Final Flashcards
Indications
Reasons for giving a drug to a patient
Contraindications
Reasons for not giving a drug to a patient
Prescription (legend) drug
Drug that is regulated by the FDA due to having the ability to cause serious harm if not used in an appropriate manner
Conditions for valid VCPR
- Vet must assume responsibility for making clinical judgments
- Must have recently seen the animal and know its care
- Must be available for follow-up care
Regimen
Plan for administering drugs
Drug regimen consists of:
Kind of drug
Route of administration
Dosage
Frequency
Duration
Pharmacokinetics
Complex series of events that occurs once a drug is administered to the patient
Influences by the manner in which the drug is given
Some routes have limitations
Oral (PO)
By mouth
Contraindicated for animals with nausea/vomiting
Some taste horrible
Intravenous (IV)
Given in the vein
Takes effect almost immediately
Doesn’t last as long as drugs administered by other routes due to body eliminating drug rather quickly
Intramuscular (IM)
Given in the muscle
Sometimes painful
Absorbed more slowly than IV but faster than SQ
Subcutaneous (SQ or SC)
Given in tissue beneath the skin
Take longer to absorb than IV or IM
Intradermal (ID)
Given into the skin
Used for testing for allergies
Intraperitoneal (IP)
Given into the abdominal cavity
Intraarterial (IA)
An injection given into the artery
Intraarticular (IA)
An injection given into the joint
Intracardiac (IC)
An injection given into the heart
Used mostly for humane euthanasia and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
Intramedullary
An injection given into the bone marrow cavity
Epidural/subdural
An injection given into the spine or near the spine
Nebulizer
Drug that can be inhaled in a fine mist
Antibiotics or bronchodilators can be inhaled into deep, small airways
Metered-dose inhaler
Administered by using a hand-held device that fits over an animal’s nose and mouth
Anesthetic gases
Gaseous forms given with vaporizers
Transdermal (topical)
Drugs that are placed on the skin
Gloves should always be worn when handling these drugs
Concentration Gradient
Drugs that move from one compartment of the body to another
Move from areas of high concentration to lower concentration
Bioavailability
Measures the amount of drug that gets absorbed and is available to the patient
Water-soluble drugs
Dissolve in water
Tend to stay in the bloodstream where they can be bound to various proteins (albumin) or can stay free
Lipid-soluble Drugs
Absorbed by bodily fats such as lipids
Tend to move out of the bloodstream into the interstitial fluid
Fat, liver, kidneys, and bone may act as storage sites for these drugs
What 2 body structures may interfere with the absorption of certain drugs
Placenta and blood-brain barrier
How are drugs excreted?
Removed primarily through the liver via bile or through the kidneys via urine
May also be excreted through the mammary glands, the lungs, the GI tract, sweat glands, saline, or through the skin
Residues
Drugs that appear in the animal’s milk or meat products
Can cause allergic reactions in people, antibiotic resistance, and also cause some cancer in humans
Pharmacodynamics
Study of Mechanisms by which drugs produce physiological changes in the body
Drugs combine with parts of the cell membrane or with internal parts of the cell to cause changes in how the cell functions
Drugs may increase or decrease the activities of specific cells or tissues
Efficacy
The degree to which a drug produces its desired effect
Once the efficacy level of a drug has
been reached, giving more of the drug won’t produce more effect
Potency
the amount of drug needed to produce the desired effect and is represented by a dose on a
dose-response curve
Lethal Dose (LD50)
the dose of the drug that’s lethal to 50% of the animals given that drug
Effective dose (ED50)
the dose of a drug that produces the desired effect in 50% of the animals given that drug
Therapeutic Index
LD50/ED50
Adverse Drug Reaction
Any undesired response to a drug
Formulary
A book that contains drug dosages and a listing of adverse reactions
Drugs are most commonly classified as __________ or _________
