Gut Drugs

Question 1

What are some common problems encountered with the gut?

Answer 1

• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Ulcers
• Ileus
• Colis
• Constipation
• Bloat

Question 2

How do you treat vomiting?

Answer 2

Give fluids IV to avoid the gut

• water
• H+
• Cl-
• K+
• Na+

Possibly antiemetics

… Treatment depends on cause

• Better to replace fluids than give anti-emetics because it allows the body to expel

Question 3

How do you treat diarrhoea?

Answer 3

Animal will be losing water and ions
Give fluids containing:
- K +
- HCO3-
- water
- Na+
Kidneys can then begin working to bring the body composition back to normal

Motility Reducers
(Antibiotics)
(Anti-inflammatories)
(Wormers)
- all case dependent

Question 4

How do you treat ulcers?

Answer 4

• Proton pump inhibitors - inhibits H+/K+ ATPase in apical parietal cell
• H2 Antagonists : block interactions of secretagogues with receptors = inhibit acid secretion
• Coating agents (artificial mucus)
• Antibiotics
• Anticholinergics
• Prostaglandins

Question 5

How do you treat Colic?

Answer 5

• Analgesics
• Fluids
• Motility reducers
• Antispasmodic

Question 6

How do you treat constipation?

Answer 6

• Fluids by enema
• Laxatives
• (prokinetics)

Question 7

Ways to give fluids for gut problems…

Answer 7

• Oral is best
• IV if necessary
• SC not much use
• IM no use and painful
• Intraperitoneal can be dangerous (hit organs)
• Intraosseous painful and required aseptic high pressure technique

Question 8

What are some antiemetics that can be given?

Answer 8

• Phenothiazines
• Dopamine antagonists
• 5HT3 antagonists
• NK1 antagonists
• (Antihistamines)
• (Anticholinergics)

Question 9

What are some emetics that can be given?

Answer 9

• Apomorphine : not in cats
• Xylazine
• Mustard - home remedy for suspected poisoning
• Saturated salt solutions

Question 10

What can be given to increase gut motility?

Answer 10

• Prokinetics for ileus:
• • metoclopramide
• • erythromycin
• Spasmolytics:
• • anticholinergics
• • opioids

Question 11

When do you give antibiotics when there is a gut problem?

Answer 11

• If there is evidence of bacterial invasion

- A specific pathogen has been cultured

Question 12

Why do you give anti-inflammatories to a problem gut? Examples?

Answer 12

Inflammatory bowel disease (colitis)

• sulphasalazine (BEST)
• olsalazine
• mesalazine

Not usually NSAIDs or steroids

Question 13

What are some different forms of laxatives?

Answer 13

• Enemas
• Bulk forming laxatives
• Osmotic laxatives
• Lubricant laxatives
• Irritant laxatives

Question 14

What do fat pills do?

Answer 14

Blocks the uptake of lipids in the gut and induces a sense of fullness
- For overweight dogs

e.g. dirlotapide