Practice Test GeeksNAVLE - North American Veterinary Licensing Examination Practice Test
← All NAVLE Flashcard Decks

Feline Pharmacology and Toxicology Flashcards

7 cards from real NAVLE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Feline Pharmacology and Toxicology flashcards as text

  1. A cat receiving phenobarbital for seizure management develops a sudden increase in seizure frequency despite adequate serum levels. Which mechanism best explains this phenomenon?

    Answer: GABA receptor downregulation develops with chronic phenobarbital use, reducing drug efficacy

    Chronic barbiturate use can cause GABA-A receptor downregulation and tolerance, reducing seizure threshold despite unchanged serum drug concentrations.

  2. Which drug is the first-line treatment for feline arterial thromboembolism (ATE) prevention?

    Answer: Clopidogrel

    Clopidogrel (Plavix) is superior to aspirin for secondary prevention of ATE in cats with cardiomyopathy, as demonstrated in the FAT CAT study.

  3. Propylene glycol is present in some semi-moist cat foods and medications. Why is it contraindicated in cats?

    Answer: It causes Heinz body formation and hemolytic anemia in cats

    Cats are uniquely susceptible to propylene glycol-induced Heinz body hemolytic anemia because their hemoglobin contains eight SH groups versus four in dogs.

  4. A cat is presented for suspected oleander (Nerium oleander) ingestion. What is the primary mechanism of toxicity?

    Answer: Inhibition of Na+/K+-ATPase causing cardiac glycoside toxidrome

    Oleandrin and neriine in oleander inhibit Na+/K+-ATPase, causing hyperkalemia, bradyarrhythmias, and AV block similar to digoxin toxicity.

  5. Which statement about maropitant (Cerenia) use in cats is correct?

    Answer: It is approved at 1 mg/kg SC once daily for nausea prevention

    Maropitant is approved at 1 mg/kg SC in cats for nausea and vomiting; it blocks NK1 receptors and also provides visceral analgesia.

  6. A cat is diagnosed with feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). Which antiviral drug has shown efficacy and received conditional FDA approval for this disease?

    Answer: GS-441524

    GS-441524, an adenosine nucleoside analog, inhibits feline coronavirus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and has conditional FDA approval as Mutian/brand equivalents for FIP.

  7. A hyperthyroid cat on methimazole develops a platelet count of 40,000/µL on a CBC. What is the most appropriate next step?

    Answer: Discontinue methimazole immediately and consider radioactive iodine or surgical thyroidectomy

    Severe thrombocytopenia is a serious hematologic adverse effect of methimazole requiring immediate discontinuation; alternative definitive therapies should be pursued.