PHARMACOLOGY EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
An 11-year old male German shepherd dog with previously diagnosed dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)
presents to your clinic following a dog fight. The dog is significantly aggressive and resistant to handling.
What medication should NOT be used to sedate this patient? - CORRECT ANSWER -Dexmedetomidine
should only be used in patients with normal cardiac function as it can cause a significant reduction in
cardiac output due to reduced heart rate.
Which of the following is the reason that fluoroquinolones are usually avoided when treating young
foals? - CORRECT ANSWER -Adverse effects on the articular cartilage
A 5-year old female spayed Yorkie presents with a history of decreased vision. The doctor asks you to
perform tonometry on this dog. Which of the following may be used as a topical anesthetic to the eyes
so that you may check the intraocular pressures with your Tonopen? - CORRECT ANSWER -Proparacaine
is a topical anesthetic for the eyes
A client has a dog with allergies, and the doctor recommends she give the dog diphenhydramine
(Benadryl) twice daily for 1 week. She instructs that the dog have 3.0 mg/kg every 12 hours. Over-the-
counter Benadryl contains 12.5 mg per teaspoon, and the owner wishes to give a liquid. What quantity
of Benadryl in milliliters should the dog receive every 12 hours if he weighs 8 pounds? - CORRECT
ANSWER -12.5 mg/5 mL = 2.5 mg/mL
The dog weighs 8 pounds/ 2.2 pounds/kg = 3.6 kg
The dog needs 3.0 mg/kg per dose.
,So, 3.0 mg/kg X 3.6 kg = 10.8 mg per dose (every 12 hours)
10.8 mg/ 2.5 mg/mL = 4.3 mL
What is the most common drug in most euthanasia solutions? - CORRECT ANSWER -Pentobarbital
Diphenhydramine is typically used in treating which of the following conditions? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Allergic reactions
Which of the following medications should be used with caution in cats, as it could cause blindness in
some cats? - CORRECT ANSWER -Enrofloxacin (Baytril) is used in cats at no higher than a 5mg/kg per
dose. Higher doses increase the risk for blindness in cats, and in general this drug should be used with
caution because of this potential side effect.
A veterinarian hands you a prescriptions that reads:
Cephalexin 250 mg, SIG: 3 cap PO BID x 14d
What is correct amount of medication to dispense and what directions should be typed on the drug
label? - CORRECT ANSWER -84 capsules (250 mg each) of cephalexin. Give 3 capsules by mouth twice
daily for 14 days.
Which of the following antimicrobial medications should not be administered to young, growing
animals? - CORRECT ANSWER -Enrofloxacin, and other drugs in fluoroquinolone class, should not be
used in young, growing animals as it causes damage to the joint cartilage.
A 20-kg patient is being sent home on famotidine to help with potential esophagitis. How many 10 mg
tablets should be sent home with the owner, if the patient requires 0.5 mg/kg PO BID x 7 days? -
CORRECT ANSWER -14
, A client rushes in her puppy which was accidentally dropped and received a trauma to the head. Which
medication is an osmotic diuretic and may be used to help decrease intracranial pressure in a situation
like this? - CORRECT ANSWER -Mannitol is an osmotic diuretic that is often given to help decrease
intracranial pressure in cases of trauma or seizures.
Lincosamides (such as lincomycin and clindamycin) are contraindicated for use in which species of
animal? - CORRECT ANSWER -equine
You want to give a 22 pound cat a 5 mg/kg dose of a drug. The drug comes as a 2.5% solution. How
many milliliters should you give the cat? - CORRECT ANSWER -2 mL
Which of the following drugs is an anticonvulsant? - CORRECT ANSWER -phenobarbital
Which of the following can cause severe gastritis and should be used with extreme caution when
inducing vomiting? - CORRECT ANSWER -hydrogen peroxide
Which of the following drugs is commonly given by intravenous injection to humanely euthanize small
animals? - CORRECT ANSWER -pentobarbital
A 2-year old domestic short hair cat presents for ingestion of the flowers seen in the picture below. The
ingestion occurred about 2 hours ago and no clinical signs have been noted yet. What does the ingestion
of this plant cause in cats? - CORRECT ANSWER -renal failure
Which of the following drugs is a controlled substance? - CORRECT ANSWER -hydrocodone
You are helping the neurologist with a Tensilon test in a dog. Tensilon is the trade name for
edrophonium chloride. By administering this drug, you are testing for which disease? - CORRECT
ANSWER -Myasthenia gravis