Proprietary (trade name of a patented drug)
Generic (unpatented copy of a drug)
Drug labels on drugs must contain the following:
Drug names (both generic and trade names)
Drug concentration and quantity
Name and address of the manufacturer
Controlled substance status
Manufacturer’s control or lot number
Drug expiration date
Environmental Protection Agency
Regulates the development and approval of animal topical pesticides
Drug Enforcement Agency
Concerned with the regulation of substances that have potential for human abuse
The DEA requires all those who dispense such drugs to be licensed and to keep careful records of all such drugs. Documentation should include the following:
Date of prescription
Owner and patient name
Drug name
Amount dispensed and strength of the drug
Initials of dispensing doctor
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Regulates the development and appropriate biologics (medical products such as vaccines, serums, antitoxins,antibodies, and other products)
The Animal Medicinal Drug Use Clarification Act (AMDUCA)
made the extra label use of approved veterinary drugs legal under certain well-defined conditions
This is an important law
To get a drug labeled for a specific use in a specific animal costs a lot of money
List 6 Rights of Administration
Right patient
Right drug
Right dose
Right route
Right time and frequency
Right documentation
Oral medications come in what forms
Tablets
Suspensions
Capsules
Emulsions
milky solutions containing the drug the mixtures don’t mix so it needs to be shaken
Elixirs
compound liquid medications held in solution by alcohol
contains flavoring and sweeteners to help mask the taste of the drug
What ways can oral meds be administered?
Administering oral medications can be done with pill guns, a speculum (a tool placed inside a bodily cavity opening to insert a medicine), a stomach tube, syringes, or with your hands,
List 4 types of syringes
- Slip tip – most common in vet med
- Luer lock - have a screw top that secures the needle to the syringe, excellent for injecting thick fluids because they don’t allow the needle to separate from the syringe under pressure
- Eccentric tip - used when injecting larger volumes (greater than 20 ml) into a vein, the hub of the syringe allows you to place a large syringe parallel to the vein you’re trying to inject
- Catheter tip – good for oral feedings or for feeding with catheters
Uses of IV catheters
Good for repetitive IV meds and allows for repeated injections
Butterfly catheters
Used for short-term IV therapy
Endotracheal tubes
are placed into the trachea (tubes that air goes through towards the animal’s lungs) for controlled ventilation (such as with CPR) or for use with anesthesia machines
Tranquilizers
Used to calm or quiet a patient
Phenothiazine tranquilizers
Produce sedation without significant analgesia
Ex. Acepromazine or chlorpromazine
Neuroleptanalgesics
Agents are a combination of an opioid and a tranquilizer
They produce a state of reduced awareness and analgesia in which the patient may or may not remain conscious
Useful for restraint, diagnostic procedures, as a preanesthetic, or for minor surgical procedures
Behavioral Pharmacotherapy
The use of drugs to treat various behavioral problems such as separation anxiety, phobias, compulsive disorders, or cognitive dysfunction syndrome
Have to be combined with environmental and behavioral management
Anti-anxiety Medications
Help relieve anxiety in animals
Side Effects: lethargy, ataxia, polyuria, polydipsia, hyperexcitability, and liver problems
Ex. Diazepam, Alprazolam, Sileo
Antidepressant Medications
used in veterinary medicine to treat a variety of obsessive disorders and medical conditions by blocking reuptake (reuse) of norepinephrine and serotonin in the brain
Side effects : sedation, tachycardia, mydriasis (overstretching of the eye’s pupil), dry mouth, urine
retention, and constipation
Ex. Amitriptyline, Trazodone, Fluoxetine, and Selegine
Serotonin-reuptake Inhibitors
Increase the amount of serotonin in the brain by preventing serotonin removal
Side effects: anorexia, nausea, lethargy, anxiety, and diarrhea
Ex. Fluoxetine
Monoamine oxidase-B inhibitors
