Pets Are Patients Too: A Review of Veterinary Compounding

Course overview

Pharmacists are uniquely positioned among healthcare professionals to support medication-related care for both human and veterinary patients. Despite the significant need for veterinary medications, there remains a limited availability of FDA-approved drug products specifically designed for many animal species. Compounded medications help address this therapeutic gap and play an important role in supporting the health and well-being of veterinary patients. However, providing veterinary compounding services requires pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to possess not only strong compounding skills but also an understanding of species-specific pharmacokinetic, physiologic, and formulation considerations that may affect medication safety and efficacy. This course reviews the benefits and risks of veterinary compounding, current regulatory and legal considerations, common veterinary dosage forms, and key factors in preparing safe and effective compounded medications for animal patients.