Pharmacy Tales

Emerging trends and key challenges that veterinarians face in running their pharmacy.

A veterinary clinic’s pharmacy – both on-site and online – can be a one-stop shop for all aspects of a pet’s care, from diagnosis and treatment to aftercare and maintenance. It creates a more holistic approach to the animal’s health, enhancing the relationship between the veterinarian, the pet and the pet owner.

As the trusted source of care for their pets, veterinarians can provide clients with specialized knowledge about medications, ensuring pet owners understand the benefits and potential risks of specific drugs. This expertise fosters trust and reassurance in the clinic’s care.

The pharmacy can also generate a steady revenue stream for a veterinary clinic. By selling prescription medications, over-the-counter health products, and preventatives, it diversifies the clinic’s income beyond just exams and procedures.

Overall, the pharmacy plays a vital role in enhancing a veterinary clinic’s ability to provide comprehensive care, increasing convenience for pet owners, and boosting business profitability.

In the following articles, Vet-Advantage spoke to several experts in the pharmacy space to better understand the leading trends and issues veterinarians face in today’s marketplace.

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The Palms of Their Hands

Pet owner purchasing preferences have evolved significantly in the past five years, said Richard Hayworth, MBA, senior consultant for Brakke Consulting.

Most notably, consumers now hold the point of purchasing power in the palms of their hands, “and when the buying decision is made, your product better be easy to buy in a couple of clicks and arrive on their doorstep in a couple of days,” said Hayworth. “From my view, this expectation is the fundamental change in consumer post-Covid preferences.”

Hayworth said data from the 2024 Brakke Pet Medicine Home Delivery Study (2024 Brakke PMHDS) identified several key changes, including:

• Shift to online/smart phone purchasing and home delivery. “More pet owners are choosing the convenience of home delivery over in-clinic purchases, with major players like Chewy, Amazon, walmart.com, petsmart.com, petco.com and 800PetMeds leading the e-retail pet medicine market.”
• Price sensitivity and comparison shopping. “Pet owners are more price and convenience conscious, and can instantly search online, compare veterinary prices with large e-retailers, read customer reviews and make product purchases on their ever-present smartphones.”
• Consumer demand for home delivery and auto-ship models. As indicated in the 2024 Brakke PMHDS, pet owners enjoy and expect home delivery service. “Customer demand is the No. 1 reason veterinarians say they have an online store,” Hayworth said. “Pet owners are increasingly enrolling in auto-ship programs for convenience, and as a result, better compliance on dosing their pet medicines.”
• Loyalty is changing and convenience is king. Trust in veterinarians remains high, but convenience often outweighs loyalty, leading to Rx revenue “slippage” from clinics to online retailers. “People lead busy lives, and in today’s marketplace, pet owners will choose the easiest path when purchasing pet medicines, which is typically online and delivered to their doorstep. Make it easy and people tend to do more of it.”
• Rise of the omni-channel players and traditional boundaries are being crossed. “In the quest to become the one-stop-shop for all things pet related, traditional retailers are now expanding into veterinary care and pet services,” Hayworth noted. “Walmart and Petco have added in-store vet clinics over the past few years, and Chewy opened their own branded, stand-alone practices last year in select markets.”

The home delivery market

According to the Brakke data, the current home delivery market for pet medicines in the U.S. is estimated at $2.5 billion to $3 billion annually. The segment is growing at 10% to 15% CAGR, outpacing general veterinary prescription sales. By 2026, the home delivery channel could exceed $4 billion as more clinics adopt online pharmacy solutions and e-commerce continues to expand. By 2030, estimates suggest more than 50% of all pet medication purchases could come from online sources, further challenging traditional in-clinic sales.

Can veterinarians compete in this space? Hayworth said yes, but only with the right strategy. “Veterinarians face significant challenges in retaining medication sales due to the marketing and advertising power of larger e-retailers, but they still hold key competitive advantages that can be leveraged – most notably, the trust factor.”

