CVA Veterinary Pharmacology Basics 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Cats are particularly sensitive to which common over-the-counter pain reliever due to a deficiency in glucuronidation?
- Ibuprofen
- Acetaminophen (Correct answer)
- Aspirin
- Naproxen
Correct answer: Acetaminophen
Cats lack the hepatic glucuronyl transferase enzyme needed to metabolize acetaminophen, making it highly toxic and potentially fatal.
Question 2: Which class of antibiotics inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis and includes amoxicillin?
- Fluoroquinolones
- Tetracyclines
- Beta-lactams (Correct answer)
- Aminoglycosides
Correct answer: Beta-lactams
Amoxicillin is a beta-lactam antibiotic that inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis by binding to penicillin-binding proteins.
Question 3: What is the meaning of 'bioavailability' in pharmacology?
- The speed at which a drug is eliminated from the body
- The fraction of administered drug that reaches systemic circulation (Correct answer)
- The ability of a drug to cross the blood-brain barrier
- The concentration of drug at the receptor site
Correct answer: The fraction of administered drug that reaches systemic circulation
Bioavailability is the proportion of a drug dose that reaches systemic circulation in an unchanged, active form.
Question 4: Which drug is the reversal agent for alpha-2 adrenergic agonists such as dexmedetomidine?
- Naloxone
- Flumazenil
- Neostigmine
- Atipamezole (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Atipamezole
Atipamezole (Antisedan) is a selective alpha-2 adrenergic antagonist used to reverse sedation caused by dexmedetomidine or xylazine.
Question 5: A veterinary technician notices a cat's urine turns dark brown after drug administration. Which drug is most likely responsible?
- Amoxicillin
- Metronidazole
- Acetaminophen (Correct answer)
- Doxycycline
Correct answer: Acetaminophen
Acetaminophen toxicity in cats causes methemoglobinemia and hemolysis, resulting in brown or muddy-colored urine.
Question 6: What does 'contraindication' mean in veterinary pharmacology?
- A recommended drug combination
- A condition or factor that makes a drug unsafe to use (Correct answer)
- An alternative dosing schedule
- A drug interaction that increases efficacy
Correct answer: A condition or factor that makes a drug unsafe to use
A contraindication is a specific situation or condition in which a drug should not be used because its risks outweigh the benefits.
Question 7: Which type of drug interaction occurs when two drugs together produce a greater effect than the sum of their individual effects?
- Antagonism
- Tolerance
- Synergism (potentiation) (Correct answer)
- Tachyphylaxis
Correct answer: Synergism (potentiation)
Synergism or potentiation occurs when combined drugs produce an effect greater than the sum of their separate effects (e.g., 1+1=3).
CVA Veterinary Pharmacology Basics 4
Cats are particularly sensitive to which common over-the-counter pain reliever due to a deficiency in glucuronidation?