Ascorbic Acid is prescribed in veterinary medicine for the treatment of Vitamin C deficiency caused by liver disease and for certain toxicity syndromes, like acetaminophen toxicity. Other uses include treating feline immunodeficiency virus infections and as a preventative measure against the formation of struvite uroliths. It has also shown to be beneficial as a supportive measure in the treatment of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.

Possible Interactions & Precautions with Ascorbic Acid

For the most part, Ascorbic Acid is safe for animals; however, excessive use of the vitamin can cause the formation of calculi in the kidneys. Intestinal irritation and diarrhea can also occur with large doses and in very rare cases, anemia can develop.

Because Vitamin C is water soluble, it breaks down quickly in the body so toxicity is generally not a problem, but the vitamin can cause an interaction with other prescription medications such as cyclosporine, tetracycline, beta-blockers, loop diuretics, aspirin and acetaminophen and other acid-based medications. In addition, some animals have been found to be sensitive to Ascorbic Acid so if your pet acts differently when taking the vitamin, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Ascorbic Acid Dosage & Administration

Ascorbic acid is available for administration in various compounding formulations, including tablets (250 mg, 500 mg, 100 mg, 1500 mg), capsules (500 mg), crystals (1000 mg per quarter teaspoon), powder (60 mg and 1060 mg per quarter teaspoon), solution (100 mg/mL), liquid (500 mg/mL) and by injection (500 mg/mL).

Typical dosages include:

For the treatment of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, dogs typically receive 250 mg, orally, twice a day.

For acetaminophen toxicity, the veterinary dosage is 15 mg per pound (30 mg/kg) injected under the skin or 10 mg per pound (20 mg/kg) given intravenously every six hours for seven treatments.

The duration of Ascorbic Acid administration ultimately depends on the condition being treated, the animal’s response to the medication and the evidence of any side effects. Once treatment is initiated, it’s important to complete the course of therapy unless instructed by your veterinarian.

Although Ascorbic Acid can be purchased over the counter, it’s extremely important to follow the dosage directions as indicated by your veterinarian. Different treatments require different dosage amounts.

How Does Amlodipine Work?

Amlodipine slows the rate at which calcium moves into the heart and blood vessel walls. This enables the blood vessels to relax, which ultimately results in better blood flow. The effects of Amlodipine also make it much easier for the heart to pump blood throughout the body, which lowers the pet’s blood pressure.

Administration of Amlodipine

When giving your cat or dog Amlodipine, it is important to follow the directions of your veterinarian. It is also very important that you not miss a dose as this can cause a sudden rise in the pet’s blood pressure. A sudden spike such as this can cause a pet to suffer seizures, kidney damage or blindness.

If you missed a dose, give your pet a dose immediately, or, if it is close in time to their next dose, use that dose to get back on schedule. Never give your pet 2 doses at the same time. In the case of an accidental overdose, please call your veterinarian immediately. Signs of overdose include a very slow heart rate, staggering, dizziness or collapse.

Possible Side Effects of Amlodipine

Side effects of Amlodipine are quite rare in veterinary medicine, but in some cases, the cat or dog may exhibit lethargy, loss of appetite, weight loss, swelling of the gums or a slight increase in their heart rate. It they get a laceration, it may also take longer for it to clot.

If your pet exhibits an allergic reaction, call your veterinarian immediately. Signs of an allergic reaction to Amlodipine can include sudden onset diarrhea, swelling of the face, itching, vomiting, hives, pale gums, cold limbs or the symptoms of shock or coma.

Amlodipine Precautions

Amlodipine should not be administered to cats or dogs that have liver disease. Female pets that are pregnant or lactating should not be administered the medication. Male and female pets that are breeding should also not receive Amlodipine.

If your pet is already taking heart medication, diuretics, vitamin supplements, aspirin or other medications that can affect their blood pressure, please consult with your veterinarian before administering Amlodipine as interactions may occur.

In general, the compounding pharmacy will recommend that Amlodipine be administered to patients with their food. Treatment should be completed as directed by the prescribing veterinarian in order to successfully treat the pet’s high blood pressure.

Miconazole in Veterinary Medicine

Miconazole is commonly prescribed in veterinary medicine for the treatment of skin fungal infections, primarily ringworm and yeast infections, in cats and dogs.