The biggest surprise for Hayworth from the 2024 Brakke PMHDS is that most (80%) pet owners still prefer to buy Rx products from their veterinarian. Even with all their huge advertising spend, ongoing marketing campaigns, branding efforts and tech power, none of the big e-retailers (Chewy, Amazon, Walmart, PetSmart, Petco) are running away with the business. Overall, it seems as if they’ve only managed to fragment the market, scatter pet product purchases across channels and minimize profit margins for all players.

Veterinarians have their share of obstacles to overcome if they want to maintain and even grow home delivery. The first is a lack of awareness from the pet owners they serve. Many pet owners don’t realize their veterinary clinic offers an online pharmacy, Hayworth said. E-retailers aggressively market their services, while most clinics do not. Plus, a lack of loyalty programs or auto-ship incentives means they struggle to retain customers.

There is also a perceived loss of margin. Based on data from the 2024 PMHDS survey, the top reason for not having an online pharmacy was loss of margin on product sales. “Veterinary clinics need to evolve beyond this transactional mentality and consider these factors: lifetime value of the pet, pet owner demand for home delivery, the ability to maintain control of the pet’s medication and product information, the “stickiness” this added touch point creates with pet owners, and overall better customer service based on their needs,” Hayworth said.

Some veterinary clinic e-commerce platforms lack the seamless experience of Chewy or Amazon. If it’s difficult to order or renew prescriptions, the pet owners will default to e-retailers they use all the time, Hayworth said. Pet owners like to bundle preferred pet products into one order and have them delivered to their door.

Many pet owners also assume Chewy or Amazon is cheaper, even when veterinary clinic prices are comparable. Free shipping, aggressive “first order” discounts, and heavily promoted auto-ship savings give e-retailers an advantage. “E-retailers oftentimes use deep discounts to lure pet owners into first time, seasonal and promo purchases, and these initial savings disappear on replenishment purchases.”

Time and efficiency matter both to the consumer and veterinary team, Hayworth said. Slow prescription approvals or a lack of automation frustrate clients, while e-retailers make ordering instant and easy.

Auto-ship adoption

From 2017-2019, auto-ship adoption saw early steady growth but remained a secondary purchasing option. Hayworth said the pandemic supercharged auto-ship adoption as pet owners sought convenience and followed public health safety guidelines. Major e-retailers like Chewy and Amazon saw record auto-ship enrollments during COVID. “Auto-ship became an expectation, not just a convenience,” he said. By 2023, an estimated 50% or more of online veterinary medication purchases were made via auto-ship. The 2024 projections indicate continued growth, with clinics needing to implement competitive subscription models to prevent leakage to e-retailers.

Based off the Brakke study, approximately 80% of pet owners prefer to buy from their veterinarian, but don’t realize their veterinary clinic offers home delivery. Lack of awareness on the veterinarian’s online store and home delivery service is a far bigger problem than pricing.

Auto-ship may provide a solution to this. Clinics that implement auto-ship programs retain up to 80% of pet Rx compared to those that don’t, Hayworth noted. “This suggests that convenience is more important than price alone.” While price matters, it wasn’t always the primary reason for switching to e-retailers. Convenience and speed of delivery were ranked higher than price alone.

Pet owners under 40 are highly digital-first and expect a seamless online shopping experience with “one-click” purchasing, whether it’s on their smartphone or computer. “If a veterinarian’s online pharmacy isn’t easy to use, they won’t hesitate to switch to the ones they use most often.”

When veterinary staff actively promote the online pharmacy, clients are far more likely to use it. “If the veterinarian doesn’t bring it up, and pet owners don’t know it exists, then they will gravitate to e-retailers.”

