The Growth of Compounding Pharmacies in Veterinary Medicine

Whether your pet wears fur, feathers or scales, there's a good chance it will become ill at some point in its life. Whatever the cause, this will often require a visit to the veterinarian, who may need you to administer follow-up treatment or medication. This may prove to be more difficult than pronouncing the name of the ailment, since many pet owners can attest to the perils of administering medication to a sick or injured animal. By using a compounding pharmacy, owners can have custom made prescriptions filled based on their pet's individual needs, including knowledge of any allergies or dietary restrictions.

There are several reasons why veterinarians utilize the services of compounding pharmacies. Although there are many pharmaceutical companies that produce veterinary medications, large manufacturers are unable to take the variables of individual animals into account. Mass produced medications are created in one-size-fits-all formulations, whereas a compounding pharmacy is able to combine appropriate ingredients to develop medications tailored for specific patients.

If your pet has a sensitive stomach, or is allergic to certain fillers or additives, these compounding pharmacies can remove them to ensure Fido gets the meds he needs without the extras that could make him sick. These facilities can also often mix needed ingredients into various forms and flavors, making the medication process easier on both animal and owner. For example, expecting a cat or dog to cooperate in swallowing a foul-tasting pill, necessary for their pain management, can be an exercise in frustration for both parties. When the same medication can incorporate a delicious chicken flavoring that will be ingested with gusto, frustrations disappear.

Other reasons to have drugs tailored to individual cuddly patients include dosage amounts. Due to differences in metabolism and temperament, even animals of the same breed could require different dosages and forms of delivery. A compounding pharmacy can create the exact amounts that any individual animal might require at any given time. Additionally, the same preparation can often be delivered in a variety of forms; a choice of drops, chewable tablets, creams or transdermal gels might be more efficacious in your particular case. Each of our pets has its own needs and temperament, so a discussion with your veterinarian will soon reveal the best treatment for your furry friend.

Although specially compounded formulas are more expensive than those that are mass produced, the savings in waste, time and energy expended when trying to administer a distasteful treatment to a reluctant animal is well worth it. Additionally, adding flavoring to make the delivery of the medication easier is minimal, usually about five dollars per prescription.

More veterinarians are turning to compounding pharmacies because they often carry medicinal ingredients that are no longer available from the large companies and are more amenable to catering to the needs of diverse animals. Recognizing these differences makes the compounding pharmacy a valuable friend to both pets and their human buddies.

If you need a compounding pharmacy in Los Angeles to fill your pet's medications, internet marketing strategist Stephen Daniels recommends Advanced Compounding Pharmacy. They offer many options for man's best friend, and can work with your vet to prepare customized prescriptions.