January , 2018

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a condition in which the body’s immune system attacks the myelin (protective sheath over nerve fibers) in the central nervous system(CNS). Over time there is degeneration of the nerves that can lead to a series of issues. Less severe symptoms can include numbness, weakness, tingling, pain and tremor. While there is no cure for MS, there are treatment options that can help slow down degeneration and relieve symptoms. Among those treatment options, the use of high-dose biotin-D has recently emerged.

Finasteride is more commonly known for its tablet form to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), brand name Proscar and male pattern hair loss (alopecia), brand name Propecia. It was originally marketed for BPH at 5mg daily, one of the side effects noticed with this medication was the increasing hair thickness and was then approved after being studied for alopecia. Although given at a lower dose of 1mg daily for alopecia, finasteride, when taken orally, can still cause side effects common with 5mg daily such as decreased libido, erectile dysfunction and other sexual adverse experiences. These side effects may steer patients away from wanting to take oral finasteride for alopecia.

Betahistine, an anti-vertigo medication, is used to treat symptoms of Meniere’s disease in adults.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is associated with disabling symptoms because the immune system attacks the nervous system. Signs and symptoms vary from person to person. Mild symptoms can include numbness or weakness, tingling or pain and fatigue while more severe MS can result in patients losing their ability to walk independently. With no cure for MS, symptomatic relief is offered through a variety of medications.

If you were wide awake in health class—or, happened on it while flipping through a Men’s Fitness magazine in between articles on ab crunches—testosterone is a naturally occurring hormone produced by the human body that helps signal organ development and bone growth and the creation of new blood cells in males and females.

If you subscribe to the New York Times, you may have seen the special section they had in early June about the latest information as to the mutually beneficial relationship between people and their pets. Our understanding of this bond has deepened: we can get employer-sponsored health benefits for veterinary care; cats—and even goats!—participate in yoga classes; there are growing studies in empathetic responses between dogs and people; there are even reports that interaction with our pets can help boost our immune responses!

It’s time to retire that catchphrase, “Science Fiction has become Science FACT,” because we’re now living in an age where parents struggle to figure out Skype settings to talk to their children, and our phones computational abilities if properly applied could send an Apollo-level mission to the moon and back.

With access to information at our fingertips, there is also easy access to prescription medication. With one click—plus free shipping—acquiring prescription medications has become easier than getting them at traditional brick-and-mortar pharmacies. And in some cases, it’s more affordable.

Liver Disease Ursodiol as one therapeutic option The liver is a multifaceted organ. It is involved in digestion by the metabolism of protein, lipids and carbohydrates; storage of vitamins, minerals and production of bile acid, which is essential for detoxification of many end-products of digestion. It also produces and stores coagulation factors recruited for production of clots resulting in wound healing. This organ protects itself by regenerating his own cells to a certain extend, but can still be at great risk due to its filtering capacity and exposure to many metabolites, products of digestion, drugs, and toxins. This could be leaving temporary or even permanent damage to the cells it harbors.

Cushing’s Disease and Compounded Trilostane Dogs can suffer from endocrine (hormonal) diseases much like people. Cushing’s disease (hyperadrenocorticism or HAC) is an endocrine disorder, in which dogs produce too much cortisol hormone. 80% of dogs with Cushing’s disease have the pituitary-dependent form, while the remaining are affected by an adrenal gland tumor. Cushing’s disease affects the multiple functions throughout the dog’s entire body.

CareFirst Pharmacy is proud to bring custom-compounded theophylline in flavored, 4-way FlexDose tablets. If your veterinarian has prescribed theophylline for your pet, we are happy to provide an easy way to get just the right dose. What is Theophylline? Theophylline is a phosphodiesterase inhibitor drug and bronchodilator. It is mainly used in dogs and cats with respiratory diseases. It directly relaxes muscles within the bronchi of the lungs and also in the pulmonary blood vessels. Theophylline can cause stimulation of the respiratory centers in the brain and has a mild diuretic effect, which may make it a helpful drug in managing congestive heart failure (CHF) in certain pets.

Heart medication specifically for dogs may seem unusual, but it is far from uncommon. If your dog suffers from a heart condition, your veterinarian may have prescribed pimobendan. What is pimobendan? Pimobendan is a PDE3 (phosphodiesterase III) inhibitor, which increases cardiac contractility while dilating arterioles. In the simplest terms, it helps to relax blood vessels, thus lowering blood pressure and helping the heart to pump blood properly. How can pimobendan help my dog? Pimobendan is a medication that is prescribed for a very specific heart problem: congestive heart failure (CHF) secondary to myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD). Pimobendan is not currently recommended for dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) or hypertropic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Overall, dogs that take pimobendan tend to have a longer survival time and feel better than dogs with the same condition that do not take pimobendan.