How veterinary clinics can succeed in online pharmacy sales

Hayworth said veterinary practices that compete effectively in the online pharmacy space follow these best practices:

Proactive marketing and client education

• Veterinarians who actively promote their online store through email campaigns, social media, and in-clinic signage retain more prescription sales.
• QR codes in exam rooms for easy reordering.
• Front desk staff trained to mention auto-ship and delivery benefits.

Seamless online store and subscription services

• User-friendly platforms with simple reordering and fast prescription approvals.
• Auto-ship and loyalty rewards to keep clients subscribed to their veterinarian’s pharmacy.

Competitive pricing and bundling

• Price-matching guarantees on major brands like Simparica Trio and Bravecto.
• Bundling preventatives (e.g., flea, tick, and heartworm) with discounts for buying through the vet’s store.

Fast approvals and prescription management

• Same-day prescription approvals increase convenience and retention.
• Reminders via text/email when it’s time for a refill.

Veterinarian-backed trust and compliance messaging

• Emphasizing safety and quality versus risks of third-party sellers.
• Educating pet owners that medications through the vet are stored and shipped properly, reducing potential efficacy issues.

In-house platform for at-home preferences

The Brakke 2024 Pet Medicine Home Delivery Study provides clear actionable insights for veterinary clinics looking to retain more Rx sales, Hayworth said.

Clinics must proactively market the clinic’s online pharmacy and home delivery service, and implement and encourage auto-ship enrollment as it creates “stickiness” with the pet and allows them to compete on convenience of home delivery and auto-ship rather than price alone.

They also must train staff to pro-actively recommend home delivery through simple, effective messaging in the exam room and at point of check out. If veterinarians can ensure there’s a seamless, user-friendly e-commerce experience from online store and home delivery provider (on par with Chewy and Amazon is pet owner expectation), they’ll keep more revenue in-house and happy clients coming back.

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A Vaccination for DEA Compliance

Why your veterinary hospital clients may need outside expertise to stay DEA compliant and out of the news when it comes to their handling of controlled substances.

After a whirlwind travel schedule, Kelley Detweiler returned home only to receive multiple texts followed by a frantic call from a veterinary hospital leader. The first words she heard over the phone were “Help! Can you get on a flight ASAP? There is a DEA task force at our door.”

It turned out, a group-owned veterinary hospital was under investigation for prescription fraud. A pharmacy chain filling controlled substance prescriptions submitted by the veterinary hospital had spotted irregularities in the prescriptions and contacted the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as part of required pharmacy due diligence. As a result (and unbeknownst to the hospital) a federal investigation was launched into the matter until enough evidence had been gathered for a Criminal Search Warrant to be issued. Multiple individuals working at the hospital also worked at other facilities owned by the group, looping those locations into the investigation by association. After that, everything happened incredibly fast. One minute the veterinary team was operating like everything was normal, and the next a federal task force had raided the premises conducting a search and seizure; including arrests, all of which was unfolding outside of the facility beside a busy highway.

“When you have one bad actor who goes and spoils the pot, any facility they have been associated with can get wrapped into an investigation,” said Detweiler. “While this particular situation initiated at the pharmacy-level, the No. 1 reason unannounced DEA inspections and audits are triggered is because a disgruntled employee anonymously called in a complaint because they were mad, were fired or there was an actual problem.”

While not an everyday occurrence, Detweiler handles an alarming number of calls like these throughout the year. She is an internationally recognized author and DEA regulatory compliance expert who works with companies across many industries that handle controlled substances and DEA listed chemicals. She has an in-depth knowledge of how to navigate regulated substances and materials from the point of manufacturing throughout the entire supply chain.

The veterinary sector came to her attention during a conversation with her local veterinarian about the opioid epidemic and the drugs causing such an issue for human health doctors and hospitals. “When I was telling her these things, my veterinarian looked at me and said ‘What about us? We have the same drugs that every doctor and human healthcare person has, but we have no resources.’ That conversation shifted my frame of mind.”

