NAVLE Veterinary Pharmacology 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which opioid analgesic is commonly used in cats but must be used cautiously due to their limited glucuronidation capacity?
- Morphine
- Buprenorphine (Correct answer)
- Fentanyl
- Hydromorphone
Correct answer: Buprenorphine
Buprenorphine is preferred in cats because its partial agonist activity and high mu-receptor affinity make it effective at lower doses, reducing the risk of adverse effects from impaired glucuronidation.
Question 2: A dog is prescribed phenobarbital for seizure control. Which of the following is the most important monitoring parameter for long-term therapy?
- Complete blood count
- Serum bile acids and liver enzymes (Correct answer)
- Urinalysis
- Serum electrolytes
Correct answer: Serum bile acids and liver enzymes
Phenobarbital induces hepatic enzymes and can cause hepatotoxicity with long-term use, so serum bile acids and liver enzymes must be monitored regularly.
Question 3: Which drug class is contraindicated in cats due to their deficiency in UDP-glucuronosyltransferase?
- Aminoglycosides
- Fluoroquinolones
- NSAIDs metabolized via glucuronidation (Correct answer)
- Macrolide antibiotics
Correct answer: NSAIDs metabolized via glucuronidation
Cats lack sufficient UDP-glucuronosyltransferase activity, making drugs like acetaminophen and certain NSAIDs dependent on glucuronidation highly toxic.
Question 4: A horse develops laminitis after prolonged use of which drug class?
- Opioids
- Corticosteroids (Correct answer)
- Tetracyclines
- Aminoglycosides
Correct answer: Corticosteroids
Prolonged corticosteroid use in horses can lead to laminitis due to alterations in digital blood flow and carbohydrate metabolism.
Question 5: Which antimicrobial is most appropriate for treating Rhodococcus equi pneumonia in foals?
- Penicillin G alone
- Rifampin combined with azithromycin or clarithromycin (Correct answer)
- Gentamicin alone
- Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole alone
Correct answer: Rifampin combined with azithromycin or clarithromycin
Rifampin combined with a macrolide (azithromycin or clarithromycin) is the standard of care for Rhodococcus equi because the combination achieves good intracellular penetration.
Question 6: What is the mechanism of action of metronidazole in treating anaerobic infections?
- Inhibits cell wall synthesis
- Disrupts DNA via reductive activation forming free radicals (Correct answer)
- Inhibits protein synthesis at the 30S ribosome
- Blocks folic acid synthesis
Correct answer: Disrupts DNA via reductive activation forming free radicals
Metronidazole undergoes reductive activation in anaerobic organisms, forming cytotoxic free radicals that disrupt DNA structure and function.
Question 7: A rabbit is brought in with GI stasis. Which analgesic is safest to use in rabbits?
- Aspirin
- Meloxicam (Correct answer)
- Acetaminophen
- Ibuprofen
Correct answer: Meloxicam
Meloxicam is the preferred NSAID in rabbits and is commonly used for pain management due to its established safety profile in this species.
NAVLE Veterinary Pharmacology 2
Which opioid analgesic is commonly used in cats but must be used cautiously due to their limited glucuronidation capacity?