Comment from Animal Hospital of West Lake Forest
AnonymousSupportIndividual
Summary: A veterinary professional (implied by the context of treating animals) argues in favor of keeping metronidazole on office stock for compounding. They state that having the drug readily available is critical for treating small, young, or debilitated animals and that the compounded version is more palatable and appropriately concentrated than commercial alternatives.
In regards to the availability of compounded metronidazole for office stock. Loosing the ability to have this drug available for immediate use could prove detrimental for certain patients. The patients we use the oral solution for are small and either young or debilitated requiring prompt treatment to prevent the development of or worsening dehydration. Additionally, the ability to have a palatable flavor allows these patients, including cats, to be medicated with minimal difficulty. Requiring an individual prescription will increase the time before a patient can start treatment. In regards to commercially available oral solutions- the flavor is not accepted by most patients and the concentration is more than double that of our compounded choice making it less of an option for the patients we are treating with it.