This article is part two of a series on compounded pet medications. You can read part one here.
If you’re like many pet owners, you consider your four-legged friend a beloved member of the family. Whether you have a dog bed in every room of the house, concoct gourmet meals for your cat, or take your rabbit for strolls around the neighborhood, your pet’s comfort and care are top priorities in your life. Despite your best efforts to anticipate their needs, the language barrier between species can be an issue. Since our pets can’t tell us when they’re feeling ill, regular visits to the veterinarian are critical in maintaining their health.
When a pet is diagnosed with a medical condition like heart disease, diabetes, or cancer, taking daily medications is often a part of their treatment. Unfortunately, getting a finicky senior feline to take multiple large pills is not always an easy task. Some cats treat medication time like a game of hide-and-seek, while others spit their pills out or refuse to take them in the first place.
It’s essential to communicate any medication challenges or concerns with your pet’s veterinarian. An option they may recommend is having the medication compounded into a flavored liquid, flavored tablet, or transdermal preparation by a pharmacy like Best Pet Rx. Changing a pill into the right animal-friendly formulation can make managing long-term medical conditions easier for both pets and the people who care for them.
Although many pharmacies offer compounded medications for humans, few cater exclusively to pets. Reputable veterinary pharmacies have experience medicating different animal species and understand how their preferences vary. For example, flavor and formulation options that work well for a dog may not be suitable for a cat – much less a guinea pig. Even within the same species, one cat may enjoy savory flavors, while another has a sweet tooth! Since pets can’t tell us what they like, finding the right flavor or formulation may require trial and error.
A crucial consideration with compounded pet medications is ensuring all ingredients are safe for animals to ingest. Artificial sweeteners like Xylitol are common in flavored medications for humans; however, Xylitol can be fatal when consumed by dogs. Flavor selections should also be carefully considered when medicating pets on hypoallergenic diets. Some flavors, like chicken and beef, can contain animal proteins which are potential allergens for pets on limited-ingredient diets.
As a pharmacy dedicated to pets, all of the 20+ flavors utilized by Best Pet Rx are hypoallergenic and free from animal proteins. We also offer safe, sugar-free options for diabetic pets. With multiple formulations to choose from, our pharmacy is equipped to meet each pet’s unique needs and preferences. We even provide free flavor swaps on compounded medications!
For over 15 years, our flagship pharmacy in Manhattan has helped pets across the country feel better with custom compounded medications made just for them. We are excited to announce the opening of our new location in Manassas, coming to NoVA in June 2021!
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