OkcPets Magazine March 2021

40 OKC Pets • March/April 2021 What’s a Compounding Pharmacy? WRITTEN BY: Kyle T. Panter, PharmD, Innovative Pharmacy Solutions “What’s a compounding pharma- cy, and what does a compounding pharmacist do?” It’s a very common question I receive all the time. Simply stated, compounding is the blending of two or more ingredients into a single dosage form. It harkens back to the early days of pharma- cy—thousands of years ago—whereby medications were hand-prepared by a local pharmacist to fulfill the intended purpose of a physician. If you think about it, compounding was the norm in America until the mid-‘50s when drug manufacturers entered the scene. Since that time, compounding has slowly dwindled, but it is making a resurgence. Why would a person—or a pet—need a compounded medication? Many patients have unique health needs which cannot be adequately met by manufactured medications. In the realm of pets, the exact dosage required is most likely not available from a manufactured medication. For example, imagine a ferret and an elephant need the same medication. Obviously, the ferret’s dose is going to be infinitely smaller than the elephant’s. Manufacturers do not account for such a wide range of doses when they make medications. Compounding pharmacists can make this medication for both the ferret and the elephant in the proper dosage they require. Other advantages of compounding include taste. Animals have unique di- ets and taste preferences which manu- facturers often overlook. Compounders can make medications in a flavor that would be desirable to your pet. Compounders can also change the dosage form into one that would be easier to administer. So, if a particular drug was extremely bitter, a com- pounder could make the same drug into a topical dosage form that could easily be rubbed onto the inner, hairless part of your pet’s ear; he or she would absorb the drug that way rather than putting up a fight to take it by mouth. Should you have any questions about your pets and their medicine, please do not hesitate to contact me at Innovative Pharmacy Solutions. Call (405) 330-3619. SERVICES • Acupuncture • Chiropractic • Dental • Vaccinations • Traditional Western Medicine • Digital X-Rays • Therapeutic Laser • Holistic Medicine • Spays and Neuters • Young Living Essential Oils Kimberly Weiss, DVM 1916 NW 39th St – OKC (405) 525-2255 clinic@healinghandsvetcenter.com We also treat birds, pocket pets and exotics