A Look Inside Your Horse’s Compounded Medications

Horse owners and veterinarians should ensure horses are receiving safe and effective compounded treatments.
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A trip to the veterinary clinic can be costly, and it’s reasonable to expect that many horse owners will try to save a few dollars whenever possible. However, would they be willing to save money if they knew it was at the expense of their horse’s safety and/or the efficacy of the treatment that is being administered? While often less expensive than their legally compounded counterparts, illegally compounded products should not be used to reduce treatment costs, and in most cases little is known about their safety, efficacy, and stability. Why? Because they have not been proven safe or effective by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

By definition, a compounded product is any drug that has been manipulated outside of its original, approved form as described on its approved label; this includes any manipulation, from adding flavor to increase palatability to completely replicating a chemical. Illegally compounded products are not subjected to the same rigorous safety and efficacy standards as name-brand and generic equivalent FDA-approved products. The FDA has made it clear that the compounding of a new animal drug from any unapproved drug or bulk active ingredient(s) is illegal. The compounding of new animal drugs from an approved human or animal drug also is illegal unless it fits within specific FDA guidelines.

Value of FDA Approval

Gaining FDA approval is a coveted event

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