Veterinary vulnerability

DEA non-compliance for veterinarians can lead to costly fines, reputational damage and, if left unmanaged, potentially cost clinicians their license and business.

As both a practitioner and long-time industry advocate, Peter Weinstein, DVM, MBA knows all too well how vulnerable veterinarians are to DEA and even OSHA compliance. “I call it the ‘Ostrich Gap,’” he said. “Veterinarians and their veterinary teams want to take care of clients and patients. So, when they’re asked to keep attention to detail, whether it’s a slip and fall from an OSHA standpoint, or monitoring logs when it comes to controlled drugs, these detract and distract from their primary focus.”

Items or steps get missed or forgotten, and then the DEA shows up at their door. By offering education and compliance through a company called Simple Solutions for Vets, Dr. Weinstein and Detweiler want to help veterinarians deal with a very scary aspect of their everyday responsibilities, “because controlled substances are dangerous products, or else they wouldn’t be controlled,” Dr. Weinstein said.

Most federal regulatory agencies were not built with the veterinary profession in mind. The DEA focuses mainly on human health care and pharmacy, yet many of the same drugs that human health doctors use, and pharmacists prescribe, are medications also kept in veterinary practices. “Fentanyl, hydrocodone, hydromorphone – all of these are in veterinary hospitals, and we have a responsibility to protect our staff members from access to these drugs because of potential abuse,” Dr. Weinstein said. “We also have a responsibility to our communities to protect diversion of these drugs from our hospitals to the streets.”

While human health care providers have resources, training, teams, institutional status and insurance to make sure they are DEA compliant, veterinary hospitals do not. “When you’re running a veterinary practice, you’re the compliance team, the ordering registrant, the doctor, the accountant – you’re all of those things,” said Detweiler.

When Dr. Weinstein opened his hospital, he was the only doctor, so the DEA registration was under his name. Even as he grew his practice, it remained that way, so anything that anybody did in his practice – whether he was involved or not – was ultimately his responsibility.

Even today in larger corporate owned veterinary hospitals that may have dozens of doctors, there’s usually just one person left holding the bag when it comes to liability, Detweiler said. “It’s scary, because how can you have oversight when there are that many people working with your drugs? You certainly can’t be ordering, checking and making sure that things are safe. It’s almost like you’re set up to fail.”

Adding to the challenge is that many veterinary hospital employees have a love for pets, but only entry level experience. They don’t always understand the nuances associated with running a business that handles controlled drugs and performs anesthesia, surgery and dentistry. “We don’t necessarily have all of our staff as well educated about this issue,” Dr. Weinstein said.

Steps and solutions

In 2017, Detweiler met Peter Weinstein through an industry event. They discussed a business idea Dr. Weinstein had already set up called Simple Solutions for Vets, a sort of clearing house for practitioners to go to for a plethora of business-related questions. Because the need is so great for DEA compliance, he and Detweiler decided to partner and focus on services that untangle and uncomplicate the controlled substance requirements for veterinary hospitals.

Simple Solutions for Vets works with veterinary hospitals on four levels to create a compliance program. The first and most preferred level for all parties involved is education. Dr. Weinstein and Detweiler will teach veterinary teams about the regulations and what needs to be done to remain compliant and off the DEA’s radar. “I like to call this the vaccination, or prevention step,” Dr. Weinstein said.

The next level is when a practice wants to be proactive and asks Dr. Weinstein and Detweiler to visit and perform an assessment. At this point, they have not identified a specific problem but want to see if there are any issues they may not be aware of. Dr. Weinstein likens this to a physical examination. “Kelley will go in with a checklist and assess how compliant they are from a controlled substance standpoint.”

Detweiler said most compliance issues are caused by the veterinary team’s inability to remain organized. The DEA, like the IRS, is primarily a regulatory agency. They rely on documentation, so the record keeping is about 75% of registrant issues.

