As any pet owner is well aware, animals may be extremely difficult to treat with medications. Many pets are known for refusing to swallow a pill, and some will even eat right around the food that is supposed t be disguising the pill. In some cases, a transdermal or topical gel can be applied to the animal’s ear to transport the medication.

Transdermal administration of medication has become a popular solution in veterinary care. It is especially useful for those problem pets that do not like to take oral medications, such as felines. Transdermal gels are often favored over other routes of administration.

Transdermal gels may be more beneficial for many reasons, including:

• By bypassing the digestive tract, any gastric disturbances may be avoided
• Application of medication is easy and non-evasive
• Transdermal gels provide systemic concentrations much the same as oral dosages do
• Using the transdermal route eliminates the animal’s stress at dosing time

Other options for compounding veterinary medications are flavored medications. Some pets that refuse to take an oral medication often do so because of the taste of the medication. This is a prime opportunity for compounding the medication. Dogs often do not appreciate a traditional solution of medication being squirted into their mouth, but they will gladly take it when it’s a tasty suspension. By working closely with your veterinarian, a compounding pharmacist can prepare medications into easy-to-give flavored dosage forms that animals devour, whether your pet is a cat, dog, ferret, bird, or snake.

Just like their owners, animals are individual and unique. They come in different shapes and sizes, and as a result, not all commercially available medicines are appropriate for your pet. Commercial medications often come in large tablets or in capsules of 1000mg or more. Small kittens may need a dose of only 15mg. That’s where compounding comes into play and is very helpful.