Allow dopamine levels to increase and is used to treat old dog dementia and canine Cushing’s
Side Effects: vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, restlessness, and shaking
Ex. Selegiline
Inotropic Drugs
Affect the force/strength of a heart contraction
Positive inotropic drugs improve the strength
Ex. Dobutamine and Pimobendan
Negative inotropic drugs decrease the strength
Chronotropic Drugs
Affects the heart rate
Positive chronotropic increases the heart rate
Ex. Atropine, dopamine, epinephrine
Negative chronotropic decreases the heart rate
Ex. Metoprolol and digoxin
Emetics
Drugs that cause vomiting
Used in treatment of poisonings and drug overdoses
Ex. Apomorphine, Xylazine, and Hydrogen Peroxide
Antiemetics
Drugs that help control or prevent vomiting
Ex. Acepromazine, Metoclopramide, Meclizine, Ondansetron, and Maropitant citrate
Hematinics
Iron supplements that help correct anemia
Ex. Iron supplements, androgens, and erythropoietin
Anticoagulant
Stop clot formation
Ex. Heparin, EDTA
Laxatives
Medications that help stimulate bowel movements
Ex. Lactose, Metamucil, Cat Lax
Antacids
Neutralize the stomach acid by binding directly to it which contains aluminum, calcium, and magnesium salts
Ex. Ranitidine, Famotidine, omeprazole, sucralfate
Antitussives
Suppress or inhibit coughing
Best for non-productive coughing
Ex. Butorphanol, Hydrocodone Bitartrate, and Temaril-P
Expectorants
Thin mucous secretions to allow for easier expelling from the body
Best for productive coughs
Ex. Guaifenesin
Mucolytics
Decrease viscosity of mucus to help break it down
Ex. Acetylcysteine
Decongestant
Eliminate or reduce swelling or congestion of nasal passages
Corticosteroids
Treat respiratory conditions due to allergies, most effective for treating equine COPD, can help feline asthma, helps inflammation
controls signs/symptoms but not disease
Ex. Dexamethasone and prednisone
Acetylcholine
a neurotransmitter that enables learning and memory and also triggers muscle contraction
Anticholinergics
Decrease GI motility, dry secretions, dilate pupils, and prevent/treat bradycardia
Ex. Atropine and Aminopentamide
Adrenergic agents
stimulate heart beats, correct hypotension, cause vasodilation, treat urinary incontinence
Ex. Dopamine, Epinephrine, Norepinephrine
Glaucoma Adrenergic Agents
Antagonists for adrenergic agents (reversal)
Treat urethra obstruction
Cause vasodilation
Barbiturates
Depress the CNS
Useful as a sedative, anticonvulsant, general anesthetic, and euthanasia agent
Ex. Phenobarbital, pentobarbital
Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
Large group of drugs that provide mild pain relief and anti-inflammatory benefits for conditions such as arthritis
Ex. Carprofen, Deracoxib, Meloxicam, Robenacoxib, and Grapiprant
Side Effects: GI bleeding and ulcers
Synthetic Progestins
Used to treat behavioral problems associated with changing hormonal levels.
They’re used in animals for aggression between males, spraying or marking problems, and dominance aggression
Euthanasia Agents
These agents are used to relieve suffering by ending the animal’s life.
Such deaths put an end to hopeless medical situations in a humane fashion.
These drugs rapidly produce
unconsciousness without struggling or excessive involuntary movement
Ex. Pentobarbital sodium (Fatal-Plus, Somnasol, and Euthasol)
Antidiuretic Hormones
These drugs are used to treat diabetes insipidus. Patients that have diabetes insipidus don’t secrete a normal amount of antidiuretic hormone (ADH).
These patients pass a lot of highly diluted urine (urine that doesn’t contain the right amount of chemicals) and are abnormally thirsty.
Lifelong therapy is usually needed.
Ex. Vasopressin
Urinary Acidifiers
These drugs are used to lower the pH of urine. Lower urine pH discourages the formation of certain urinary crystals or stones. Some crystals form in alkaline urine, so making the urine acidic (by lowering its pH) helps keep them in dissolved form.
Often the diet needs to be changed as well to help stop the production of crystals or stones. You can test the animal’s urine pH with test strips, an effective way to monitor the animal’s response to therapy.
