Something as simple as appropriate flavoring can greatly improve palatability and assist owners with administering needed medications to their pets. Just as flavor preferences can differ among species, ingredient sensitivities vary greatly as well.
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Did you know that xylitol, a common sweetener in gum and human medicine, is toxic to dogs?
Did you know that benzoic acid derivatives, commonly used preservatives in human medicine, are toxic to cats?
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Veterinary compounding is a very specialized field that requires additional training, unique equipment, and chemicals not found in traditional pharmacies. Compounding pharmacists must be knowledgeable regarding anatomical, physiological and toxicological differences when formulating preparations for different species. Skip ahead to learn more about the importance of veterinary pharmacy education.​
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Conditions With Compounding Opportunities
These are some of the most common disease states and conditions in canine and feline patients:​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Common Canine Conditions:
Behavioral Issues
Anxiety
Seizures
Otitis
Lick Granulomas
Atopic Dermatitis
Motion Sickness | Nausea
Cardiovascular Issues
Common Feline Conditions:
Hyperthyroidism
Behavioral Issues
Sedation
Anxiety
Gastrointestinal Issues
Cardiovascular Issues
Chronic Renal Failure
Urine Spraying Behavior
Veterinary compounding can offer innovative solutions to deliver medications for these conditions and many others. We may be able to combine multiple medications together in one easy-to-use preparation or create a novel delivery system such as a transdermal cream that can be rubbed into your pet's ear. This allows the medication to be absorbed into the bloodstream through the vasculature in the ear without the animal having to taste the medication, which can be ideal for many drugs with poor palatability. Depending on what medication is needed, there are often many delivery options to meet veterinary needs. Reach out to us today to discuss better medication options for pets and we can happily reach out to your veterinarian as well!
Commonly Used
Veterinary Dosage Forms
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Flavored Oral Suspensions
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Flavored Chewable Treats
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Transdermal Gels
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Tiny Capsules
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Suppositories
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Thermoreversable, Bioadhesive Gels
Education and Experience to Provide Exceptional Care
Did you know that pharmacists are the ONLY healthcare professionals legally permitted to provide pharmacy care, compounds, and products for ALL species, not just humans?
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Additionally, there is a surprising deficit of veterinary pharmacotherapy education currently available in pharmacy school core curriculums. Some programs offer elective options but post-graduate training on veterinary pharmacy is not a requirement to dispense veterinary medicine at this time. For this reason, pharmacists must undertake self-study programs to learn more about unique anatomical, physiological and genetic susceptibilities for toxicities in veterinary patients. Pharmacists are also often the last line of defense in recognizing and preventing animal poisoning from dispensed prescription products and over-the-counter products selected by owners. It is extremely important to work with a knowledgeable compounding pharmacist who has completed additional veterinary pharmacotherapy training to ensure your animals receive proper care.
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Dr. Madison Peach-Keen began her career teaching PCCA's Veterinary Compounding course for pharmacy students. Course content included anatomy, physiology, toxicology, and compounding opportunities for a variety of species including dogs, cats, horses, birds, reptiles, ferrets, and rabbits. With this foundational knowledge, Dr. Madison transitioned into compounding pharmacy practice to work more closely with veterinarians, owners, and their animal patients. She attends regular veterinary pharmacy educational events to stay up-to-date on current veterinary medicine and compounding opportunities. She is also extremely passionate about spreading education to other pharmacists, veterinarians, and owners to raise the bar for veterinary pharmacy care.



