The Drug Compounding Task Force of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) has released guidelines regarding the responsible use of compounded medications by veterinarians. The guidelines are the result of the association’s commitment to educating its members on this increasingly important topic within the animal health industry.

Issues addressed in the guidelines include the negative effects on efficacy that can result from using products not held to the government’s standards for compounding, as well as the appropriate use of bulk drugs in the preparation of compounded medications. To view a copy of the guidelines, visit www.aaep.org and select "Drug Compounding" under the "Resources" heading on the home page.

The AAEP is one of the first organizations to directly address the mounting ethical dilemmas and consequences related to illegal compounding. While drug compounding serves a very legitimate and important purpose in animal health, manufacturers must abide by federal regulations in order to create a high-quality, safe product and encourage a fair marketplace for animal health products.~~~