Ex. methionine and ammonium chloride
Urinary alkalizers
Are used to raise the pH of urine
to discourage the formation of urinary stones that form in acid urine (such as urate, calcium oxalate, and cystine stones or crystals)
Ex. Potassium citrate and sodium bicarbonate
Urinary Incontinence
The inability of the animal to urinate on demand. The animal can’t urinate at all or urinates uncontrollably. Nerve damage and hormonal imbalance are the two most common conditions associated with urinary incontinence
Ex. Estradiol and Phenylpropanolamine (PPA)-Proin
Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs)
Help to manage interstitial cystitis by preventing microorganisms and crystals from sticking to the wall of the bladder
Epakitin
Extracted from shells of crabs and shrimp.
Binds phosphorus in the intestine,
helping to eliminate the high blood phosphorus levels often seen in pets with renal failure.
Catecholamines
Act by stimulating the sympathetic nervous system to:
Increase the force and rate of heart contractions
Constrict peripheral blood vessels (which increases blood pressure)
Elevate blood glucose levels
Side Effects: tachycardia, dyspnea, and wide ranges of blood pressure changes
Ex. Dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine
Bipyridine Derivatives
Work by inhibiting enzymes that lead to an increase in cellular calcium
Ex. Amrinone and milrinone
Surfactants
Reduce water surface tension, which allows water to penetrate into and
soften the contents of the gastrointestinal tract
Ex. Pet-Enema
Protectants/Adsorbents
Protectants- Coat the intestines and relieve inflammation
Adsorbents- Bind with bacteria or toxins to protect against harmful effects
Ex. Activated charcoal
Antifoaming Agents
Used in ruminate to prevent gas bloating
They are surfactants that change the surface tension of the bubbles and cause them to break down so they can be expelled through the stomach tube
Ex. Bloat Guard
Anti-inflammatory Drugs Role in GI Tract
Decrease inflammation in the intestinal walls in cases of idiopathic IBD
Ex. Prednisone and Sulfasalazine
GI Prokinetics/Stimulants
Increase the motility of part of the gastrointestinal system to increase the speed of materials through the tract
Ex. Metoclopramide, cisapride, and Ranitidine
Bulk-producing Agents
Absorb water and swell to increase the bulk of intestinal contents to stimulate peristalsis
Ex. Metamucil
Purpose of a fecal float
Helps to find intestinal parasites
Prostaglandin E-1 Analogs
Are used to decrease stomach acid production (at high doses), to protect the stomach lining (at low doses), and to prevent or treat gastric ulcers associated with the use of NSAIDs
Ex. Misoprostol
List main endocrine glands
Pituitary gland
Adrenal gland
Thyroid gland
Ovaries and testicles
Pancreas
Kidneys
Gonadorelins
Cause animals to produce FSH and LG
Induces estrus is horses and cats
Treats cystic ovaries in dairy cattle
Follicle-stimulating hormone
Stimulates ovaries to produce more follicles than normal
Estrogens
Inhibit ovulation, increase uterine tone, and are used to treat persistent corpus luteums in
cattle
Ex. Estradiol
Androgens
Male sex hormones that help
promote weight gain, red blood cell formation, and tissue anabolism (or growth).
