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Veterinary compounding is when a pharmacist prepares a medicine for an animal, following instructions from a veterinarian. It can help when a registered animal medicine isn’t suitable, for example when a pet needs a smaller dose, a flavoured liquid instead of a tablet, or a medicine without a certain ingredient. In Australia, pharmacists who compound for animals follow the Pharmacy Board of Australia’s guidelines, and commercial animal medicines are registered by the APVMA. Flinders Discount Chemist offers veterinary compounding on your vet’s instructions.
Most animal medicines are made commercially and registered by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA), which assesses them for quality, safety and how well they work. A compounded medicine is different. It is prepared in the pharmacy for one animal, in response to a need identified by the vet.
Because compounded medicines are made for an individual animal, they are exempt from APVMA registration. That is why the vet’s instructions and the pharmacist’s care in preparing the medicine matter so much.
If you want to check whether a registered product already exists for your animal, the APVMA lists registered animal medicines in its public PubCRIS database. Your vet can explain why a registered product may or may not suit your pet. When you call us, it helps to have your vet’s instructions with you, so we can check the medicine, strength and form they have asked for.
Your vet may consider a compounded medicine when a registered product doesn’t suit your animal. Reasons can include:
Compounding isn’t always the right choice. Under the Board’s guidelines, a medicine should not be compounded if a suitable commercial medicine is already available, if the pharmacy doesn’t have the right equipment or skills, or if there is no evidence that it is safe and appropriate.
The Board expects pharmacists who compound veterinary medicines to have completed education and training in compounding for animals. When you choose a pharmacy, it is reasonable to ask whether they prepare animal medicines and whether they can make the form your vet has asked for.
Flinders Discount Chemist is at 7 Munmorah Circuit, Flinders NSW 2529. Please call us on (02) 4296 5548 with your vet’s instructions before you visit. For other medicines made to order, see our compounding pharmacy services, or contact us with your questions.
Other compounding services include prescription compounding, sterile compounding and pain management compounding. New to compounding? Learn the compounding basics.
Yes. A pharmacist can compound a medicine for an animal only on instructions from a veterinary practitioner.
No. Compounded medicines are exempt from APVMA registration because they are prepared for an individual animal. Registered commercial products are assessed by the APVMA.
Yes, when your vet has given instructions for the medicine.