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urray Avenue Apothecary’s state-ofthe-art compounding laboratory prepares innovative, economical, easy-to-use dosage forms for animals. Susan Merenstein, RPh, owner of Murray Avenue Apothecary, has over 34 years experience in pharmacy practice, including pet therapies. She and her dedicated staff, representing 40 years of combined experience, regularly help veterinarians and animal care specialists solve a variety of medication problems, including hard-to-find medications, custom dosages, drug combinations, alternatives and transdermal medications. About Vet Compounding Veterinary compounding can make medicine time a treat – for pets and their owners. Compounding, which is the art and science of preparing customized medications, is an increasingly popular solution to veterinary problems, just as it’s become more prevalent in human medicine. When it comes to diseases like skin rashes, eye and ear infections, heart conditions, cancer, and diabetes, animals and humans have a lot in common. But giving pets medication presents a unique set of challenges – challenges that can often be addressed through compounding. Meeting the unique medication needs of animals is one of the fastest growing areas of pharmacy compounding. Working with your veterinarian, a licensed compounding pharmacist can individualize your pet’s medications based on species, size and weight, among other factors. Compounding is undertaken at the direction of the licensed prescriber, your veterinarian, who takes into consideration clinical observations, testing and experience before determining whether a compounded medication is required for your pet. Just like their human owners, animals are unique and have individual needs when it comes to taking medicine. Compounding pharmacists can assist you with your finickiest felines, or canines that require specific dosing depending upon their breed and size, as well as exotic and large animal patients – many of
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which cannot be served by commercially available medications. It’s a team effort: A caring veterinarian working closely with a compounding pharmacist can improve the health and happiness of your pet. In order for treatments to be effective, compliance is critical. Your pet can’t reap the benefits of a medication that you find impossible to administer. Compounding is uniquely suited to improve compliance by providing flexibility in strengths and concentrations, and making available dosage forms such as topicals, chewable treats, liquids, and flavoring options. Our compounded medications are prepared from active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) purchased from FDA-registered suppliers, and are not “unapproved substances.” All of our pharmacists and certified technicians are licensed and strictly regulated by State Boards of Pharmacy, so you can feel certain that you and your pet are in highly qualified hands.
Your pets are special. Their medications should be, too. Pets are members of our families. We want them to have the same level of attentive and innovative medical treatment that we expect for ourselves. Today’s veterinarians understand this, which is why many rely on compounding as one way to deliver this advanced level of care. Acetyl-Glutathione for Animals One of our most successful compounded medications is absorbable Acetyl-Glutathione. The buzz words in today’s healthcare settings for humans and animals are Glutathione, Telomeres, Enhanced Performance, Anti-aging, and Detoxification. Glutathione (pronounced “gloota-thighown”) is the body’s essential health AID-Antioxidant, immune booster and detoxifier. It is also an analgesic, decreases recovery time from injuries, and is great for arthritis and joint pain.
©Pittsburgh PetConnections
March/April 2015