• Liquid medications are prescribed to treat a variety of conditions.
• It is important to use only medications prescribed by a veterinarian and to treat for the full length of time prescribed.
• Do not stop treatment early, even if problem seems to be resolved.

The Basics

Liquid medications are prescribed to treat a variety of conditions. Some medicines that are usually prescribed as pills or capsules can be changed (compounded) to a liquid for easier administration. If you have trouble giving your dog pills, ask your veterinarian if compounding is possible for specific medicines.

Follow Recommendations

It is important to use only medicines prescribed by a veterinarian and to treat for the full length of time prescribed. Do not stop treatment early, even if the problem seems to be resolved. You can ask your veterinarian to demonstrate how to give the prescribed medicine.

Technique

• Liquid medications should come with a dropper or syringe for administration. Fill the dropper or syringe with the prescribed amount of medicine.
• Holding your dog’s head still with one hand, insert the tip of the dropper or syringe into a corner of the mouth, between the cheek and the teeth, aiming toward the back of your dog’s head.
• DO NOT tilt your dog’s head back; this may cause him or her to inhale the medicine.
• Squeeze the dropper or syringe to empty it.
• Hold your dog’s mouth closed and stroke his or her throat (or blow on his or her nose) to encourage swallowing.
• Give your dog a reward (like a treat approved by your veterinarian) to make it a more pleasant experience

Contact your veterinarian if you have questions or difficulty administering any medications.

Restraining Your Dog

You may need help keeping your dog still while you administer medicine. If you don’t have a helper handy, you may want to sit on the floor and hold the front of your dog’s body partially against your body or on your lap. If you have a large dog, you can stand behind your dog and have him or her sit back against your legs. Sometimes it helps to back your dog into a corner.

Small dogs can be wrapped in a large towel and held against your body, leaving only the head free. Be sure not to wrap your small dog too tightly.

If your dog struggles, talk to him or her calmly. Stop if he or she becomes extremely agitated.

• Liquid medications are prescribed to treat a variety of conditions.
• It is important to use only medications prescribed by a veterinarian and to treat for the full length of time prescribed.
• Do not stop treatment early, even if the problem seems to be resolved.

The Basics

Liquid medications are prescribed to treat a variety of conditions. Some medicines that are usually prescribed as pills or capsules can be changed (compounded) to a liquid for easier administration. If you have trouble giving your cat pills, ask your veterinarian if compounding is possible for specific medicines.

Follow Recommendations

It is important to use only medicines prescribed by a veterinarian and to treat for the full length of time prescribed. Do not stop treatment early, even if the problem seems to be resolved. You can ask your veterinarian to demonstrate how to give the prescribed medicine.

Technique

• Liquid medications should come with a dropper or syringe for administration. Fill the dropper or syringe with the prescribed amount of medicine.
• Holding your cat’s head still with one hand, insert the tip of the dropper or syringe into a corner of the mouth, between the cheek and the teeth, aiming toward the back of your cat’s head.
• DO NOT tilt your cat’s head back; this may cause him or her to inhale the medicine.
• Squeeze the dropper or syringe to empty it.
• Hold your cat’s mouth closed and stroke his or her throat (or blow on his or her nose) to encourage swallowing.
• Give your cat a reward (like a treat approved by your veterinarian) to make it a more pleasant experience

Contact your veterinarian if you have questions or difficulty administering any medications.

Restraining Your Cat

You may need help keeping your cat still while you administer medicine. If you don’t have a helper handy, you may want to wrap your cat in a large towel and hold him or her against your body, leaving only the head free. Be sure not to wrap your cat too tightly

If your cat struggles, talk to him or her calmly. Stop if he or she becomes extremely agitated.

• Medicines in pill or capsule form are prescribed to treat a variety of conditions
• It is important to use only medicines prescribed by a veterinarian and to treat for the full length of time prescribed.
• Do not stop treatment early, even if the problem seems to be resolved.

