that’s not qualified to have it.” Farzana Kennedy, R.Ph., FACA, owner of Alexandria
PET MEDICATIONS TO KNOW
Compounding Pharmacy, an independent community
Pets suffer from the same medical conditions as humans and often need medications to treat them. These are the most commonly used pet medications.
requirements from veterinary wholesalers. “They won’t
Antibiotics Used to kill microbes, such as bacteria and yeast, and to treat infections. Examples in dogs and cats: penicillin, trimethoprim-sulfa, cephalexin, and enrofloxacin.
pharmacy in Alexandria, Va., has seen even stricter provide services to you because they are really committed to vets,” she said. “The only way for you to get anything from that supplier would be to have a veterinarian on staff. Because they don’t use a pharmacy license. They use a veterinary license to open up an account.” Veterinarians share the same concerns about pharmacies as drug distributors. “We know that pharmacists are trained professionals who want to do
Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatories
what’s best for their clients,” said Michael San Filippo, Senior
Used to reduce swelling, inflammation, pain, and lameness. Examples: carprofen, deracoxib, firocoxib, and meloxicam.
Media Relations Specialist at the AVMA. “That being said,
Opioid Pain Relievers Used to relieve pain. Examples: oxycodone, hydromorphone, butorphanol, meperidine and fentanyl.
Steroids Used as anti-inflammatories to reduce allergic and anaphylactic reactions. Examples: prednisone, prednisolone, and dexamethasone.
Antiparasitics
local pharmacists may not be aware that animal physiology and pharmacology can differ significantly from that of humans, and this can lead to unintentional prescription errors and conflict.” The other reason pharmacies face resistance from veterinarians has nothing to do with trust. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported in 2015 that prescription medications make up 20 percent of a typical veterinary’s total income. That’s a large chunk of revenue they risk losing to pharmacies. “Your primary competitor is the vet themselves,” Calhoun said. The FTC recognizes this conflict. According to the same
Used to prevent, repel, or kill internal or external parasites such as intestinal worms, intestinal protozoans, heartworms, fleas, and ticks.
FTC report, “Some stakeholders argue that if limitations on
Behavior-Modifying Drugs and Sedatives
ways that are more responsive to consumer preferences.
Used to quiet anxious pets or help in reducing anxiety associated with various behavioral issues in pets, prepare pets for anesthesia, and to reduce pet movement during delicate procedures. Examples: diazepam, xylazine, acepromazine, and midazolam.
Hormones and Other Medications Used to treat specific conditions. Examples: insulin used for diabetes treatment, methimazole, or levothyroxine for abnormal thyroid hormone levels, and heart medications such as atenolol, digoxin, and pimobendan.
Chemotherapeutics Used to treat tumors and cancer. Examples: cisplatin, vincristine, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide. Source: American Veterinary Medical Association
prescription portability and restrictive distribution practices were eliminated, the market would continue to develop in They suggest that this might, in turn, enable pet owners to further reduce their pet care costs and provide them with additional purchasing options. Other stakeholders contend, however, that such changes would not reduce prices or increase convenience but would instead undermine pet health and the financial stability of veterinary practices.” OVERCOMING CHALLENGES Even though independent pharmacies face major obstacles, those challenges shouldn’t keep them from getting involved in veterinary medicine. “There are lots of ways to get into the veterinary space,” Calhoun said. The most effective way to overcome the distrust of distributors and veterinarians, and to find success in veterinary pharmacy, is to gain the proper knowledge.