Level three – an audit – occurs when a problem has been identified. The veterinary hospital staff may realize they are missing X amount of a specific drug, or they’ve discovered problems in their controlled substance logs, and want to reconcile the issue before the DEA becomes involved.

The fourth and final level is when a DEA agent or state board representative is at the veterinary hospital’s door. Veterinarians will call Simple Solutions to help guide them through the crisis period and what to do to get back in the DEA’s good graces.

A rep’s role

Distributor and manufacturer reps have a responsibility to veterinary hospitals when it comes to compliance, Dr. Weinstein said. He believes it’s imperative that the distributors who help veterinary hospitals order controlled substances also make sure that they’re doing things legally and correctly, and help veterinarians understand their obligations. And manufacturer reps whose companies produce these medications have a responsibility to educate their end user, the veterinary hospital, about the risks of those products. Even software companies need to understand where controlled substances fit in from an inventory and oversight standpoint.

For example, Detweiler was at a facility recently when she spotted an OSHA hazard waiting to happen. A product meant for the at-home wasting of controlled substances by end users to whom medication had been dispensed had been left by a vendor rep as a sample. There are wasting protocols that must be followed by DEA registrants to render a controlled substance ‘non-retrievable’ in order to be compliant that differ from end user disposal products and options. The veterinary team was not aware of this and evidently the vendor rep was also unaware. By giving a product sample with no clear instructions for disposal, the rep had created an inadvertent OSHA violation risk for the veterinary hospital that they in turn could be liable for, Detweiler said.

Indeed, lack of understanding and knowledge by distributor and manufacturer reps can create significant issues for veterinary facilities. Detweiler sees some of the biggest mess ups occurring between distributors and veterinary facilities when the DEA registrant ordering controlled substances under their DEA practitioner registration for a facility changes. Ordering of controlled substances at veterinary facilities should only occur under one individual’s DEA registration.

“Using multiple is a recipe for disaster because the DEA doesn’t allow ‘commingling’ between registrant controlled substance inventories or records,” Detweiler said. When a DEA registrant ordering controlled substances for a facility leaves or retires and another registrant takes over, specific processes must take place to properly “transfer” any remaining controlled substance inventory over to the new registrant, including ensuring that distributors are properly notified in writing of the change in ordering DEA registrant.

“I can tell you that in the over 800 practices I’ve physically been in, at least two-thirds have undergone a DEA registrant transfer, and the majority of them have issues (of varying degrees) resulting from the change in registrant not being promptly and properly updated in a distributor’s system. I’ve walked into practices where personnel are yelling at distributors on multiple occasions because they claim a distributor failed to update the registrant of record in the system despite having allegedly been notified of the change,” she said. In these situations, controlled substances for the facility continue to be ordered under the prior registrant who left. “It creates a huge mess that is time-consuming and costly to remediate.”

Every stakeholder who touches a veterinary hospital in some way could benefit from understanding the risks that veterinarians have, the knowledge base that they do not have, and work to help them become better educated about controlled substance compliance, Dr. Weinstein said. Thinking in clinical terms, this creates a “vaccination” against any compliance issues.

“Ultimately, this knowledge, data, logging and attention to detail will help prevent veterinary hospitals from dealing with any ‘DEA disease’ that may come in.”

Unintended consequences

Xylazine, a drug intended for veterinary use, has been the focus of more than two dozen state legislatures due to public health dangers of it being used illegally in the street. The sedative has been reported by the DEA as an adulterant in an increasing number of illicit drug mixtures and also detected in a growing number of overdose deaths. More than two dozen states have enacted xylazine restrictions without realizing how this affects veterinarians. As policy is crafted to help stop the illicit supply, the veterinary community is concerned that new enforcement tools could severely impact the legal and responsible access and use of xylazine by veterinarians and our clients, the AVMA said in an issue brief. The AVMA and DEA support legislation being considered in Congress that would update the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act, which would create safeguards by making xylazine a Schedule III drug and protect continued veterinary access by ensuring that the legitimate veterinary uses of this critical animal sedative would remain legal, the AVMA states on its website.

