AnHlt 142 Drug Calculations and Pharmacology Final Exam Questions with Correct Answers Graded A+
Three-Way Safety Check - Answers Check the drug label for the correct drug and dosage when:
1. you dispense the medication
2. you remove it from pharmacy
3. you replace the medication
NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) - Answers Uses: provide analgesia, reduce fever, and
control inflammation (no sedation); useful for mild to moderate pain control
Mechanism of action: work by inhibiting cyclooxygenase (COX); NSAIDs that selectively inhibit COX2 are
though to produce fewer GI effects
Side effects/contraindications: GI ulceration, vomiting, diarrhea, liver and kidney toxicity; always give
with food; avoid in dehydrated animals; IV fluids when given as pre-med; never give with aspirin,
steroids, or other NSAIDs
*All patients need an annual physical exam and blood work prior to and 2-3 weeks after starting
NSAIDs*
Aspirin (Acetylsalicylic Acid) - Answers NSAID
Uses: analgesic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, reduces clot formation; used in feline cardiomyopathy &
arthritis (rarely)
Mechanism of action: inhibits cyclooxyrgenase; inhibits prostaglandin production (prostaglandins lead to
pain, fever, inflammation)
Side effects/contraindications: gastric irritation, ulceration and bleeding, caution in cats
Phenylbutazone - Answers NSAID
,Uses: anti-inflammatory and antipyretic for horses
Side effects: GI ulceration, renal toxicity
*Not used in small animals*
Advil (Ibuprofen) - Answers NSAID
Not used in dogs/cats; serious GI ulceration
Rimadyl (Carprofen) - Answers NSAID
Uses: DJD pain, post-op pain, dental post-op pain, pre-anesthetic combined with a narcotic
Mechanism of action: primarily COX2 inhibitor
Side effects/contraindications: rare; kidney, liver, GI, as with all NSAIDs
Metacam (Meloxicam) - Answers NSAID
Uses: post-op pain, arthritis
Mechanism of action: COX2 inhibitor
Previcox - Answers NSAID
Uses: arthritis and pain control
Mechanism of action: COX2 inhibitor
,Galliprant - Answers NSAID (non-COX inhibitor)
Uses: arthritis in the dog
Mechanism of action: EP4 receptor antagonist (primary editor of canine pain/inflammation)
*May have less renal/liver toxicities than the COX inhibitors*
NSAIDs in Cats - Answers -Metacam is an approved NSAID for use in cats as a single injection post-
operatively
-Useful for post-op pain and long-term use for arthritis
Onsior (Robenacoxib) - Answers NSAID approved for oral and injectable use in cats
Mechanism of action: COX2 inhibitor
*Eliminated via the liver, not kidneys*
Tylenol (Acetominophen) - Answers Not an NSAID
Uses: analgesic with limited antipyretic and anti-inflammatory activity; "escape drug" for severe DJD in
dogs only
*Never give to cats! Causes cyanosis, anemia, liver failure.*
DMSO - Answers Clear liquid noted for anti-inflammatory properties and its ability to carry other drugs
through the skin
Uses: acute swelling from trauma topically applied; IV to reduce cerebral edema; treat chemotherapy
perivascular injection sites topically; ear inflammation
, Principles of Administering Analgesics - Answers The best way to treat pain is to prevent it.
Multimodal analgesia often produces better pain relief than single agents.