The Basics

Medicines in pill or capsule form are prescribed to treat a variety of conditions, but many dogs dislike taking pills. Some medicines that are usually prescribed as pills or capsules can be changed (compounded) to a liquid or powder for easier administration. Some medicines for dogs come in a chewable “treat” form. If you have trouble giving your dog pills, ask your veterinarian if compounding is possible or a treat form is available for specific medicines.

Follow Recommendations

It is important to use only medicines prescribed by a veterinarian and to treat for the full length of time prescribed. Do not stop treatment early, even if the problem seems to be resolved. You can ask your veterinarian to demonstrate how to give the prescribed medicine.

Technique

Some dogs will eat a pill or capsule if it is hidden in a soft treat or in their regular food. However, if the pill is in food, it may be hard to tell whether your dog has taken the pill on time (or at all) if he or she eats throughout the day. Dog treats designed to hide pills are available in many stores. Ask your veterinarian if the prescribed medicine can be given with treats or food and if there are any restrictions on what our dog should eat while taking the medicine.

Another method of giving a dog a pill is:

• For a small dog, put one hand on top of your dog’s head, holding firmly (but not too tightly) so that the tips of your thumb and middle finger touch the corners of the mouth.
• For a large dog, put your hand on top of your dog’s nose and hold the upper jaw.
• Tilt the head back.
• Hold the pill between the first finger and thumb of your other hand. Use the tips of the other fingers of this hand to push down on your dog’s lower jaw to open his or her mouth. Be careful to place your finger on the short teeth at the very front of the mouth, not on the longer (canine) teeth at the corners.
• If you have a large dog, you may be able to fold the upper lip over his or her teeth as you open the mouth. This may discourage your dog from closing his or her mouth.
• Drop or quickly place the pill as far back in your dog’s throat as you can. Do not push the pill down.
• Hold your dog’s mouth closed and stroke his or her throat (or blow on his or her nose) to encourage swallowing.
• Give your dog a reward (like a treat approved by your veterinarian) to make it a more pleasant experience.

When using this technique, be aware of your dog’s mood. If he or she gets agitated and seems likely to bite, stop and try again later or contact your veterinarian.

Contact your veterinarian if you have questions or difficulty administering any medications.

• Before you leave your veterinarian’s office with a new medication, be sure to address any concerns or questions with your veterinary team.
• It is very important to follow all label directions carefully.
• Do not risk being bitten, scratched, or otherwise injured while trying to medicate your cat. If you are unable to administer medication, your veterinary team may be able to offer other options.

Understanding the Medication Instructions

The first part of successfully administering medication to your cat is to ensure that you understand the instructions for giving the medication. These instructions include the route of administration (for example, by mouth, into the ears, or in the eyes), dosing frequency (for example, once daily, every 12 hours, or every 8 hours), duration of treatment (for example, for 7 days, until gone), and other special considerations (for example, give with food, follow with water).

Sometimes there is flexibility with medication instructions; for example, some medications can be given “as needed”, or twice-daily dosing schedule may be adaptable to once-daily dosing. However, for other medications, the recommended dosing instructions need to be followed closely. Before you leave your veterinarian’s office with a new medication, be sure to address any concerns or questions regarding the medication with your veterinary team. For example, if your work schedule does not permit dosing every 8 hours, your veterinarian may be able to recommend a different medication that can be given less frequently. Ask about your pet’s expected response to the treatment.

It is very helpful to write a medication schedule for your pet on a calendar, including the date and time that the medication needs to be administered. This will help you to (1) avoid forgetting to giver a does and (2) remember when the course of treatment is completed. It is also very important to follow all label directions carefully. Improper storage (for example, keeping a refrigerated medication at room temperature) can affect the safety and effectiveness of the medication. Additionally, it is important to give the medication for the correct length of time. Complications can occur if antibiotics are not given for the full duration of recommended treatment; in addition, some medications (such as corticosteroids) cannot be discontinued without causing illness, so it is very important to give medications as directed. If your pet experiences any medication-related side effects, contact your veterinarian promptly for advice before adjusting a dosage or discontinuing the medication.

