If so, you know giving medicine to animals can be a real challenge! Animals often have variations of the same diseases’ humans can have, including skin rashes, eye and ear infections, heart conditions, cancer, and diabetes.  Medicating pets presents unique problems that often are best dealt with through compounding.

As any pet owner is well aware, animals can be extremely difficult to treat with medications.  Cats are notorious for refusing to swallow pills, and usually will eat right around one disguised in food.  Dosages can be very tricky with dogs- a dose of medication that works for an 80-pound Golden Retriever may be far too much for a 6-pound Yorkie to handle.  Large and exotic pets, such as horses, rabbits, birds, ferrets, and reptiles, pose many unique medication challenges.  Hazle Compounding’s specialty compounding pharmacists are equipped to help them all.

The pet who refuses to take medications because of the taste is a prime opportunity for compounding.  Cats don’t like pills, but they do like tuna.  Dogs don’t appreciate a traditional solution of medication being squirted into their mouth, but they’ll take it gladly when it’s flavored with meat or part of a tasty treat.  Birds cannot take large volumes of liquid medication, but they will accept a small dose of a tasty, fruit-flavored, concentrated solution.

Just like their owners, animals are individual and unique.  They come in different shapes and sizes, and may be sensitive to ingredients like lactose.  As a result, not all commercially available medicines are appropriate for every pet.  That’s where compounding is especially helpful.  In this situation, your veterinarian can prescribe a flavored liquid, treat, or other dosage form with the amount of medication that is exactly right for your pet’s size and condition.

From time to time, a manufacturer may discontinue a veterinary medication.  Often this is because it is not needed in the vast quantities necessary to make mass production cost effective, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t still some pets that need it.  When that medication has worked well for animals, Hazle Compounding’s nationally recognized specialty compounding pharmacists can prepare a prescription for the discontinued product and tailor the strength, dosage form, and flavor to that pet’s specific needs.

As a pet owner, you want your pet to receive the highest-quality veterinary care.  You want them to have treatment as sophisticated and compassionate as you might receive yourself.  You’re not alone.  Today’s veterinarians realize that pet owners are very knowledgeable, and expect a more advanced level of care.

For more information regarding veterinary compounding, please contact one of Hazle Compounding’s nationally recognized compounding pharmacists at 570-454-2958.  Your pets are special, why not give them customized care

Bill Spear, R.Ph., CCN is a Compounding Pharmacist and Certified Clinical Nutritionist. He is available for personal nutritional consultations at                                                                     Hazle Drugs, 1 Broad St., Hazleton, Pa. 18201. (570) 454-2476