Don’t Let Meds Be Ruff! How Compounding Makes Medicine Pet-Friendly

What Is Veterinary Compounding?

As pet owners and veterinarians are aware, medicating animals isn’t always simple. From finicky felines to anxious dogs, not all animals respond well to standard, commercially available medications.That’s where we come in!

Veterinary compounding is both a science and an art of preparing customized medications for animals. It involves altering and combining ingredients to fit the unique needs of your pet when a commercial product is not available or suitable for them.

Compounding must always be done by a licensed pharmacist based on a veterinarian’s prescription, and it can include:

• Changing the form of a medication (e.g., turning a pill into a flavoured liquid)

• Adjusting the dose to match an animal’s weight or condition

• Removing allergens or non-essential ingredients

• Adding pet-friendly flavours (e.g., tuna, chicken)

Veterinary compounding bridges the gap between what a pet needs and what’s commercially available.

Why Is Veterinary Compounding Important?

1. Pets Aren’t Just Small Humans

Human medications don’t always translate well to animals. Pets differ widely in species, size, metabolism, and sensitivity. Compounding allows pharmacists to tailor medications, whether it's a 1,200-lb horse, a 10-lb cat, or a 2-lb parrot.

2. Commercial Medications Don’t Work for Every Pet

Some pets:

• Refuse pills

• Need dosages that don’t exist in commercial forms

• Suffer side effects from standard drugs

• Have allergies to fillers or dyes

In these cases, compounded medications offer an effective and personalized alternative.

3. Improves Medication Compliance

Pets can’t tell us when something tastes bad, they just refuse to take it. Compounding pharmacists can flavour medications with pet-approved tastes (think: chicken broth, liver, peanut butter) or if possible, convert them into easy-to-administer chews, transdermal gels, or liquids. When medication is easier to give, pets get better faster.

When Is Veterinary Compounding Used?

Some reasons why veterinarians might prescribe compounded medications include:

• A pet needs a custom dose based on their weight

• A commercial product is too difficult to administer

• An animal needs a combination of medications in one dosage

• A medication is only available in a form unsuitable for that species

• A specific strength or concentration isn’t available commercially

Ready to Learn More or Have Questions?

If your pet has medication needs — or if you’re a veterinarian looking for a trusted pharmacy partner — we’re here to help.

Contact us today to speak with a pharmacist or learn more about how veterinary compounding can help your furry (or feathered!) family members.

📧 Email: info@vetmeds.ca
☎️ Phone: (416)-423-6223