Every horse owner has the right to know the safety and efficacy
of medications a veterinarian prescribes for their horse. But
even the most experienced horse owners may not be aware of the
health risks involved with using compounded drugs. Compounded
drugs are unregulated drugs produced by altering or combining
other drugs to serve a patient’s particular need. Recently,
compounded drugs have been linked to tragic incidents in the
horse industry, including the sudden death of 21 polo ponies in
April and the deaths of several horses in Louisiana in 2006.
Because compounded drugs are not regulated, other incidents
remain unreported. The American Association of Equine
Practitioners acknowledges that reputable pharmacies produce
legitimate compounded drugs to improve the health of horses when
an FDA-approved option doesn’t exist. However, when
inappropriately compounded and used, these drugs may pose a
serious threat to the health of your horse. Knowing the facts
about legitimate and illegitimate compounded drugs