Your Pets are Special and Their Medication Should Be Too Your pet is unique in every way. Most of the time, that uniqueness is in their personality and playfulness – but it can also mean their medical needs. Compounding pharmacies are keenly aware of how medicines can affect animals, and want tohelp meet the healing necessities of your pet with a treatment as unique as they are. Compounding itself has a storied history, and is a trustworthy and safe way to treat pets. Since dogs, cats, and other pets have been gracing us with their love and faithfulness, vets have been using simple, customized compounds to keep pets and pet owners happy.

Next in our blog’s behavior series is a drug called fluoxetine. Most people know of this drug by its trade name “Prozac.® Specialty Care Pharmacy is happy to offer this drug as a generic in the compounded medium you need. Fluoxetine is a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) and it works in cats in a similar fashion to humans. While it is an “anti-depressant” in people, it is used to treat a variety of behavioral issues in cats.

Use of Diethylstilbestrol (DES) for therapeutic purposes Urinary incontinence (UI) is defined as the involuntary loss of urine during the filling phase of the bladder . At this time, there are many suspected factors contributing to the problem. Nevertheless, urinary sphincter mechanism incompetence (USMI) after spaying is the most common micturition disorder, and its medical treatment is normally successful. The underlying mechanism is not fully understood. But, we do know that hormonal changes can induce structural and functional alterations in the bladder, as well as in the urethra composition. The proposed predispositions to incontinence that follows neutering including gender, breed, body weight, obesity, tail docking, spaying technique (ovariectomy and ovariohysterectomy) and morphology or position of neck of the bladder and urethral length, have all been investigated

Deborah Barber Shores, DVM Pharmaceuticals are used to treat and prevent a wide range of ailments in our animal companions. Sometimes, veterinarians are not able to dispense medications in the dosage required for a particular patient. This is where compounding pharmacies step in and save the day. Dogs, cats, horses and even rabbits can benefit from compounded medications. As a veterinarian, I use a compounding pharmacy almost every day. Let’s take a look at a few cases where compounded drugs have made a difference for my patients.

Cats are wonderful addition to our families but sometimes there are ‘unpleasant’ aspects of having a cat. Many of you know what I am speaking of, and it usually involves stepping in ‘something’ with bare feet in the middle of the night. Hairballs and other contents of vomit are an unfortunate part of many cat fancier’s lives. But did you know that hairballs are NOT a “normal” thing for cats to produce? Hairballs, when produced frequently (more than once a month) can be a sign that there is a problem in the digestive system. If your cat has had issues with vomiting, regurgitation or hairballs, your veterinarian may have prescribed Cisapride.

In this article, we will look at amitriptyline, a medication your veterinarian may have prescribed for your cat. Specialty Care Pharmacy has many dosing options available for your cat’s specific needs. What is Amitriptyline? Amitriptyline is a tricyclic behavior modifier and was used for many years in people as an “anti-depressant.” Surprisingly, it is used to treat a variety of problems in cats. It also has anti-inflammatory properties, which can help decrease discomfort and pain associated with certain medical conditions.

Enrofloxacin is a synthetic antimicrobial prescribed in disease states involving susceptible bacteria like Staphylococcus, Proteus, Escherichia coli, Pasteurella, Klebsiella and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. (4) The drug acts by inhibiting DNA and RNA synthesis within the pathogen. In most of our patients, it is metabolized to ciprofloxacin, which may contribute to additional antibacterial effects. In reptiles, it is mostly used in upper respiratory infections, wounds, abscesses and critically ill individuals. For example, this python (see figure 1) has facial lesions from self-induced trauma after some components of the enclosure materials were changed from plastic to wood. The patient also presented with upper respiratory congestion, which was noticed during the physical examination as a harsh upper nasal noise.

Hyperthyroidism is a condition when the amount of thyroid hormone exceeds the normal limit in the blood circulation. The usual cause of this condition is the enlargement of the thyroid gland(s) or a hormone producing thyroid tumor. In feline, this condition is rare and in approximately 80% of the cats, it is observed that hyperthyroidism involves enlargement of both glands. However, in the other 15% only one is enlarged. Hyperthyroidism causes intense activity in the cats causing them to move around with increased speed and playing a vital role in decrement of their health.