VTNE Veterinary Pharmacology 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient is receiving aminoglycoside antibiotics. Which parameter is most important to monitor for toxicity?
- Liver enzymes (ALT, AST)
- Renal function (BUN, creatinine) (Correct answer)
- Complete blood count
- Coagulation times
Correct answer: Renal function (BUN, creatinine)
Aminoglycosides (e.g., gentamicin, amikacin) are nephrotoxic and ototoxic; renal function parameters should be monitored closely during treatment.
Question 2: Which drug is the antidote for acetaminophen toxicity in cats?
- Vitamin K1
- N-acetylcysteine (Correct answer)
- Ethanol
- Deferoxamine
Correct answer: N-acetylcysteine
N-acetylcysteine replenishes glutathione stores and is the antidote for acetaminophen toxicity, which causes methemoglobinemia and hepatotoxicity in cats.
Question 3: What is the mechanism by which metronidazole kills anaerobic bacteria?
- Inhibits cell wall synthesis
- Forms toxic free radicals that damage DNA after reduction in anaerobic conditions (Correct answer)
- Inhibits protein synthesis at the 50S ribosomal subunit
- Blocks dihydrofolate reductase
Correct answer: Forms toxic free radicals that damage DNA after reduction in anaerobic conditions
Metronidazole is reduced by anaerobic organisms into reactive intermediates that form free radicals, causing lethal DNA strand breakage.
Question 4: Propofol is classified as which type of anesthetic agent?
- Dissociative anesthetic
- Inhalant anesthetic
- Injectable short-acting hypnotic (Correct answer)
- Barbiturate
Correct answer: Injectable short-acting hypnotic
Propofol is a phenol-based injectable hypnotic/anesthetic with rapid onset and short duration, used for induction and total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA).
Question 5: Which of the following correctly describes the pharmacokinetic term 'half-life'?
- The time for a drug to reach maximum plasma concentration
- The time required for the plasma concentration of a drug to decrease by 50% (Correct answer)
- The volume in which a drug distributes in the body
- The fraction of administered drug that reaches systemic circulation
Correct answer: The time required for the plasma concentration of a drug to decrease by 50%
Half-life (t½) is the time required for the drug's plasma concentration to decrease by 50%, determining dosing intervals and time to steady state.
Question 6: A horse is treated with phenylbutazone. Which condition is a major concern with prolonged NSAID use in horses?
- Hepatic failure
- Right dorsal colitis and gastric ulceration (Correct answer)
- Neurological signs
- Respiratory depression
Correct answer: Right dorsal colitis and gastric ulceration
Prolonged or high-dose phenylbutazone use in horses can cause right dorsal colitis and gastrointestinal ulceration due to COX inhibition reducing protective prostaglandins.
Question 7: Which drug is used to treat Giardia infections in dogs and cats?
- Praziquantel
- Fenbendazole (Correct answer)
- Ivermectin
- Epsiprantel
Correct answer: Fenbendazole
Fenbendazole (Panacur) is effective against Giardia and is commonly used in dogs and cats due to its safety and efficacy against this protozoan.
VTNE Veterinary Pharmacology 4
A patient is receiving aminoglycoside antibiotics.
Which parameter is most important to monitor for toxicity?