It was a busy first six months of 2023 for veterinary professionals and practices, and the rest of the year isn’t likely to slow down. With the tradeshow circuit back to pre-pandemic attendance and new regulations going into effect, veterinary professionals have had to manage far more than just patient care.
With the year a little more than halfway over, we’re taking a quick “paws” to review some of the major changes that have already gone into effect, ones still to come, and ways you can prepare your practice for success in the second half of the year. Here are the top five changes and trends we’re keeping an eye on.
1. Implementation of GFI #256
Earlier this year, the FDA finalized regulatory guidance for compounded medications, known as GFI #256. The new guidance affects both office stock in veterinary practices and individual animal-patient prescriptions. However, it does not include cGMP products from 503B outsourcing facilities, like Epicur Pharma.
Some of the biggest changes that GFI #256 brings include:
- Increased documentation for patient-specific prescriptions
- Limitations to available 503A office-stock drugs
Although veterinary professionals were aware of the impending changes with GFI for months, many have been left scrambling since it went into effect in April. If GFI is affecting your practice’s ability to get compounded medications for office use, partnering with a trusted 503B outsourcing facility can help you eliminate risks of limited ordering.
Because 503B outsourcing facilities aren’t included in the GFI changes, partners like Epicur Pharma can ensure your practice stays stocked with high quality, manufactured medications and help streamline ordering processes with our iFill ordering system. The system lists what you can order for office stock and will provide the documentation necessary for patient-specific orders if the guidance requires it.
Our team is dedicated to helping you stay up to date on regulation changes.
We partner with experts to offer educational webinars that ensure you understand the impact on your practice. Watch our most recent on-demand GFI webinar with Nicole Clausen, What Every Inventory Manager Needs to Know About Compounded Medications.
2. Impending USP Guidelines on Beyond-Use Dates
Coming in late 2023, new USP guidelines will limit Beyond-Use Dates (BUDs) on drugs from 503A compounding pharmacies. The changes will shorten the BUDs of compounded 503A products and will not allow pharmacies to establish longer dates, even with sufficient evidence to support or prove their cause.
The new guidelines will only affect BUDs and not expiration dates because drugs can only be assigned with an expiration date after the completion of extensive testing, which 503Bs are required to follow.
As with GFI, this USP guideline will not affect 503B products because they have longer/proven expiration dates validated by cGMP. This impending change is another reason why having a 503B partner is critical to your practice and patient care.
Want to learn more about Beyond-Use Dates vs Expiration Dates?
Read our blog!
Switching to a 503B partner now will not only alleviate any challenges you’ve had since GFI went into place, but it will also ensure you can order with ease as the impending USP guidelines of BUDs goes into effect!
3. Continued Burnout and Veterinary Staff Shortages
Unemployment rates continue to affect the veterinary industry, with estimates that by 2030 there will be a shortage of 15,000 veterinarians, making the demand for more workers increasingly urgent.
Veterinarians and staff alike struggle to cope with the challenges they face in their daily work environments. As a result, many dedicated professionals are turning away from veterinary medicine, exacerbating the current staff shortages. It is now more important than ever to be aware of the signs and symptoms of burnout so you can properly address them within your work environment.
Although it can be difficult to see, there are some ways you can help find solutions within your practice. It often starts with communication. Make sure you check in with colleagues, notice signs of stress, and offer help. Small changes within your work environment can help relieve the daily non-stop work, like setting a proper lunch break time. You can also automate processes where it makes sense and enhances your practice, such as online ordering and inventory management systems, to give time back to staff.
Need support? Many veterinary professionals are in crisis. Not One More Vet (NOMV) provides the necessary support to all members of veterinary teams and students who are struggling. Contact them today.
4. Prioritizing Client and Patient Relations
In the evolving veterinary industry, prioritizing client and patient relationships remains essential to ensuring the highest possible level of care, especially when transitioning to a service-based model. With this shift, clients often seek a personalized experience knowing you value their pet’s health and well-being as if it were your own.
Did you know?
All Epicur Pharma drugs are ready to ship same business day with 1-2 days in transit. Order today!
Often, veterinary hospital visits can be stressful for both the patient and the client. Creating an environment to keep everyone comfortable and educated throughout the visit can build trust with patients and clients.
Establishing trust with pet owners fosters a positive customer experience and nurtures long-lasting loyalty. This can be achieved by creating opportunities to share your knowledge with clients. Whether it’s tips on proper medication usage and storage, guidance on applying medications, reminders of seasonal factors such as ticks or high heat, sharing your expertise helps build a strong relationship with pet owners. To make the client’s time at your practice convenient, you can also stay regularly stocked on compounded medications approved for dispensing through a 503B outsourcing facility like Epicur Pharma.
5. Product Shortages
Product shortages are inevitable and variable, stemming from product recalls, labor shortages, unavailability of necessary packaging, or active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). Recent compounded medication shortages from some suppliers have included Buprenorphine Injection, Tacrolimus AQ, and Gabapentin – leaving offices out of stock and unable to have the necessary medications readily available in case of patient emergencies. Keep in mind that for compounded medication, another supplier will be able to help you. The uncertainty of this makes it especially important to have a veterinary pharmacy that you can rely on to inform you of product changes and availability.
With Epicur, consistent and reliable 503B manufactured products are our standard every time. We offer one of the largest selections of 503B manufactured drugs that are traditionally compounded for animal health among currently registered facilities nationwide, with most of our products not having a backorder or shortage in years!
Partner with a pharmacy you trust—explore our available medications.