These drugs can be used to help prevent estrus in female dogs
Ex. Testosterone
Progestins
Help maintain pregnancy
Have same effect as progesterone
Thyroid Gland
Located in the neck and convert iodine into 2 active hormones(T3 and T4)
Involved with many body processes including HR, body temp, metabolic rate, metabolism, and skin condition
Hypothyroidism
Thyroid gland producing too much thyroid hormone
Most cases are dogs
Symptoms: fast HR, lose weight despite eating, and may be hyperexcitable
Medications: Levothyroxine
Hyperthyroidism
Thyroid gland producing too little thyroid hormone
Most cases are older cats
Symptoms: lethargic, afflicted with poor skin and hair coat conditions, often bradycardic
Medications: Methimazole
Hypoadrenocorticism (Addison’s Disease)
Adrenal gland is unable to produce aldosterone and glucocorticoids needed to sustain life
Symptoms: weakness, collapse, and diarrhea
Hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing’s Disease)
Oversecretion of aldosterone and glucocorticoids by the adrenal gland
Common in dogs and horses
Medications: Trilostane
Ophthalmic Drugs
Help treat eye problems
Schirmer Tear Test
Measures the amount of tears produced by the lacrimal (tear) glands
Fluorescein Stain
Checks for corneal scratches and ulcers
Rose Bengal
Stain used to detect corneal damage due to viruses or low tear production
Topical Anesthetic Drops
Can be used to numb the eye to check for and remove a foreign body from the eye
Ex. Proparacaine and Tetracaine
Povidone Iodine Solution
When diluted, it can be used as an antiseptic to remove dirt and debris from an eye and to clean the surface during an ophthalmic exam
Mydriatics
Agents used to dilate the pupils
Ex. Tropicamide
Miotics
Used to constrict the pupils
Help treat glaucoma
Ex. Pilocarpine
Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors
Lower the production of the aqueous humor which lowers the pressure of the eye
Treat open-angle glaucoma
Ex. Acetazolamide
Tonometer
An instrument used to measure eye pressure
Otic drugs
Help treat ear problems
Dermatophyte Test
Include fungal cultures, exams using Wood’s lamp, and microscopic exams of the hair and follicle
List the functions of the skin
Protection
Temp regulation
Storage
Sensory perception
Secretion
Vitamin D production and metabolism
Seborrhea
Skin condition that results in an increased amount of scaling
Keratolytic
Agent that promotes loosening of the epidermis to help remove scaling
Astringents
Applied to help precipitate proteins and are used on areas of moist dermatitis
Antiseptic
Agent used to help inhibit the growth of bacteria on the skin
Used to clean wounds and prepare areas of the body for surgery
Antipruritic
Anti-itch medicine
Zoonotic
Disease from an animal that can passed to humans
List the 4 Stages of Wound Healing
Stage 1: damaged cells release substances that cause inflammation and decrease bleeding
causing blood vessels to constrict, serum leaks into wound and fibrin helps clotting of the blood to seal
up the wound
Stage 2: white blood cells move into the area to help clear up the infection and remove dead material
Stage 3: fibroblasts, cells that produce fiber, begin to move through the area, producing
collagen which, in combination with new capillaries, forms granulation tissue (scar tissue)
Stage 4: remodeling occurs and the first 3 stages are cleaned up and the healed area becomes
stronger
Elizabethan Collar
Helps prevent the animal from licking the wound
Caustic agents
Burn away or eat dead flesh
Microorganisms
Can only be seen with a microscope
Ex. Fungi, bacteria, viruses, protozoa)
Gram Stain Test
Help classify bacteria
Gram Positive- Stains and turns blue
Gram Negative- Doesn’t stain and stays red
Acid Fast Stain
Help classify bacteria that doesn’t stain with gram tests
If they retain the stain during this test then they are acid fast bacteria
Aerobic bacteria
Can live in only oxygenated environments
Anaerobic bacteria
Persist in oxygen-free environments
Antibiotics
Drugs that are used to inhibit the growth of bacteria(bacteriostatic) or to kill bacteria(bactericidal)
Fungal infections are divided into _______ and _______
Superficial (skin and eyes)
Systemic (blood, lungs, CNS)
Antifungal Medicines
Being researched
No widespread use in vet medicine
Cultural Sensitivity Test
Test used to find out which antibiotics inhibit the growth of bacteria in that culture and helps the vet choose the right antibiotic
What helps prevent nosocomial infections in patients?