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A Prescription for Change

Vets Pets wants to bring more control of the veterinary pharmacy back into the hands of local clinicians.

Throughout her career, Natalie Young, PharmD, BCSCP, believes that if you’re not causing a little disruption, you’re not making enough progress.

A mentor and dear friend of hers, Gigi Davidson gave Dr. Young the nickname “The Firestarter” because of her commitment to advocating for what is right and challenging the status quo. “I stand up for patient care and do not compromise on ethical practices, even when it involves confronting external entities,” Dr. Young said. “I believe in creating meaningful change through advocacy, pushing for progress, and holding our industry to the highest standards.”

In February 2024, Vets Pets, a North Carolina cooperative network of veterinary hospitals, brought Dr. Young on board to help launch a new pharmacy initiative. The overarching goal is to offer dedicated and collaborative pharmacology resources to Vets Pets’ more than 100 veterinarians, allowing them to enhance pharmacy-related patient care and client service, the company said.

The rise of online and private equity-backed companies entering the veterinary pharmacy space over the last decade has moved much of the control away from veterinarians and the community sector, Dr. Young said. This change has created challenges such as reduced clinic revenue, fragmented medication regimens, and safety concerns due to inadequate training among community pharmacists. At the same time, consumer expectations for convenience, like home delivery, have increased.

“However, there’s growing awareness of veterinary pharmacists’ roles, highlighted by initiatives to define all species as patients and calls for specialized veterinary pharmacology training,” she said.

Focusing on the inside

Vets Pets’ pharmacy initiative is the first veterinary pharmacy created by practicing community veterinarians, Dr. Young said, and will prioritize the needs of veterinary teams and their patients, rather than the external pharmacy model focused on business efficiencies. In addition to offering expert resources to the medical team, the pharmacy intends to improve medication operations, including sourcing, procurement, technology, and efficiency. Client service opportunities will also be one of the pharmacy’s core focuses, with several projects already in development.

Vets Pets’ central pharmacy will complement practice-level services by supporting chronic care, while clinics handle acute care. The structure is set up to mirror human health care systems, like those at nearby UNC Chapel Hill and Duke, with centralized support for all branches, Dr. Young said. The initiative also emphasizes seamless integration with veterinary practices, ensuring communication, trust, and a unified approach to patient care.

“We focus on minimizing waste, optimizing inventory, and ensuring that medications are readily accessible to clinics and patients, especially in emergencies,” she said.

By centralizing inventory, Vets Pets’ aim is to reduce waste, lower costs, and ensure that essential medications are available across all practices. They have streamlined prescription processes through automation and integrated systems with veterinary software systems to avoid redundancies and delays. This allows Vets Pets’ medical teams to focus on patient care rather than logistical challenges. Communication platforms have been developed to facilitate quick and efficient interactions between veterinarians and pharmacists, improving adherence and compliance.

“Ultimately, the goal is to create a system where veterinarians spend more time on clinical care and less on managing pharmacy-related tasks,” Dr. Young said.

The system was also built to enhance client service opportunities with a user-friendly online platform that simplifies medication management, offering home delivery and autoship options to improve convenience and compliance.

“We prioritize timely prescription fulfillment, knowing that delays are unacceptable in patient care. Our communication platform supports clients with refills, reminders, and access to pharmacist counseling, ensuring they feel confident and supported,” Dr. Young said. “By empowering clients with resources and guidance, we aim to make the medication process seamless and stress-free, while maintaining the highest levels of patient safety.”

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Tailored Solutions

With personalized care for pets in demand, Covetrus is expanding its compounding pharmacy capabilities.

As pet parents increasingly view their animals as family members, they seek more advanced and personalized care options. That includes medications.