More to Read
Why Quality Matters in Compounded Veterinary Ophthalmology Medications
What Should Veterinarians Know About Ophthalmic Eye Drops? Quality matters in every veterinary medication, but when it comes to ophthalmic medications, the stakes are even higher. Eyesight plays a critical role in an animal’s quality of life, and veterinary professionals know that even the slightest variation in ophthalmic preparations can impact healing, comfort, and outcomes. When veterinary ophthalmic medications fail to meet basic standards of quality and consistency, the consequences can extend far beyond the patient. They can influence treatment outcomes, client trust, and confidence in your medication provider. Dr. DJ Haeussler (BS, MS, DVM, DACVO) has seen firsthand how low-quality eye drops can negatively impact patient outcomes and the veterinarian-client relationship. From delayed healing to frustrated pet owners, the ripple effects of unreliable medications are real—and preventable. He helps us break down the common problems with compounded veterinary ophthalmology products today and what to look for in your products and medication partner. Only have 3 minutes? Watch the highlights from our interview with Dr. Haeussler. https://vimeo.com/1191194793/c1c371f5dd?fl=ip&fe=ec What problems are veterinarians seeing with eye drops? Veterinary ophthalmology often relies on compounded medications to meet specific clinical needs. However, not all compounded products are created equal. Many veterinary professionals have experienced challenges with compounded ophthalmic medications, including: Changing formulations without clear communication Inconsistent beyond-use dating Variability in potency or effectiveness Unpredictable stability once dispensed Patient discomfort during administration These issues can make it difficult to determine whether a treatment failure is due to disease progression or the medication itself. There have been many cases where variability in formulation or quality has led to stinging or irritation in the patient’s eyes, complicating treatment compliance even further. In ophthalmology, where precision matters, even small inconsistencies can lead to delayed healing, increased follow-ups, and client frustration—especially when treatment becomes uncomfortable or difficult to administer. Looking for ways to evaluate your medication provider? We’ve got tips for that. I want to know those 5 best qualities Why is consistency important in veterinary ophthalmology medications? Consistency is not just a preference—it is a clinical necessity. Unlike many systemic treatments, ophthalmic medications are applied directly to sensitive tissues, which means they must meet high standards in: Sterility – to prevent ocular infection Potency accuracy – to ensure effective dosing Stability – to maintain performance over time Variability in traditional compounding (503A pharmacies) can lead to differences between batches, while manufacturing under stricter regulations with process control can reduce those risks and support more predictable outcomes. For veterinary teams, that reliability translates into greater confidence in prescribing and clearer expectations for patient response. How do compounded veterinary medications vary in quality standards? Not all compounding environments operate under the same level of oversight or manufacturing rigor. Traditional compounding approaches can introduce variability in potency, sterility, and consistency from one preparation to the next. By contrast, 503B manufacturing facilities are designed to produce compounded medications at scale under current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP), with an emphasis on batch consistency and quality control. This distinction matters, especially for medications used frequently in practice or across multiple patients. In fact, when a medication is not available through a commercial manufacturer, guidance often points clinicians toward 503B products as a higher-quality alternative due to their greater consistency and reduced variability compared to traditional compounding. How does packaging impact ophthalmic drug quality? Quality doesn’t stop at formulation. Packaging can also play a major role in quality. Many ophthalmic medications, including tacrolimus eye drops, are highly sensitive to light exposure. Improper packaging can lead to: Drug degradation Reduced potency Shortened shelf life Less predictable dosing If the appropriate packaging is not used in the manufacturing process, the quality of the product is at risk before it even reaches the patient. Opaque bottles help protect light-sensitive products from light, aiding in drug stability and supporting consistent performance and reducing waste for veterinary practices. If you’re receiving eye drops in clear bottles, that’s a warning sign to consider the quality of the product you’re receiving. Packaging Matters! Read more about how packaging affects medication quality. I need to know the details about packaging quality. What should veterinarians look for in an ophthalmic medication provider? For veterinary professionals, choosing an ophthalmic product isn’t just about availability—it’s about trust. You and your practice need to trust that: The formulation will remain consistent over time The beyond-use dating reflects real stability data The medication will perform reliably across patients The manufacturer is transparent and accountable Your provider should be able to confirm the quality of their products and reinforce your trust in them. Key indicators of quality include proven safety standards, batch-to-batch consistency, verified potency and label accuracy, reliable inventory and dating, transparency and support. 503A pharmacies are not required to conduct final product testing. They also have shorter USP limited-beyond-use dates compared to stability-indicating beyond-use dates. Compounded medications are not generics. Products from different facilities containing the same active ingredient often differ in formulation, testing, regulatory requirements, and dating. Variations between 503A and 503B facilities and among individual compounding pharmacies can negatively impact quality, consistency, and the animal’s overall health. How Epicur sets a higher standard for ophthalmic medications. Epicur’s approach to veterinary ophthalmic medications is centered on reducing variability and increasing confidence. As a 503B outsourcing facility, Epicur follows current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP)—which requires final product testing including sterility, potency, pH, content uniformity, disintegration and more. This allows for: Greater batch consistency Validated stability and longer, proven expiration dates of up to 365 days Reduced variability compared to traditional compounding Additionally, Epicur prioritizes packaging decisions that support drug integrity, including opaque containers for light-sensitive ophthalmic medications, with testing performed both before and after packaging to verify stability and purity. This combination of manufacturing rigor and thoughtful product design helps veterinary professionals prescribe with confidence and gives pet owners peace of mind. Together, we can set a higher standard for ophthalmic care. By prioritizing consistency, sterility, stability, and transparency, practices can reduce uncertainty and focus on what matters most: delivering better care and
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