Administering Pills

If you’ve never given a cat medication before, it can be difficult to know what method will work best. Some cats take pills very readily if the pill is hidden inside a treat or given with a small amount of canned cat food. Another option is canned tuna or salmon for people. Pills can also be crushed (or capsuled broken and emptied) and missed with a small amount of canned food. However, your cat must eat all of the food right away to ensure receiving the full medication dose. Also, some coated pills and capsules have a bitter taste is the capsule or coating is removed. If the medication makes the food taste badly, your cat may refuse to eat it. Before choosing one of these options, ask your veterinarian if the medication can be given with food. You will probably know after the first or second dosing if this method will work.

If you must give your cat a pill directly by mouth, here’s a method that usually works. This technique takes practice and may require more than one attempt to get your cat to swallow the pill. If your cat is not used to having your hands around his or her mouth (as with toothbrushing, for example) gradually introduce your cat to this by stroking your cat’s face and neck for a few moments. This should calm your cat. If you think that your cat may try to bite or scratch, do not attempt this technique; ask your veterinarian for alternative medication options:

• Restraint: If your cat is well-behaved, place a towel across your lap and hold your cat gently on your lap. If you think your cat may try to scratch you or getaway, you may want to wrap his body, feet, and legs in a towel; leave the head out so you can give the medication.
• Hold the pill between the thumb and index finger of your right hand (if you are right-handed)
• Using your left hand, reach over the top of your cat’s head and squeeze your thumb and middle finger between your cat’s upper and lower teeth. Try to stay close to the back of the mouth (near the molars) and away from the canines (the long, pointy teeth near the front of the mouth). If you are doing this properly, the sides of the upper lip will curl in as your fingers curl in.
• Once your fingers are inside your cat’s mouth, gently tilt your cat’s head back to encourage your cat to open his or her mouth.
• Once the mouth is open, use your right index finger and thumb to place the pill near the base of the tongue. Then remove your hands quickly so your cat can swallow.
• Rub your cat’s throat lightly to encourage swallowing. Offering a small amount of water can also help.

Administering Liquid Medication

Some pet owners prefer liquid medication because the administration does not require placing your fingers inside of your cat’s mouth. However, if your cat refuses to swallow the liquid, this method may not be ideal. Here are some tips for administering liquid medication:

• Restraint: If your cat is well behaved, place a towel across your lap and hold your cat gently on your lap. If you think your cat may try to scratch or getaway, you may want to wrap his or her body, feet, and legs in a towel; leave the head out so that you can give the medication.
• Draw the medication into the dropper or syringe and hold it in your right hand (if you are right-handed).
• Place your left hand behind your cat’s head to stabilize it. You can gently stroke the back of the head and speak softly to your cat to distract and comfort him or her.
• Using your right hand, insert the tip of the dropper into the side of your cat’s mouth. Try to stay close to the molars and away from the canine teeth.
• Once the tip is inside, empty the medication into the mouth and release your cat’s head.
• Rub the throat lightly to encourage swallowing.

Troubleshooting Tips

If you are unable to administer medications to your cat, here are some suggestions that may help:

• You may need help: If your cat won’t cooperate with receiving medication, ask someone to help you restrain your cat while you control the head, and give the medication.
• Do not risk injury: Do not risk being bitten, scratched, or otherwise injured while trying to medicate your pet. If you are unable to administer medication, call your veterinarian, and request advice or assistance.
• Ask your veterinarian if a different formulation is available: Some medications are available in several forms, including pills, liquid given by the mouth with an eye dropper or syringe, chewable flavored treats, and transdermal gels (the gel is absorbed into the bloodstream after being applied to the skin). If one formulation doesn’t work for you, ask your veterinarian if there is another option for the medication your pet is receiving.
• Consider asking the pros: Some veterinarians can arrange daily outpatient appointments for a technician or assistance to administer your cat’s medication. If your schedule doesn’t permit this, some veterinarians may be ab le to board your cat so that medication can be given until the course of treatment is completed.

• Many eye conditions in dogs require medicine to be put directly into the eye.
• Follow your veterinarian’s recommendations closely.
• Always put health and safety first. If the procedure seems dangerous to you or very painful for your pet, stop and consult your veterinarian.

