Animal Health Solutions

22 Covetrus | covetrus.com can help the veterinary team provide appropriate support and resources. Understanding the nature of a client's concerns, financial or otherwise, can help the veterinary team communicate more effectively and connect clients with resources that support compliance with the prescribed therapeutic plan. Quality perceptions: Clients may also have concerns about the quality of compounded medications for pets due to their perceptions about compounded medicine for humans, which can be stigmatized as a less- reputable option, whether that's merited or not. Therefore, practitioners must educate clients on the unique role of compounding in veterinary medicine and the quality standards that compounding pharmacies follow. Dosing anxiety: As with any medication, clients often worry about getting their pet's medication dosing right. While compounded medication can simplify administration, giving it can feel just as daunting as it would be for commercially available medications. Addressing the physical logistics of dosing is as important as choosing the drug itself. Both are essential for successful administration. Closing the loop on care: The clinical payoff Compounded medications can act as a bridge between prescribing a therapeutic plan and actual adherence. By focusing on delivery methods suited to the patient, from soft chews to transdermal pens, veterinary teams can help support the human-animal bond while addressing individual patient needs. Communicate openly with pet parents about when compounded medications may be appropriate. Seek opportunities to address questions and explain the clinical rationale for your recommendations. In doing so, you can help support informed decision-making and consistent medication administration. 7 Strategies for improving compliance Improving client compliance with compounded medication recommendations requires shifting the conversation about these barriers from "what" to "how." Encourage your team to adopt open dialogue and a collaborative approach to mitigate these common obstacles. During these conversations, keep these strategies in mind: 1 Be prepared to address client questions about cost. Team members presenting treatment plans should be prepared to discuss costs and answer questions. When a compounded formulation is clinically appropriate, being transparent about pricing can help clients understand their options and make informed decisions about their pet's care. 2 Support clients who have financial concerns. If a client expresses financial concerns after a compounded medication is recommended, discuss available support options such as third-party financing or payment plans. The goal is to help clients follow through on the clinically appropriate therapeutic plan. 3 Confirm the quality standards of the pharmacy and the process. Clients want to be confident that they can trust compounded medications. Your clients trust you, so be ready to explain why they should also trust your preferred compounding pharmacy. Be transparent with clients about how you selected your pharmacy partner, emphasizing USP standards and quality assurance protocols. 4 Normalize medication administration struggles. Many pet parents who struggle to administer pet medications may be ashamed to admit it. Frame the "pill war" as a universal clinical challenge to encourage client honesty. When discussing treatment protocols, ask point-blank how the pet handles oral intervention. Open communication allows you to partner with your clients to find the most effective delivery approach. 5 Prioritize the human-animal bond. Remind clients that the goal is to provide medication in a way that promotes pet welfare rather than trauma. If "successful" administration involves a wrestling match, the resulting stress (for both pet and parent) can damage the human-animal bond…in some cases, permanently, if the trauma is repeated. Nearly 40 percent of pet owners report that administering medication to their pets is difficult or extremely difficult. 1

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