The Pharmaceutical Journal Vol 267 No 7162 p261-263
25 August 2001

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Pet medicines

Don’t send customers away

From Mr B. G. Spencer, MRPharmS

Comments on the article on an extended role for pharmacists in veterinary care (PJ, 4 August, p159) have ranged from the helpful (PJ, 11 August) to the cynical (PJ, 11 August). Our friend who rightly opines that potassium permanganate can be used in some fungal infections in fish should perhaps ponder why the specialist koi and exotic tropical fish retailers have a wide selection of other remedies available for treating fishy frailties. Perhaps there could be profit in it. Pharmacy has a golden opportunity to become established in profitable professional over-the-counter medicine supply. We should not be sending our customers across the road to the pet store, the supermarket or the saddler. When there is a need for referral, then we should do so to the local veterinary surgeon, with whom we should be building a solid inter-professional relationship. We can and should be helping each other.

Brian G. Spencer
Sutton Coldfield,
West Midlands

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