The Basics

Many eye conditions in dogs require medicine to be put directly into the eye. This procedure can be relatively easy, as long as you follow a few simple guidelines. The most important guideline is to always put health and safety first. If, for any reason, your dog becomes so agitated that you feel you are at risk of being bitten, stop. If the procedure seems excessively painful for your dog, stop and get your veterinarian’s advice.

Follow Recommendations

The eye is a very delicate structure. It is very important to closely follow your veterinarian’s recommendations for medicating your dog’s eye. Treating too frequently or too aggressively can make the problem worse, not better. Sensitive, already inflamed parts of the eye can be damaged.

It is important to use only medicines provided by a veterinarian and to treat for the full length of time prescribed. Do not stop treatment early, even if the problem seems to be resolved.

What You Need

• Safe work area
• Eye medication prescribed by your veterinarian
• Moist cotton balls or tissues

Technique

There are several techniques for applying eye medication. Only one is described here. Ask your veterinarian to demonstrate the application of the prescribed medicine and follow his or her recommendations.

• If necessary, gently restrain or muzzle your dog (see Restraining Your Dog, below). You may need a helper.
• Using moistened cotton balls or tissues, gently wipe away any discharge from around the eye.
• Hold the affected eye open with the fingers of one hand. If the medication is liquid (eye drops), hold the upper and lower lids apart; if the medication is an ointment, gently pull down on the lower eyelid to create a small gap between the lid and the eye.
• With your other hand, gently squeeze the prescribed amount of medicine into the eye. Drops can be applied to the center of the eye or in the gap between the eye and the lower lid; ointment can be placed in the gap. Do not touch your dog’s eye with the medicine container or your fingers.
• Note: If an eye mediation requires refrigeration, do not store it at room temperature; however, allow it to reach room temperature before use to make it more comfortable for your pet.
• Either allow your dog to blink to move the medicine across the eye or, using a very light touch, hold the eye closed for a moment and gently massage.
• Use cotton balls or tissues to gently wipe away any excess medication or discharge.
• Reward your dog with a treat.

Contact your veterinarian if you have any questions or difficulty administering any medication.

Signs of Eye Trouble

• Excessive tearing
• Discharge
• Red eyelids
• Third eyelid visible
• Squinting or closing eye
• Cloudy or dull-looking eye surface; visible mark on the eye surface
• Pawing at face
• Swelling or bulging around, near, or in eye

Restraining Your Dog

Keeping your dog still while you medicate his or her eye is important so that you do not accidentally damage the eye or touch the eye with the medicine container. Here are some tips:

• Place your dog on a stable work surface that you can stand next to, and allow him or her to lie down, either in an upright “sphinx” position or flat on his or her side. While standing next to your dog, but the arm you will use to treat the eye over your dog’s shoulders, and use your upper arm and elbow to press your dog against your torso to help keep him or her still. If necessary, move to your dog’s other side or turn your dog around to treat the other eye.
• If you don’t have a high work surface, you can use the same method while seated on the floor, either holding the front of your dog’s body partially against your body or on your lap. If you have a large dog, you can stand behind your dog and have him or her sit back against your legs. Sometimes it helps to back your dog into a corner.
• Small dogs can be wrapped in a large towel and held against your body, leaving only the head free. Be sure not to wrap your small dog too tightly.
• If your dog struggles, talk to him or her calmly. Stop if he or she becomes extremely agitated.

Compounding combines an ageless art with the latest medical knowledge and state-of-the art technology, allowing specially trained pharmacists to prepare customized medications to meet each patient’s specific needs.

Preparation of these specialized medications requires chemicals and equipment that are not available at most pharmacies. Our pharmacists have received extensive additional training in veterinary compounding techniques and have a support network that generates constant exchange of ideas and innovations. Your questions are welcome.

At VetMedics Compounding Pharmacy, we work closely with veterinarians and their clients to solve medication problems and optimize patient care by compounding specialized medications which meet the unique needs of each animal-pets, exotics, horses, or zoo animals. Thousands of veterinarians have placed their trust in us due to our extensive knowledge, unsurpassed service, and quality medications at affordable prices. Let us know how we can help you and the animals in your care.