Avoid "wind-up"
(when nerve receptors are repeatedly stimulated, they become over-sensitized and discharge pain
sensation at a lower threshold)
General and Clinical Signs of Pain - Answers behavioral changes
vocalization
escape attempts
pacing/anxiousness
restlessness/insomnia
aggression
lack of use
nocturia with joint pain
poor grooming with dental pain in cats
insomnia/unwilling to lay down with abdominal pain
increased HR, BP, RR
peripheral vasoconstriction
pupil dilation/mydriasis
Signs of Pain in Cats - Answers holding head down;
squinting eyes or hiding head;
hunched back;
reluctant to move;
don't respond to people;
Three-Way Safety Check - Answers Check the drug label for the correct drug and dosage when:
1. you dispense the medication
2. you remove it from pharmacy
3. you replace the medication
NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs) - Answers Uses: provide analgesia, reduce fever, and
control inflammation (no sedation); useful for mild to moderate pain control
Mechanism of action: work by inhibiting cyclooxygenase (COX); NSAIDs that selectively inhibit COX2 are
though to produce fewer GI effects
Side effects/contraindications: GI ulceration, vomiting, diarrhea, liver and kidney toxicity; always give
with food; avoid in dehydrated animals; IV fluids when given as pre-med; never give with aspirin,
steroids, or other NSAIDs
*All patients need an annual physical exam and blood work prior to and 2-3 weeks after starting
NSAIDs*
Aspirin (Acetylsalicylic Acid) - Answers NSAID
Uses: analgesic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, reduces clot formation; used in feline cardiomyopathy &
arthritis (rarely)
Mechanism of action: inhibits cyclooxyrgenase; inhibits prostaglandin production (prostaglandins lead to
pain, fever, inflammation)
Side effects/contraindications: gastric irritation, ulceration and bleeding, caution in cats
Phenylbutazone - Answers NSAID
,Uses: anti-inflammatory and antipyretic for horses
Side effects: GI ulceration, renal toxicity
*Not used in small animals*
Advil (Ibuprofen) - Answers NSAID
Not used in dogs/cats; serious GI ulceration
Rimadyl (Carprofen) - Answers NSAID
Uses: DJD pain, post-op pain, dental post-op pain, pre-anesthetic combined with a narcotic
Mechanism of action: primarily COX2 inhibitor
Side effects/contraindications: rare; kidney, liver, GI, as with all NSAIDs
Metacam (Meloxicam) - Answers NSAID
Uses: post-op pain, arthritis
Mechanism of action: COX2 inhibitor
Previcox - Answers NSAID
Uses: arthritis and pain control
Mechanism of action: COX2 inhibitor
,Galliprant - Answers NSAID (non-COX inhibitor)
Uses: arthritis in the dog
Mechanism of action: EP4 receptor antagonist (primary editor of canine pain/inflammation)
*May have less renal/liver toxicities than the COX inhibitors*
NSAIDs in Cats - Answers -Metacam is an approved NSAID for use in cats as a single injection post-
operatively
-Useful for post-op pain and long-term use for arthritis
Onsior (Robenacoxib) - Answers NSAID approved for oral and injectable use in cats
Mechanism of action: COX2 inhibitor
*Eliminated via the liver, not kidneys*
Tylenol (Acetominophen) - Answers Not an NSAID
Uses: analgesic with limited antipyretic and anti-inflammatory activity; "escape drug" for severe DJD in
dogs only
*Never give to cats! Causes cyanosis, anemia, liver failure.*
DMSO - Answers Clear liquid noted for anti-inflammatory properties and its ability to carry other drugs
through the skin
Uses: acute swelling from trauma topically applied; IV to reduce cerebral edema; treat chemotherapy
perivascular injection sites topically; ear inflammation
, Principles of Administering Analgesics - Answers The best way to treat pain is to prevent it.
Multimodal analgesia often produces better pain relief than single agents.
Avoid "wind-up"
(when nerve receptors are repeatedly stimulated, they become over-sensitized and discharge pain
sensation at a lower threshold)
General and Clinical Signs of Pain - Answers behavioral changes
vocalization
escape attempts
pacing/anxiousness
restlessness/insomnia
aggression
lack of use
nocturia with joint pain
poor grooming with dental pain in cats
insomnia/unwilling to lay down with abdominal pain
increased HR, BP, RR
peripheral vasoconstriction
pupil dilation/mydriasis
Signs of Pain in Cats - Answers holding head down;
squinting eyes or hiding head;
hunched back;
reluctant to move;
don't respond to people;
