Compounding liquids for veterinary use often focusses on concentrating the medication and ensuring that the dose is measurable.
- Canine -- Dogs typically exhibit a preference for fixed oils (such as vegetable oils), so that medications may be suspended or dissolved in such a vehicle. The drug may be flavoured with 3-5% chicken, beef, liver, or cheese flavours. Many dogs also enjoy sweet flavours, so that saccharin or some other sweetener (
Avian -- Birds typically require small drops, so the drug must be very concentrated and, typically, sweet.
Livestock -- As noted above, pastes are often used in dosing large animals. These may be prepared using an anhydrous polyethylene base, flavoured to improve palatability. Alternatively, the medication may be incorporated as a feed with 47% sugar and 3% dry apple powder flavour.
- Solid dosages forms may be prepared for use in small or large animals as a flavoured troche or biscuit, to be used as a "treat" for the animal. Troches are prepared as they are for humans. Biscuits may be prepared by incorporating the drug into a dough of
If a pet (dog or cat) will not take medication by any other means, some veterinarians and pharmacists have been successful in formulating a paste that is placed on the animals paws. The animal does not like to have dirty paws and will consequently lick the paste off, thereby providing an oral dosage route.
- Suspensions -- Suspensions are prepared as they would be for human medicine. Common suspending agents include micronised
- Sweetening agents most often used are 0.05% saccharin or 0.1% stevia powder extract. Sweeting agents will often be employed to mask the bitter flavour of the drug.
Many species show a marked preference for specific flavours. Flavours that have proven useful in veterinary practice are summarised in the following table:
Canine | liver, beef, chicken, cheese, artificial chocolate, peanut butter, malt, molasses, cod liver oil, raspberry, strawberry, marshmallow |
Feline | fish, tuna, sardine, salmon, cod liver oil, beef, liver, chicken, molasses, peanut butter, butterscotch, cheese |
Avian | tutti frutti, pina colada, tangerine, grape, orange, banana, raspberry, millet |
Equine | apple, apple/caramel, caramel, cherry, alfalfa, clover, sweets |
Bovine | eggnog, anise, alfalfa, maple, molasses, clover |
Porcine | anis, anisette, cherry, sarsparilla, licorice |
Caprine | molasses, apple, caramel |
Poultry | watermelon, vanilla, butternut, corn, milk |
Reptiles | lemon custard, banana cream |
Iguanas | cantaloupe, kiwi, orange, watermelon, banana |
Rodents | lemon custard, banana cream |
Ferrets | chocolate, peanut butter, fish, beef, fruits, molasses |
Gerbils | orange, peach, tutti-frutti |
Guinea Pig | celery, pumpkin |
Rabbit | carrot, celery, lettuce, banana cream, vanilla, butternut, pineapple |
Chinchilla | banana |
Ratites | Bright colours: yellow (emus) and green (ostrich). Flavours (emus): watermelon, kiwi, honey, cantaloupe, strawberry |
Primates | banana, raspberry, apricot, orange, peach, chocolate |
Armadillo | liver, beef, canned dog food |
Elephant | apple |
Tiger | liver, beef, chicken |
Zebra | apple |
Flavours that are available for compounding include the following (OS/OM and WS/WM refer to oil or water and soluble or miscible): apple powder WM, apple-ade liquid WM, beef liquid OS, beef liquid WM, cheese liquid OM, cheese liquid WM, chicken liquid WM, chicken liquid OS, chicken-herbs & spice liquid WS, fish liqiud OS, liver liquid OM, liver liquid WM, and liver powder souble. Alternatively, meat-flavoured gravy mixes may be used extemporaneously.
Legal Responsibility in Veterinary Compounding
- Compounding of existing drugs is permitted if specific criteria are met. Compounding is technically illegal if bulk drugs are the source. However, the FDA has adopted the view that it is permissible IF the veterinarian states
- 1) there is legitimate medical need
2) compouding is needed for an appropriate dosage regimen for the species, age, size, and medical condition
3) the product is not available in either veterinary or human form or if a different excipient is required for successful treatment.
- 1) The medication is compounded by a veterinarian or pharmacist
2) A withdrawal time be established if appropriate
3) The pharmacist follows good compounding practices
4) The pharmacist must include on the label
- a) name/address of the DVM
b) active ingredient
c) date dispensed and expiration date (generally the end of therapy)
d) directions for use including the target species
e) cautionary statements, including withdrawal times for milk, slaughter, and egg, where appropriate
f) dispensing information (pharmacist, store, location)
- Drugs that are banned from use in food animals include the following: chloramphenicol, clenbuterol, DES, the nitroimidazoles (dimetridazole, ipromidazole), furazolidone, nitrofurazone (topical is permitted), fluoroquinolones, and vancomycin. Additionally, the sulphonamides are contraindicated in lactating animals except those specifically approved for such use.Prescription Interpretation -- Reading veterinary prescriptions is generally the same as that encountered in human medicine. However, one abbreviation that is unique in veterinary practice is s.i.d., which is interpreted as once a day. Therefore, a script reading digoxin 0.125 mg s.i.d. would be interpreted as digoxin 0.125 mg once a day.
The process of drug approval by the FDA is similar to that for human drugs. However some specific differences do exist. Potentials drugs are classified as Investigational New Animal Drugs (INAD) and applications for use are made under a new animal drug application (NADA). These (or pre-INAD) applications are made to the Centre for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) of the FDA. New drugs must prove safety and efficacy in at least two well-controlled studies, including clinical trials. The CVM reviews that data, ensuring GLPs and the integrity of the data. As with the human approval process, a category does exist for drugs not yet approved. In life-threatening situations, a private practitioner or zoo veterinarian may apply for an Expedited Compassionate Investigational New Animal Drug Exemption (ECINAD). If approved, the ECINAD must comply with routing/receipt requirements as set forth by the CVM.