Many commercial animal medications may be available in only one size or strength. For example, a tablet may be too large to give to a cat, yet many tablets may be needed for a horse. We can create a preparation which contains the most appropriate dose for a specific animal. The active ingredient(s) can usually be administered by various routes (oral, transdermal, otic, etc.), so we compound numerous dosage forms that are just right for specific animals-such as medicated chewable “treats”, liquid concentrates, tiny tabs and ear drops. We make medicine much easier to administer and often more economical.

Manufacturers often stop producing medicines and dosage forms which are unprofitable to market due to low demand. However, there is still the occasional need for such products. Perhaps a veterinary formulation is unavailable, and for one reason or another, the human preparation just will not do. We can obtain the necessary pharmaceutical ingredients, and from them compound individualized dosage forms that may be even superior to the discontinued formulation for use in a particular animal.

Yes, just like human medications, all animal medications must be prescribed by a veterinarian. The veterinarian prescribes the required compounded medication, providing us with all the necessary information ensuring your pet receives the exact medication needed.

The ideal preparation may need to contain several ingredients to treat a variety of symptoms. For example, an animal may have skin problems that do not respond to a single-ingredient preparation. Yet, using three medicines from separate containers can be inconvenient and more costly. We can compound needed concentrations of compatible medications into a single, easy-to-use preparation. Similarly, we can prepare a medicated “treat” or other dosage form containing multiple drugs to simplify administration.

There are numerous ways the veterinarian can provide us with the prescription order. The veterinarian can place the order online via this website. They can also provide you with a written order or just call us at (516) 676-1135. The order can also be faxed in to (516) 676-1140. We can also be reached via e-mail at info@vetmedicspharmacy.com.

Since each medication is custom made to meet each animal’s specific needs, there is no standard pricing. The price of each medication is determined by the cost of the ingredients, the dosage form and the level of difficulty required to prepare the medication. Before any compounded medication is produced, we will contact you to provide you with all the necessary information, including the price.

At VetMedics Compounding Pharmacy, we accept cash, check, American Express, Visa, Mastercard and Discover.

Yes, just give us a call and provide us with the phone number for the pharmacy where the prescription was originally filled, and we will have it transferred for you.

Trying to administer medication to an animal is not always easy. We prepare medications in easy-to-give flavored dosage forms that animals love. We can make you pet’s medication unflavored, sugar-free and/or dye free or you can choose from a variety of flavors such as chicken, beef, tuna, salmon or liver in addition to non-protein flavors such as peanut butter, marshmallow, banana, Tutti Frutti and many more. If, for some reason, you pet does not like the medication flavor received, just call us and we will gladly replace the medication with an alternate flavor.

No worries! Since every medication is custom made for your individual pet, we can fulfill just about any request. Whether it be allergies, diabetes or you just need some extra syringes, just ask. We will be happy to accommodate you and your pet.

No problem. We make it our responsibility to ensure that there is no lapse in medication therapy. Just give us a call and we will reach out to your veterinarian and obtain a new order. All we ask is that you call ahead so that the veterinarian’s office has adequate time to respond to our request for a new order. As soon as your veterinarian responds, we will contact you.

We all lead busy lives; hence it is easy to sometimes forget to call for a reorder. At VetMedics, we offer a refill reminder program. Normally, 5 to 7 days prior to when your next refill is due, a staff member will contact you to inquire whether you would like us to refill your pet’s medication. To enroll in our refill reminder program, just ask one of our representatives. It is that easy.

Most orders are shipped via the United States Post Office Priority Mail. If you live nearby, you are welcome to pick up your medication in person from our pick-up window. In some cases, our drivers will hand deliver your medication right to your home.

Unfortunately, once the medication leaves our facility, we can no longer guarantee the integrity of the medication and dispense it to another pet. The New York State Board of Pharmacy prohibits all pharmacies from accepting medication that has been previously been dispensed. Should you no longer need the medication, you may choose to donate it to a pet rescue or a local animal shelter.