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Custom Compounding for Cats and Dogs
Vet Corner
Is your pet on a medication they refuse to take? There is something you can do about it.
You are not here by accident. Maybe your pet refuses every form you have tried and doses are being missed. Maybe you have a working prescription but want a pharmacy that flavors it in a way your pet actually accepts. Maybe your current pharmacy stopped carrying a preparation your pet depends on and you need a new source. Whatever brought you here, Pharmacy Solutions can help.
We compound custom medications for cats and dogs one prescription at a time. We also fill and refill existing compounded prescriptions from veterinarians nationwide. If your pet is already on a compounded medication, you do not need to start over. You just need to have your vet send the prescription to us.
What Is a Compounding Pharmacy? A compounding pharmacy prepares customized medications for individual patients, one prescription at a time. Instead of a commercial product manufactured for the broadest possible market, a compounded medication is made for your specific pet, in the form your pet can accept, at the concentration your veterinarian prescribes.
Pharmacy Solutions is a PCAB-accredited 503A compounding pharmacy. We have been preparing custom medications for cats, dogs, and the veterinarians who care for them for more than 30 years. We do not make clinical recommendations. Your veterinarian does that. We prepare exactly what they prescribe, in a form that actually works for your animal.
Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. The FDA does not review compounded drugs for safety, effectiveness, or quality before they reach patients. All compounded medications require a valid prescription from your veterinarian.
How Compounding Can Help Your Pet Compounding addresses the most common reasons pets refuse or cannot take their medications. Here is what it changes:
The Flavor
If a medication tastes or smells wrong to your pet, they will find a way to avoid it every time. Compounding allows the preparation to be flavored based on what your pet already accepts, so the medication becomes something they take willingly rather than something you have to force.
- Flavoring is matched to your pet’s known preferences
- We confirm the flavor before compounding, not after
- The goal is a medication your pet takes without a fight, every single dose
The Delivery Form
Sometimes the medication itself is fine. The form is the problem. Compounding can change how the medication is delivered entirely.
- Transdermal ear gels: applied to the inner ear flap once or twice daily. No pilling, no syringe, no struggle. The medication is absorbed through the skin. For pet owners who have been in a daily medication battle, this is often the answer.
- Flavored liquid suspensions: the same medication prepared as a flavored liquid at the precise concentration for your pet’s weight. Measured and given with a syringe. Easier to administer and harder to avoid.
- Chewable soft chews: the medication incorporated into a soft chew your pet thinks is a reward. For dogs and some cats, this turns a twice-daily struggle into something they look forward to.
- Topical preparations: applied to the skin for localized delivery where oral dosing is not appropriate or practical per your veterinarian’s direction.
The Concentration
Commercial medications were manufactured for average-sized animals. Your pet may not be average-sized. A 7-pound cat and a 95-pound Labrador do not need the same dose. Toy breeds often need concentrations far below what any commercial product offers. Large breeds may need more than standard products provide. Compounding calibrates the dose to your specific animal.
- Custom concentrations for small breeds and cats whose needs fall below commercial minimums
- Higher volumes and concentrations for large breeds when standard products fall short
- Your veterinarian sets the dose. We prepare it exactly as prescribed.
Commonly Compounded Medications for Cats and Dogs Pharmacy Solutions prepares custom veterinary medications across a wide range of conditions and drug classes. The list below reflects our most commonly requested preparations. It is not a complete list of what we can prepare. If your pet is on a medication not shown here, contact us or ask your veterinarian to reach out. All preparations require a valid prescription from your veterinarian.
Thyroid and Hormonal
- Methimazole transdermal ear gel or oral suspension for feline hyperthyroidism
- T-3 (Liothyronine) oral suspension for thyroid support
- Trilostane capsules for Cushing’s syndrome in dogs
- Prednisone and Prednisolone flavored suspensions for hormonal and inflammatory conditions
Heart and Blood Pressure
- Amlodipine oral suspension for hypertension at species-appropriate concentrations
- Benazepril flavored suspension for cardiac and kidney support
- Pimobendan capsules and suspension for congestive heart failure
- Atenolol transdermal or oral formulation for cardiac care
Seizures and Neurological
- Potassium bromide oral suspension for seizure management in dogs
- Phenobarbital suspension for seizure protocols
- Gabapentin flavored oral suspension or capsules for pain and neurological protocols
Gastrointestinal and Liver
- Metronidazole flavored suspension for GI conditions in cats and dogs
- Cisapride capsules or suspension for motility support
- Ursodiol capsules or suspension for liver and gallbladder support
Urinary and Endocrine
- Phenylpropanolamine suspension for urinary incontinence in dogs
- Fludrocortisone for Addison’s disease management
- Azathioprine suspension for immune-related and inflammatory conditions
Behavioral and Pain
- Fluoxetine, clomipramine, and alprazolam in flavored forms for behavioral protocols
- Tramadol flavored suspension for post-surgical and chronic pain protocols
- Piroxicam capsules or suspension for pain and inflammatory protocols
Anti-Infective and Anti-Fungal
- Enrofloxacin flavored suspension for bacterial infections
- Itraconazole suspension for fungal conditions
- Cyclosporine suspension for immune-related conditions
Appetite and Behavioral Support
- Mirtazapine transdermal gel for appetite support in cats
Discontinued Medications If a medication your pet depends on has been discontinued commercially, compounding may allow it to be prepared with a valid veterinary prescription. Contact our pharmacist to discuss whether your pet's specific medication is a candidate for compounding.
