Animal Health Solutions

11 Q1 2021 | Animal Health Solutions How veterinarians can find a quality veterinary compounding pharmacy The versatility of compounding can be applied to many therapeutic specialties (eg, ophthalmology, pain management, neurology, behavioral health, dermatology, oncology); but how can veterinarians find a good fit for their unique needs? The following offer tips for finding a quality compounding pharmacy: Veterinary training Clinicians should carefully research potential compounding pharmacies to ensure their staff is trained to serve veterinary patients. Review the websites of compounding pharmacies to check if veterinary products are a majority of their offerings. Consider calling the pharmacy to ask how long they have been compounding for animal patients, and if they have veterinary pharmacists. All pharmacists (PharmDs, RPhs) are trained in compounding science and are qualified to prepare professional compounded products; however, not every pharmacist has veterinary pharmacy education. Quality assurance There is no single accreditation for veterinary compounding excellence, but there are some third-party associations to look for: • The Pharmacy Compounding Accreditation Board (PCAB): Although not specific to veterinary compounding, PCAB accreditation is a gold standard that guarantees USP compliance and consistent practice of high-quality and safety standards. Not all compounding pharmacies have this endorsement, as their assessment process is expensive and not specialty specific. • Professional Compounding Centers of America (PCCA): Being a PCCA member means the compounder is using certified drug supplies and has support services like USP implementation, compounding CE, a compounding training and education library, and veterinary pharmacy consulting. Membership requires a sizable annual fee. Formulary flexibility Although compounding can theoretically create any drug/product detailed above, not every compounding pharmacy is set up for all services. Working with a compounder that has a large veterinary formulary or is open to crafting new formulas, as needed, can be additionally helpful for veterinarians. Each patient/ pet owner may have different needs—compounding's biggest benefit is customization, after all. Conclusion The potential applications of compounding are numerous and varied, but there are inherent risks to consider and a web of regulations to navigate. Both the veterinarian and the pharmacist are responsible for adhering to a number of safety standards, so keeping up with the laws and regulations as they evolve is critical. The next article in this series will break down the rules and regulations in veterinary compounding. Disclaimer: This article was written by a clinical veterinary pharmacist. The author is not a lawyer; therefore, this article should not be used as legal advice. Sources: 1. US Pharmacopeia. About USP. USP website. https://www.usp.org/about. Accessed August 14, 2020. 2. US Food & Drug Administration. US FDA website. https://www.fda.gov. Accessed August 14, 2020. 3. Banov F, Professional Compounding Centers of America. Flavoring options for veterinary compounding. PCCA website. https://www.pccarx.com/Blog/flavoring- options-for-veterinary-compounding. Published May 27, 2020. Accessed September 7, 2020. 4. Banov F, Professional Compounding Centers of America. The art of flavoring: how to mask the taste of different medicines. PCCA website. https://www.pccarx.com/Blog/ the-art-of-flavoring-how-to-mask-the-taste-of-different-medicines. Published June 19, 2019. Accessed September 7, 2020. 5. Clark D, Professional Compounding Centers of America. Atopic dermatitis in veterinary patients: what compounders can offer. PCCA website. https://www.pccarx. com/Blog/atopic-dermatitis-in-veterinary-patients-what-compounders-can-offer. Published March 11, 2019. Accessed August 14, 2020. 6. Gonzalez M, Professional Compounding Centers of America. 5 crucial insights I discovered from compounding for zoos. PCCA website. https://www.pccarx.com/Blog/ crucial-insights-i-discovered-from-compounding-for-zoos. Published July 8, 2020. Accessed September 7, 2020. 7. Lecuyer M, Prini S, Dunn ME, Doucet MY. Clinical efficacy and safety of transdermal methimazole in the treatment of feline hyperthyroidism. Can Vet J. 2006;47(2):131- 135. About the author Jennifer Kobylarczyk, PharmD, FSVHP, is a clinical consultant pharmacist at and the owner of Avant Pharm Care in Lakewood, Colorado, as well as a compounding pharmacist at Wise Pharmacy. She earned her PharmD from University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. She is also a clinical veterinary pharmacist with Plumb's Veterinary Drugs and has received her veterinary pharmacotherapy certification and PCCA compounding certificate.

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