A spoonful of chicken helps the medicine go down: Inside the Virginia Tech Veterinary Teaching Hospital Pharmacy

Move over, vanilla! At Virginia Tech’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital Pharmacy, the hottest flavor is chicken pot pie. 

Here, medication gets a creative twist to ensure every patient gets the care they need. After all, who says medicine can't be delicious? 

Behind the scenes, a dedicated team works tirelessly to customize medications for every creature that comes through the doors of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH) in the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. That includes not only cats and dogs, but also horses, cows, and even the occasional pocket pet.

Ensuring the right dose and the tastiest delivery possible is all part of a day's work. 

"We serve the entire Veterinary Teaching Hospital," said Jessica Dolinger, pharmacy supervisor. "That includes outpatient departments like dermatology and ophthalmology, as well as hospitalized patients in the ICU and out in the field with Production Management Medicine."

Unlike your average neighborhood pharmacy, the VTH Pharmacy deals with a whole different range of medications and challenges. "There are definitely medications that are veterinary-only," said Dolinger. "And compounding is a much bigger part of what we do." 

Compounding, in this case, means more than just mixing up oral solutions. It's about customizing medications for different species, sizes, and even personalities. 

"We're often adjusting human medications to get the right dose for a smaller animal," said pharmacy technician Kyle Eberstein.  

With an average of 500 prescriptions filled each week, the pharmacy is a vital part of the hospital's operation. Though not a 24-hour service, the team ensures medication is always available through a combination of pre-filled orders, on-call technicians, and medication-dispensing machines located throughout the hospital.

"Our clinicians typically order a 24-hour supply of medication for each patient," said Dolinger. "And for anything needed after hours, we have technicians on call who can come in and dispense it directly to the veterinarian." 

The path to becoming a veterinary pharmacist or technician is a unique one. While a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree is required for pharmacists, technicians in Virginia must complete a training program and pass a licensing exam.

"You also learn a lot on the job," said technician Brandon Willis. "Especially about the animal side of things." This includes not only understanding animal-specific medications, but also recognizing how different species might react to certain drugs and learning the best techniques for administering medication to various animals. 

Beyond the technical expertise and dedication to patient safety, the pharmacy team also serves as a valuable resource for the entire hospital. The pharmacists provide advice to veterinarians on drug selection, dosages, drug interactions, and more. They also play a role in educating veterinary students during their clinical rotations.

"We catch errors on a regular basis," said Dolinger. "It's not because anyone is doing a bad job, it's just the nature of a busy work environment. It's our job to check and double-check doses to make sure everything is safe and within regulations. We're dedicated to making sure that the right product and the right dose goes out the door every time." 

"This field can be very stressful," Dolinger added. " But we also have a lot of laughs along the way. It's important to be able to laugh when things get hectic."

So, the next time your furry friend needs a little pharmaceutical pick-me-up, remember the Veterinary Teaching Hospital Pharmacy, where compassion and creativity are always on the menu.