Possible Side Effects of Miconazole

When used in veterinary medicine and according to the directions of both the vet and the compounding pharmacy, the side effects of Miconazole are relatively minimal. Occasionally, a pet may experience a skin reaction in which the area may become red or irritated. Some pets may be allergic to the medication as well, in which they may exhibit the following signs: hives, swelling in the face, diarrhea, vomiting, constant scratching at the site, pale gums and cold limbs. Severe allergic reactions can include seizures, shock and / or coma.

Toxicity, or overdose, is also a rarity with this topical veterinary medicine. However, if you notice your pet exhibiting any unusual signs or symptoms during the course of their Miconazole treatment, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Important Precautions with Miconazole Use

Before administering Miconazole to your pet, trim as much hair away from the affected area as possible. This will allow the medication to be more easily absorbed. A second trimming may be required over the course of the treatment as well.

When treating fungal infections, it is critical to make sure your hands are clean before and after the application. Fungal infections such as ringworm can be transferred from a pet to a human so pay particular attention to hygiene habits when applying the medication.

Avoid covering the treated area with bandages or wrapping unless directed by your veterinarian. Also, be sure to inform your veterinarian about any other medications your pet may be taking so as to avoid any drug interactions.

Fungal infections in animals can take up to six weeks to heal. Failure to complete the full cycle of treatment for this veterinary medicine can and usually does lead to a relapse of the infection.

Buprenorphine is similar to morphine, but without the associated gastrointestinal side effects. Buprenorphine is also 30 times stronger than morphine, the original opiate narcotic that all others are compared to in terms of potency and effectiveness.

Buprenorphine Uses in Veterinary Medicine

In veterinary medicine, buprenorphine can be administered to canines and felines. A veterinarian may see fit to prescribe buprenorphine for the management of pain associated with tissue inflammation due to infection or pathological disease, tissue necrosis, tissue spasms, ischemia and trauma resulting from wounds, fractures and joint injuries.

Buprenorphine is only available by prescription from a specialist in veterinary medicine. Additionally, as with many other drug therapies in veterinary medicine, Buprenorphine is only approved by the FDA for use in humans, not animals. However, veterinarians are able to prescribe the drug as an extra label medication under the Animal Medicinal Drug Use Clarification Act.

Buprenorphine — Precautions and Potential Side Effects in Veterinary Medicine

Buprenorphine is heavily regulated by the Drug Enforcement Agency. As a result, cases of misuse and overdose are extremely rare. Buprenorphine is often administered onsite at the prescribing veterinary clinic or hospital.

In terms of precautions, allergic or hypersensitive patients should not be given buprenorphine. Buprenorphine is also generally not recommended for use in animals with Addison’s disease and kidney disease. Geriatric patients and animals with liver disease, severe head trauma or cardiovascular conditions may require close monitoring throughout treatment.

As with all forms of drug therapy, buprenorphine treatment can include potential side effects. The most common potential side effect is sedation.

Veterinary Compounding of Buprenorphine

As trusted experts in veterinary compounding, Diamondback Drugs can develop the following formulations of buprenorphine: capsules, liquid solutions or ointments, topical solutions or ointments and injectables.

Buprenorphine tends to absorb quickly when administered intravenously or orally. However, your specialist in veterinary medicine will determine the appropriate dose and formulation for your pet.

Modern Veterinary Medicine

Modern veterinary medicine upholds human health and expands the traditional scientific principles involving the study, diagnosis and proper medical treatment for domestic, wildlife, exotic and livestock animals. Advancements in veterinary medicine have created a number of specialties within the field, including areas of expertise such as internal medicine, ophthalmology, dermatology, anesthesiology, neurology, surgery, radiology and oncology, as well as emergency care.

In fact, animal health care has reached an impressive degree of comparability to human health care. Our treasured members of the animal kingdom can now receive pet health care insurance, dental work and undergo complex surgical procedures to improve their quality of life, such as organ transplants, hip replacement surgery and cataract removal. In essence, advancements in veterinary medicine are helping animals live longer, happier and healthier lives.

Challenges of Veterinary Medicine

One of the obstacles to receiving the best possible care in veterinary medicine involves the limited availability of drug therapies. Veterinary drug shortages are a common occurrence, as medications are frequently discontinued or go on backorder status due to any number of factors, which may include raw material shortages or packaging issues. Consequently, shortages of veterinary drugs are a roadblock to proper treatment and ensuring the health and wellbeing of your animal friend can turn into a critical challenge.

Diamondback Drugs — Veterinary Compounding and Proper Animal Health Care

While shortages of veterinary drugs may be on the rise, Diamondback Drugs offers a vital and highly specialized service to help pet owners, veterinarians and animal health care professionals provide the best possible form of treatment.