Disinfectants- kill microorganisms or inactivate viruses on inanimate objects
Antiseptics- kill microorganisms on living tissues
Parasites
organisms that live off a host by deriving nutrients and home from their host
Ectoparasites - parasites that live on a host
Endoparasites - parasites that live in a host
Parasitiasis
Animal is infected with no clinical signs
Parasitosis
Animal is infected with clinical signs
Anthelmintic
Drug used to eliminate helminth (intestinal) parasites
Anticestodal
Used to treat tapeworms
Antitrematodal
Used to remove flukes
Antiprotozoal
Used to treat protozoa (coccidia and giardia) which cause diarrhea in most species
List the indirect signs of pain in a dog:
Abnormal body position, movements, or limping
Increased heart rate
Increased breathing rate
Decreased appetite
Salivation
Vocalization
Tenderness
Restlessness
Mineralocorticoid
Help regulate electrolyte and water balance in the body
List the signs of dehydration:
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Lack of desire to drink
Mucous membranes that feel dry and tacky
Skin that doesn’t return to normal when pulled (using the skin turgor test)
Weak or unsteady pulse
Macrodrip
Typical sets give 10 drops, 15 drops, and 20 drops per mL
Microdrip
Typical set gives 60 drops per mL
List the fat-soluble vitamins and precautions with them
A, D, E, and K
Don’t get removed from the body with increased fluids
Vitamin A
Promotes growth and adequate visual pigment in eyes
Vitamin D
Growth and regulation of calcium levels
Vitamin E
Acts as an antioxidant
Too little causes muscle diseases
Vitamin K
Helps with clotting process
Can work as an antidote to rat poison ingestion
Immunosuppressive Agents
Drugs used to treat immune-mediated disorders
Autoimmune Disease
Disease in which the body’s immune system attacks itself
Inactivated (killed) Vaccine
Usually very safe, last in storage, and are unlikely to cause the disease itself.
Inactivated vaccines contain organisms or bits of organisms that are killed.
Unfortunately, killed vaccines usually don’t give a strong immune response, need to be repeated, and sometimes contain
preservatives that can cause allergic reaction
Live Vaccine
Made from living bacteria or viruses which may be virulent (able to cause disease) or avirulent (not able to cause disease), cheaper, require fewer doses, stimulate the immune system more vigorously
Modified Live Vaccines
Take the live organism and process it to remove the organism’s virulence
Recombinant Vaccine
Made by modifying the DNA of the organisms in various ways to produce vaccines
Core Vaccines
Basic vaccines recommended for all animals
Protect animals from common contagious diseases
Noncore Vaccines
Recommended based on risk factors such as where the animal lives and their way of life
Toxoid
Vaccine used to produce immunity to a toxin rather to a bacterium virus
List signs of a vaccine reaction
Vomiting
Salivation
Dyspnea
Hives (skin blotches, redness, swelling)
Lack of coordination
Swelling of the face or the muscles
Regenerative Medicine
the use of cells and growth factors to improve the repair of damaged or poorly functioning tissues or organs, usually orthopedic disorders
Nutraceuticals
Food components that have health benefits, including disease prevention and treatment.
Nutraceuticals don’t undergo testing by the FDA for safety or efficacy.
Nutraceutical labels
are required to have a label that says, “This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug
Administration. This product isn’t intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.”
Chondroprotective
Help to slow down the erosion of cartilage (tissue surrounding the bones) in animals. They don’t heal cartilage or regenerate it and are best used before the onset of arthritis
Ex. Adequan, Cosequin, and Dasuquin
Herbal Medicine
Use of plants to treat disease
Plant material may be available dried, powdered, capsules or granules, or formulated into an ointment or as a liquid extract
Ex. Ginger for anti-inflammatory effects
Aloe vera to treat burns and wounds
Milk thistle to support and heal the liver
Lubricants
Used for gynecologic and rectal exams
Should be water-soluble to help with the cleaning of instruments
Explain the importance of inventory control
From a legal standpoint, the correct completion of DEA forms is
essential. Verifying that invoices from vendors match the prices and quantities your practice ordered
and received is also vital.
Having the right supplies on hand when needed can make a life-or-death difference for your animal patients and can assure the smooth flow of caregiving that makes your practice an enjoyable and rewarding place to work.
Triage
Means making an evaluation and choosing the most injured or critically ill patient to be seen first
List items contained in a crash cart
various sizes of
endotracheal tubes, gloves, tape, gauze, scissors, IV catheters, fluids, urinary catheters, monitors,
bandage material, Ambu-bag (to inflate a patient’s lungs), stethoscope, syringes, needles, blood tubes,
and other laboratory supplies
List responsibilities of vet techs in emergency procedures
CPR
IV cath placement
Drug administration
