Courtney Wagner
3/6/26
58730057
Externship 1 Skill #26
3 Prescription medications in clinic
1. Metronidazole (Flagyl): Nitroimidazole antibiotic
a. Controlled status: None
b. Therapeutic effects: Antibacterial and antiprotozoal agent used to treat diarrhea,
Giardia and other anaerobic intestinal infections
c. Mechanism of action: “Inhibits protein synthesis by interacting with DNA, and
causes a loss of helical DNA structure and strand breakage. Therefore, it causes
cell death in susceptible organisms” (Weir, C. B. 2023).
d. Contraindications: Pets with a known hypersensitivity or allergy to it or related
drugs. Pets that are pregnant or nursing. Pets that are in weakened condition or
dehibilitated (Metronidazole: VCA Animal Hospitals, 2026).
e. Side effects: Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Regurgitation, decreased appetite,
tiredness and drooling. (Metronidazole: VCA Animal Hospitals, 2026).
2. Cefpodoxime Proxetil (Simplicef): Third generation semi-synthetic cephalosporin
antibiotic
a. Controlled status: None
, b. Therapeutic effects: Extended spectrum, semi-synthetic cephalosporin antibiotic
used to treat skin infections in dogs caused by Staphylococcus pseudintermedius,
Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus canis, Escherichia coli, Pasteurella
multocida, and Proteus mirabilis (Zoetis, 2017).
c. Mechanism of action: Cefpodoxime is a b-lactam antibiotic that exerts its effect
by interfering with bacterial cell wall synthesis by binding to the penicillin-
binding proteins (PBPs) that are essential for the synthesis of the cell wall.
Cefpodoxime is stable in the presence of common B-lactamase enzymes, meaning
that many organisms resistant to other b-lactam antibiotics due to the production
of b-lactamases may be susceptible to cefpodoxime. (Zoetis, 2017)
d. Contraindications: Cefpodoxime proxetil is contraindicated in dogs with known
allergy to cefpodoxime or to the b-lactam (penicillins and cephalosporins) groups
of antibiotics. (Zoetis, 2017)
e. Side effects: Vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite, and increase of drinking
water. (Zoetis, 2017)
3. Rimadyl (carprofen): Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)
a. Controlled status: None
b. Therapeutic effects: Indicated for the relief of pain and inflammation associated
with osteoarthritis and for the control of postoperative pain associated with soft
tissue and orthopedic surgeries in dogs. (Zoetis, 2017)
c. Mechanism of action: A non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) of the
propionic acid class that includes ibuprofen, naproxen, and ketoprofen. NSAID
with both analgesic and antipyretic properties. As with most NSAIDs, carprofen
3/6/26
58730057
Externship 1 Skill #26
3 Prescription medications in clinic
1. Metronidazole (Flagyl): Nitroimidazole antibiotic
a. Controlled status: None
b. Therapeutic effects: Antibacterial and antiprotozoal agent used to treat diarrhea,
Giardia and other anaerobic intestinal infections
c. Mechanism of action: “Inhibits protein synthesis by interacting with DNA, and
causes a loss of helical DNA structure and strand breakage. Therefore, it causes
cell death in susceptible organisms” (Weir, C. B. 2023).
d. Contraindications: Pets with a known hypersensitivity or allergy to it or related
drugs. Pets that are pregnant or nursing. Pets that are in weakened condition or
dehibilitated (Metronidazole: VCA Animal Hospitals, 2026).
e. Side effects: Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Regurgitation, decreased appetite,
tiredness and drooling. (Metronidazole: VCA Animal Hospitals, 2026).
2. Cefpodoxime Proxetil (Simplicef): Third generation semi-synthetic cephalosporin
antibiotic
a. Controlled status: None
, b. Therapeutic effects: Extended spectrum, semi-synthetic cephalosporin antibiotic
used to treat skin infections in dogs caused by Staphylococcus pseudintermedius,
Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus canis, Escherichia coli, Pasteurella
multocida, and Proteus mirabilis (Zoetis, 2017).
c. Mechanism of action: Cefpodoxime is a b-lactam antibiotic that exerts its effect
by interfering with bacterial cell wall synthesis by binding to the penicillin-
binding proteins (PBPs) that are essential for the synthesis of the cell wall.
Cefpodoxime is stable in the presence of common B-lactamase enzymes, meaning
that many organisms resistant to other b-lactam antibiotics due to the production
of b-lactamases may be susceptible to cefpodoxime. (Zoetis, 2017)
d. Contraindications: Cefpodoxime proxetil is contraindicated in dogs with known
allergy to cefpodoxime or to the b-lactam (penicillins and cephalosporins) groups
of antibiotics. (Zoetis, 2017)
e. Side effects: Vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite, and increase of drinking
water. (Zoetis, 2017)
3. Rimadyl (carprofen): Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)
a. Controlled status: None
b. Therapeutic effects: Indicated for the relief of pain and inflammation associated
with osteoarthritis and for the control of postoperative pain associated with soft
tissue and orthopedic surgeries in dogs. (Zoetis, 2017)
c. Mechanism of action: A non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) of the
propionic acid class that includes ibuprofen, naproxen, and ketoprofen. NSAID
with both analgesic and antipyretic properties. As with most NSAIDs, carprofen
