Comment from Sherri Wooding

I am a GP veterinarian with a special interest in cardiology. Over the last year and a half, I have attended many specialized cardiology seminars taught by board certified cardiologists. I am disappointed in the decision to eliminate compounded pimobendan from my pharmacy. I live in a community where emergency care is over an hour away after normal business hours, as well as an econimically challenged community on the border with Mexico. Having access to compounded pimobendan is literally a lifesaver for many of my patients. Once it has been determined that an animal is in congestive heart failure, due to the limitations of my community, I need to have that animal stable before my clinic closes. Pimobendan is an important componant to that care. The compounded produce is easier to administer, causes less stomach upset, works within 30 minutes, and is much more flexible in adjusting dosages, which inevitably occurs during the longterm course of treatment. Some of my geriatric patients are crabby and it is very difficult to administer the giant pill that is the brand name pimobendan. Many of the cardiologists I studied under, prefer the compounded pimobendan due to the above conditions. It is sad that animals and their humans will suffer due to the lack of availability of this mainstay of emergency cardiac care. I hope that you will reconsider the option of administering compounded pimobendan in house.