Veterinary Compounding

Pets are members of the family, and you want them to have medical treatment as attentive and innovative as you expect for yourself. Today's veterinarians understand this, and many rely on compounding as a way to provide that level of care. Dr. How is a Fellow of the American College of Veterinary Pharmacists, and animal health is a field of fundamental importance to us.

Your pet needs a flavored medication

Animals know the medicine you're trying to give them tastes bad. They don't understand that it's actually good for them. Owners tell us their pets are so clever they run away the minute they hear the refrigerator the medication is stored in being opened.

We can work with you and your pet to flavor medications so that your pet will take them — and in many cases owners tell us their cats come running when the refrigerator door opens, because they love their medicine. Examples of flavors include fish for cats, beef or chicken for dogs, and banana and other fruit flavors for birds.

A certain size, strength or form

Commercial animal medications may be available in only one size or strength. One tablet may be too large to give to a cat, while a large dog may need several tablets to reach the correct dose. We can create a preparation containing the most appropriate dose for each animal.

Transdermal medication — a real alternative

Transdermal application lets owners give medication non-invasively, and it works particularly well for cats. A measured amount of a specially prepared gel — usually 0.1 ml, about half the size of a pea — is applied to a hairless area inside the tip of the ear, and the gel allows the drug to be absorbed through the skin. The procedure is painless, tasteless and simple; your pet may not even know they're being medicated. That means better compliance and far less owner frustration. Not every medication is suitable for transdermal administration, and our experience can help you weigh the pharmacologic and bioavailability considerations first.

Medications that aren't commercially available

Often an animal needs a medication that drug companies simply don't manufacture — a veterinary formulation is unavailable and, for one reason or another, the human preparation won't do. We can obtain pharmaceutical-grade materials and use them to compound an individualized dosage form based on the patient's needs.

Preparations we regularly carry

• Methimazole (Tapazole) in liquids, capsules, gels and chews
• Amitriptyline liquids, transdermal gel or capsules
• Tramadol capsules and liquids
• Itraconazole preparations
• Potassium bromide liquid and capsules
• Fluoxetine capsules or liquid
• Piroxicam capsules or liquid
• Phenylpropanolamine capsules
• Benazepril liquid, capsules or gel
• Metronidazole, flavored so that even a cat will take it
• Cyclosporine ophthalmic drops or ointment
• Tacrolimus ophthalmic drops or ointment
• Meloxicam capsules and veterinary treats
• Cisapride liquid or chews
• Tylosin capsules in various strengths
• Clindamycin phosphate, better tasting than the HCl salt
• Clobetasol 0.05% dermal spray

Sterile injectables and ophthalmics

Triumph Pharmacy prepares sterile and ophthalmic veterinary medications as well. All sterile products are prepared in a sterile IV lab as required by USP <797>. Weighing and manipulation of ingredients occurs in a separate clean-air area, separated from the sterile manipulation area by a barrier and positive pressure.