As experts in veterinary compounding, Diamondback Drugs is able to circumvent the challenges of veterinary medicine with an extensive selection of flavors, bases and medications, including discontinued and experimental drugs. Our team of veterinary pharmacists and technicians are well trained in veterinary compounding and can customize prescriptions according to the individual needs of each patient.

The Challenges of Veterinary Medicine

Unlike health care for humans, veterinary medicine faces a number of challenges that can create distinct obstacles to providing the best possible care. The inability to hold a verbal conversation with the patient is the largest barrier in veterinary medicine. Just as kitty is unable to describe what is ailing her, it’s impossible to verbally convey how a treatment can cure or manage a particular health condition. Consequently, patients in veterinary medicine often prove wholly uncooperative when it comes to administering veterinary drugs.

A top veterinary pharmacy addresses this chief concern by offering tailored treatment options to accommodate the needs of each patient. Diamondback Drugs provides a wide range of effective methods for the easy, safe and even pleasurable dispensing of veterinary drugs.

As a leading veterinary pharmacy, Diamondback Drugs can compound a diverse span of veterinary drugs customized specifically for the individual patient. We provide an extensive range of flavors and bases and can develop veterinary drug preparations in a variety of forms that can reinforce the efficiency of treatment. From capsules and liquids to chewables, drops, creams and transdermal gels, Diamondback Drugs can create the best formulation to meet the unique needs of the individual patient.

Access the Best Treatment Through a Reputable Veterinary Pharmacy

Another serious challenge to the success of veterinary medicine is the availability of veterinary drugs. Oftentimes, medications will go on backorder status, become discontinued or simply unavailable. Such obstacles can make administering the best treatment close to impossible. For this reason, veterinarians depend on reputable veterinary pharmacies to custom compound drug preparations and acquire the most effective form of treatment.

Top Veterinary Compounding Pharmacies Focus on Animals

An experienced veterinary compounding pharmacy that specializes in pet pharmaceuticals has a developed understanding for the complexities of dispensing treatment to animals. Diamondback Drugs focuses exclusively on the animal kingdom and has the requisite expertise to develop the best possible form, flavor, strength and dosage to efficiently and effectively accommodate the needs of veterinary patients.

Diamondback Drugs offers nationwide services for pet owners, veterinarians and animal health care specialists. We can accommodate treatment needs for both domestic and exotic veterinary patients.

The Best Veterinary Compounding Pharmacies Emphasize Customer Service

The most well regarded veterinary pharmacies offer top-notch customer service, placing the needs of their clients at the forefront of the business objective. At Diamondback Drugs, we are here for you, available by phone, email or fax to answer any questions you may have and help ensure that your veterinary patients receive the best possible treatment. We pride ourselves on offering the most efficient, effective and courteous service.

Fluconazole in Veterinary Medicine

Although Fluconazole is also used to treat humans, it is a popular veterinary drug. Your veterinarian will decide which dosage will help your pet most. Taking large dosages of veterinary drugs can cause problems in animals just as in humans, so be sure to follow your vet’s directions carefully.

Methods of Ingesting Fluconazole

Fluconazole prescribed to animals is most commonly distributed in pill form, which can be obtained through a veterinary pharmacy. A powder version of the drug is also available but is not as commonly sold for veterinary uses. Pet owners who have difficulty getting their dogs, cats or other animals to take the pill form of Fluconazole should contact their veterinarian or veterinary pharmacy for more information.

Possible Side Effects of Fluconazole

As with all medications, animals being treated with Fluconazole can develop side effects of various severities. Pet owners giving their animals Fluconazole or any other veterinary drugs should pay close attention to signs of worsening skin rashes; anemia, which is evidenced by pale mucus membranes and gums; digestive problems such as vomiting, diarrhea and loss of appetite; jaundice, which is evidenced by yellow skin, gums or whites of the eyes; lethargy and depression.

Some animals are more susceptible to these side effects than others. Some might also experience allergic reactions to this and similar veterinary drugs. Owners should therefore keep a close eye on their pets and contact their veterinarians immediately if their animals display any of these symptoms.

Obtaining Fluconazole for Your Pets

Pet owners can easily purchase Fluconazole by prescription from any veterinary pharmacy that carries a wide range of veterinary drugs.

Cyclosporine and Veterinary Medicine

Cyclosporine has a number of uses in veterinary medicine. The drug is commonly prescribed for dogs as an effective therapy for dry eye, or KCS (Keratoconjunctivitis sicca), which can lead to blindness if left untreated. Additionally, Cyclosporine treats Atopic Dermatitis in dogs, an allergy condition in which the trigger is unknown.

