Feline Pharmacology and Toxicology Flashcards
7 cards from real ICVA 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
Which household plant toxin found in lilies (Lilium spp.) causes acute kidney injury in cats?
Answer: Unknown nephrotoxic principle
True lilies (Lilium and Hemerocallis species) contain an unidentified nephrotoxin that causes severe acute tubular necrosis in cats, with even small exposures being potentially fatal.
What is the primary mechanism of toxicity when a cat ingests ethylene glycol?
Answer: Metabolite oxalic acid causes renal tubular calcium oxalate crystal deposition
Ethylene glycol is metabolized to glycolic acid and then oxalic acid, which precipitates as calcium oxalate crystals in renal tubules causing acute kidney failure.
Which drug is the antidote for ethylene glycol toxicosis and must be given very early in cats (within 3 hours)?
Answer: Fomepizole (4-MP)
Fomepizole (4-methylpyrazole) inhibits alcohol dehydrogenase preventing toxic metabolite formation, but must be administered within 3 hours in cats due to rapid metabolism.
A cat presents with tremors, ataxia, and hyperthermia after ingesting a small amount of tea tree oil. What is the mechanism?
Answer: Terpene compounds causing CNS excitation and dermal absorption toxicity
Tea tree oil terpenes are rapidly absorbed dermally and orally in cats, causing CNS depression, ataxia, and hepatotoxicity due to deficient feline detoxification pathways.
Which drug class requires dose reduction in cats with hepatic disease due to extensive hepatic metabolism?
Answer: Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines are extensively hepatically metabolized; cats with liver disease show prolonged sedation and can develop hepatic encephalopathy-like signs if doses are not reduced.
What is the maximum recommended dose frequency for meloxicam in cats with chronic musculoskeletal pain in Europe, where it is labeled for long-term use?
Answer: Once daily at the lowest effective dose
In Europe, meloxicam is approved for long-term use in cats at the lowest effective dose given once daily, with regular monitoring of renal function.
Which rodenticide toxicosis in cats causes signs of hemorrhage and requires vitamin K1 therapy for weeks?
Answer: Anticoagulant rodenticides (second-generation)
Second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (bromadiolone, brodifacoum) inhibit vitamin K epoxide reductase, requiring 4–6 weeks of vitamin K1 supplementation due to their long half-life.