Today there are a wider variety of species and breeds that veterinarians treat, requiring tailored solutions. The emergence of veterinary specialties like cardiology, oncology, and neurology have also increased the demand for specialized, customized medications.

In December 2024, Covetrus announced the grand opening of its expanded, cutting-edge, 50,000-square-foot pharmaceutical compounding facility. The new facility, which is expanding by nearly 25,000 square feet, significantly enhances Covetrus’ pharmacy capabilities, allowing the company to increase its offerings of high-quality pharmaceutical products, including compounded medications, to veterinary clinics and pet parents across the U.S.

“Compounding is critical to the overall well-being of pets as it allows for customized medications with various flavor and dose form options, enhancing pet health and comfort,” the company told Vet-Advantage. “It fills gaps in the availability of manufactured drug products for veterinarians’ patients and provides therapeutic flexibility for veterinarians treating a wide range of species and breeds.”

Compounding can address issues like allergies, intolerances, or the need for different strengths or dosage forms, making it essential in providing tailored solutions for individual animal patients. This customization ensures that pets receive medications that are not only effective but also easier to administer, improving compliance and overall treatment outcomes.

Growing market

Over recent years, compounded medications have gained popularity in veterinary care for several reasons:

• Personalized therapy. Many pets have unique needs that off-the-shelf medications may not meet, such as those with allergies, sensitivities, or specific dosing requirements. Compounding allows veterinarians to prescribe medication in the exact form or dosage that a pet requires.
• Flavoring and formulation adjustments. For pets that have difficulty swallowing pills or refuse certain medications, compounds can be made in palatable forms like flavored chewables, liquids, or transdermal gels, improving compliance.
• New delivery system. There’s an increase in the use of novel delivery systems such as transdermal gels, which allow drugs to be absorbed through the skin, reducing stress on pets who are difficult to medicate orally.
• Long-acting formulations. Compounding can allow for extended-release formulations that reduce the frequency of medication administration, benefiting pets with chronic conditions like arthritis, diabetes, or heart disease.
• Managing rare diseases. Compounded medications are particularly beneficial for pets with rare conditions, such as certain metabolic disorders, rare infections, or genetic diseases where standard drug options are unavailable.
• Pain relief. Compounded medications are commonly used in pain management, especially for pets with chronic conditions such as osteoarthritis. Veterinarians may use compounded formulations of painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, or corticosteroids that are tailored to a pet’s needs.
• Cancer care. As veterinary oncology advances, compounded medications are also being used for cancer treatments. Compounding allows for better management of chemotherapy regimens by providing alternative dosages, routes of administration, and combinations that are hard to obtain in commercially available products.

• End-of-life care. In palliative and hospice care, compounded medications can help manage pain, nausea, and other symptoms more effectively, offering pets and their owners an improved quality of life during the end-of-life stage.

Doubling down on customization

Covetrus’ new state-of-the-art facility uses modern, automated equipment and enhanced facilities meeting industry regulatory compliance standards. The facility features improved supply reliability for veterinary clinics and pet parents, allowing for more products and customization options.

Expected efficiencies include increased pharmacy capabilities for producing compounded products, improved ability to serve veterinary clinics and pet parents across the U.S. from a centralized location, and enhanced supply reliability for easy-to-prescribe and administer medications.

“By doubling its pharmacy compounding space, Covetrus can now offer more products and customization options while ensuring prompt delivery and support from a centralized location,” Covetrus said. “Meeting the evolving needs of veterinarians and pet parents using modern, automated equipment and enhanced facilities that meet industry regulatory compliance standards is critical to our long-term success.”

Special skills and knowledge

The process of compounding requires specialized knowledge and skills. Compounding pharmacists require specialized training specific to veterinary pharmacies and must use modern technology and sophisticated techniques to prepare customized medications. “This complexity necessitates dedicated facilities like Covetrus’ new expansion, which can maintain the high standards required for safe and effective compounding practices,” the company said.

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