Ready to Find a Better Way for Your Pet?
If your pet is on a medication they refuse to take, compounding may be the answer. Talk to your veterinarian about whether a customized form, concentration, or flavor is an option. When they are ready to prescribe, we are ready to prepare.
I had been giving my cat her thyroid medication for months and every single dose was a battle. She hid, she fought, she foamed. Our vet mentioned a transdermal gel through Pharmacy Solutions and I thought it sounded too simple. It was not. I apply a tiny amount to her ear once a day and she barely reacts. I genuinely wish I had known about this from the beginning.
Jennifer
Age 32
Pharmacy Solutions has been our compounding pharmacy for years. When I have a cat that needs methimazole in a transdermal gel or a dog that needs a medication flavored and reformulated at a fraction of the commercial dose, they get it right every time. The pharmacists know veterinary medicine and that makes a real difference.
Rachel, DVM
How to Talk to Your Vet About Personalizing Your Pet's Medication Compounding requires a prescription from your veterinarian, which means the conversation starts there. Most veterinarians are familiar with compounding and many recommend it regularly. Here is how to bring it up effectively.
Once your vet sends the prescription, we confirm the flavor, form, and concentration, compound the preparation for your specific pet, and ship it directly to you with tracking. Your vet’s office does not manage the logistics. We do.
- Be specific about what is not working. Do not just say your pet refuses medication. Tell your vet exactly what is happening: the pill gets spit out, the liquid causes foaming, doses are being missed, administration has become a daily struggle. The more specific you are, the more your vet can help.
- Ask directly whether a compounded form is an option. Ask whether a transdermal gel, a flavored suspension, or a different delivery form might work for your pet's situation. Your vet can only offer what you ask about.
- Mention your pet's flavor preferences. If your cat is obsessed with tuna or your dog will do anything for a particular flavor, tell your vet. That information goes on the prescription and shapes what we prepare.
- Ask your vet to send the prescription to Pharmacy Solutions. We are available to speak with your veterinarian directly if they have formulation questions before prescribing.
- Already have a compounded prescription? Your vet can transfer it to Pharmacy Solutions at any time. If your current pharmacy is no longer carrying a preparation your pet needs, this is a straightforward switch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my pet need a prescription for a compounded medication?
Yes. All compounded veterinary medications require a valid prescription from a licensed veterinarian. We do not dispense compounded preparations without one.
How do I know what flavor to request?
Think about what your pet already accepts and include that in the conversation with your vet. We confirm the flavor before compounding begins. The goal is a preparation your pet takes willingly.
Is a compounded medication the same as the commercial version?
Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. The FDA does not review compounded drugs for safety, effectiveness, or quality before they reach patients. Pharmacy Solutions is PCAB-accredited in both sterile and non-sterile compounding and sources all active pharmaceutical ingredients exclusively from FDA-registered suppliers.
What if my vet has not heard of compounding or seems unfamiliar?
Most veterinarians are familiar with compounding and many use it regularly. If yours is not, they can contact us directly. Our pharmacists are available to answer formulation questions before a prescription is written.
How long does it take to receive a compounded medication?
Turnaround time varies by preparation. Once we receive a valid prescription, our team confirms timing before compounding begins. We ship directly to you with tracking.
Can I transfer a prescription my pet already has to Pharmacy Solutions?
Yes. If your pet is already on a compounded medication from another pharmacy, your veterinarian can send the prescription to us. Contact us and we will work with your vet to make the transition straightforward. Your pet does not need to change medications, just pharmacies.
Can I get refills?
Yes. Refills require a valid prescription from your veterinarian. Contact us when your supply is running low so we can confirm refill authorization before you run out.
What if my pet still refuses the compounded preparation?
Contact us. Flavor and delivery form can sometimes be adjusted. We would rather find something that works for your pet than have a preparation go unused.
