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Frequently Asked Questions
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product & formulation FAQs
In short, an apothecary is a historic pharmacy. However, a traditional apothecary is very different from the modern retail pharmacy that we know today. Historically, an apothecary owner would work alongside medical practitioners to develop individualized treatments for ailments and diseases. Apothecary owners were considered experts in selecting ingredients for treatments, extracting their medicinal components, and then choosing the proper base to prepare them in. Many therapies were derived from plant, animal, and mineral substances. As modern medicine has evolved, this practice has grown into what we now know as a modern pharmacy. It was not until the 20th century that the practice of pharmacy developed into the dispensing of tablets, capsules and other commercially prepared products. Today, you can still find independently-owned pharmacies that practice the art of compounding individualized medications, but sadly, this practice is dwindling due to the empire of corporate retail monopolies, commercialized products, and insurance formularies.
There is only one thing that we love more than our horses, and that’s science. Our products have been carefully developed by choosing ingredients from trusted literature and research publications. Next, we choose a preparation that is practical for horses. For example, we chose an ointment base for our original Formula 44 due to its ability to form a protective barrier. This oil-based barrier will moisturize and protect your horses’ skin from the stall, pasture, and arena muck that it will encounter on a daily basis while the therapeutic ingredients treat the damaged skin. Lotions and creams do not have this important property and are simply impractical for treating most equine skin conditions, especially on the legs. When treating your horse with our products, you can feel confident that you are choosing a product that will be maximally effective. In addition, all of our products are made using ingredients that are safe for USEF and FEI competitions.
Formula 44 products contain chlorhexidine, a trusted antimicrobial and anti-fungal ingredient used in many veterinary and medical applications and proprietary blend of essential oils and moisturizing lipids. If you have a horse with sensitivities or questions regarding a specific ingredient please email our Pharmacist at info@drhansensapothecary.com.
We will do our best to provide a satisfactory answer.
Our equine Formula 44 line contains small amounts of tea tree oil, which can be toxic to our canine friends if ingested (in large amounts). To completely eliminate this risk, we have specially developed our Formula 44 Ointment for Dogs.
Yes! All of our Dr. Hansen's Equine Apothecary products are free from USEF and FEI banned substances.