Other conditions in which Cyclosporine is prescribed for use in veterinary medicine include feline asthma, colitis, perineal fistulas, hemolytic anemia and Immune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia (IMHA), a disease in which the red blood cells are under attack in the immune system. In some cases, cats

Cyclosporine and Veterinary Compounding

Due to its widespread use in animal health care, Cyclosporine is often altered through veterinary compounding to satisfy the treatment recommendations of the condition and the individual needs of each patient. For example, in the treatment of KCS, veterinary compounding pharmacies usually develop eye-drops to stop the breakdown of tear gland tissue. Cyclosporine can also be compounded orally to treat conditions such as hemolytic anemia and feline asthma.

Cyclosporine — Potential Side Effects in Veterinary Medicine

As with all medications, Cyclosporine may cause side effects for some patients of veterinary medicine. Common side effects usually subside after one week of treatment and include digestive issues, such as diarrhea, upset stomach and vomiting. A number of patients may experience a loss of appetite.

Cyclosporine Precautions and Indications

Patients with compromised kidney function, liver disease, blood conditions and gastrointestinal ulcers should not be given Cyclosporine. The drug should also not be administered to pregnant or lactating patients.

In general, the designated veterinary medicine professional will recommend that Cyclosporine be administered to patients on an empty stomach. Treatment should be completed as directed by the animal health care specialist in order to successfully treat the condition at hand.

Veterinary Compounding for Metronidazole

Metronidazole has an extremely unpleasant taste, which can prove difficult when the time comes to administer medication. As a result, qualified veterinary compounding pharmacies are pivotal in the development of several different forms, strengths and flavors of the drug, thus easing the process of administering treatment.

Metronidazole for the Feline and Canine Species

Metronidazole is used in veterinary medicine to treat a variety of anaerobic bacterial infections and parasitic diseases in dogs and cats, such as Trichomonas, Giardia, Balatidium. It can also be prescribed for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, gum disease, diarrhea, tetanus and symptoms associated with liver disease, among many other conditions.

Horses and Veterinary Medicine

Many professionals in veterinary medicine treat horses with Metronidazole in correlation with other antibiotics. In such cases, Metronidazole attacks the anaerobic bacteria. Examples of such illnesses include Peritonitis and Pleuropneumonia.

Horses most commonly receive oral administration of Metronidazole. However, the drug may be administered rectally for cases concerning weight loss or anorexia.

Metronidazole — Potential Side Effects in Veterinary Medicine

Stomach upset and other gastrointestinal disturbances are a common side effect of Metronidazole therapy. Cats and dogs may also experience vomiting, nausea, salivating and a decrease in appetite, among other reactions. Infrequent reactions may include dark colored urine, liver problems, fatigue and a decrease in white blood cells.

Given the versatility of Metronidazole, the designated animal health care provider will need to customize the form, dosage and frequency of treatment for the individual needs of each patient. Metronidazole is not typically prescribed for kittens and puppies, as well as for animals in early pregnancy and those with compromised liver or kidney function.

Methimazole and Veterinary Medicine

In veterinary medicine, Methimazole is commonly used to treat cats. Due to its comparatively low occurrence of unpleasant side effects, Methimazole has become the preferred form of treatment for feline hyperthyroidism.

Since there is no known cure for hyperthyroidism, Methimazole can be used for lifelong management to reduce elevated thyroid levels or as a pre-operative measure for decreasing blood thyroid levels below normal in the removal of one of the thyroid glands.

Veterinary Compounding — Methimazole and Dosage Forms

Due to the challenges associated with drug administration in the feline species, the form of Methimazole can be altered through veterinary compounding to ease the process of dispensation. In veterinary compounding, the typical dosage form for cats is a transthermal gel, which simplifies administration and increases the effectiveness of the drug.

Veterinary Medicine — Methimazole and Early Stages of Treatment

Patients should be closely evaluated for the first few months of Methimazole therapy. During the three-month introductory period, specialists in veterinary medicine may wish to schedule frequent check-ups with the patient in order to monitor liver function, test for ANA and check T4 levels. Following introductory treatment, subsequent T4 level testing may be necessary every few months.

Methimazole and Potential Side Effects

Patients may experience the following side effects, which are usually detected within the three-month trial period: depression, appetite loss, leucopenia, vomiting, anorexia and lymphocytosis. Felines who develop a positive ANA will likely need to have the dosage adjusted.