VCP 421: Medicine Section

GENERAL DRUGS

Heartworm Information Center

• Heartworm is a parasite that most dog owners and many cat owners have to be concerned about. The more you know, the better protected your pet can become. We have put together an information center to take you through the parasite's biology, the preventive medications, diagnosis, and treatment.

Allopurinol (Zyloprim)

• There is one reason to use allopurinol: to reduce uric acid in the blood stream.

Atenolol (Tenormin)

• Atenolol is a beta blocker and has been designed to block the heart's beta-one receptors while leaving the beta-two receptors of other tissues alone.

Bethanechol Chloride (Urecholine, Myocholine)

• Bethanechol chloride works to strengthen the detrusor muscle’s contraction. If the lower sphincter is too tight from an upper motor neuron injury, this medication will help the bladder to contract harder to overcome it. If the bladder is flabby, this medication will help it regain some shape and strength so that it can empty in a controlled fashion rather than just leaking.

Budesonide (Entocort EC, Entocord)

• How nice it would be to have a corticosteroid that could be applied to the site of the inflammation but not be absorbed into the body systemically! This is the idea behind budesonide.

Chronic Steroid Use

• There has never been a class of drug that has more application in disease treatment than the glucocorticoid class. Indeed, this group is rivaled only by antibiotics in lives saved. But side effects from the glucocorticoid group are numerous and can be classified into those seen with short-term use and those seen in long-term use.

Cisapride (Propulsid)

• One of the stomach's most important functions is to grind the food we eat into a fine slurry that will pass through the intestines freely. A strong rhythm of contraction is necessary to effect this and this rhythm creates the stomach's motility. Cisapride is thus an excellent alternative to those patients who have unacceptable side effects with metoclopramide.

Colchicine (Colchicinum, Artex, Colchily, Cholchicquim, etc.)

• Colchicine is used in scarring diseases such as hepatic cirrhosis and in abnormal protein depositions such as amyloidosis.

Compounding Pharmacies

• Sometimes the medication that your pet needs was designed for people and does not come in a form convienient for a cat or dog. A compounding pharmacy has the ability to reformulate the medication so that your pet may actually be willing to take it!

Diphenoxylate Hydrochloride (Lomotil, Lonox, Lomanate)

• Despite its inability to produce recreational euphoria, diphenoxylate hydrochloride is actually a member of the opiate class of drugs. One beneficial effect is an increase in general muscle tone of the small intestine. Increasing tonus means more absorption of water and nutrients and less diarrhea.

Dirlotapide (Slentrol)

• The weight loss medication dirlotapide works not by preventing fat absorption into the body but by fooling the brain into feeling satisfied with a smaller meal.

EPA and FDA Flea Products

• Created by dermatologists, this flea product comparison chart allows side-by-side analysis.

Erythropoietin

• Erythropoietin is the hormone responsible for inducing red blood cell production by the body’s bone marrow. Erythropoietin is primarily produced by the kidney when a drop in blood oxygen is perceived, though 1% to 15% of the total erythropoietin produced comes from the liver. A dose of erythropoietin lasts about a day but its effect is seen approximately 5 days later when the red cell proliferation it has induced is mature enough for release into circulation.

Fenbendazole (Panacur)

• Fenbendazole (often abbreviated "FBZ") is used in both large and small animals. In dogs, it is useful against roundworms, hookworms, and the more difficult to treat whipworms.

Flea Product Comparison

• Confused about flea protection? This FAQ compares the three popular topspot flea control products to assist you in determining which is right for your situation.

Interferon (Roferon, Intron A, Alferon N)

• Interferons are generally produced in the body in response to viral infections and have antiviral activity as well as immunostimulating properties.

Lactulose

• Lactulose is primarily used as a stool softener or in the treatment of liver patients.

Maropitant Citrate (Cerenia)

• Maropitant citrate is a strong anti-nausea medication for dogs.

Mirtazapine (Remeron)

• The side effects make mirtazapine a desirable medication for animals. It has strong anti-nausea properties and acts as a strong appetite stimulant.

Omeprazole (Prilosec, GastroGard)

• Omeprazole represents a different tact from other antacids: proton pump inhibition. The quantity of acid ultimately amounts to the quantity of protons. The proton pump is central to secreting acid into the stomach and with this pump inhibited, stomach acid production is halted.

Oseltamivir (Tamiflu)

• To assist in the treatment of canine parvovirus infection, oseltamivir is given orally twice a day for 5 days. The medication should be obtained as soon as the parvo diagnosis is confirmed. Usually an oral suspension is compounded or the human product is given. This medication is not approved for use in small animals.

Pentoxifylline (Trental)

• Pentoxifylline is used to enhance healing in chronic ulcerative conditions such as dermatomyositis of collies and shelties and has been helpful in treating allergic reactions caused by physical contact with the allergen (i.e., contact allergic dermatitis). Ear margin vasculitis (blood vessel inflammation) can also be treated with pentoxifylline.

Pimobendan (Vetmedin)

• Pimobendan is the first drug of a new class of heart medications called inodilators. When used with other cardiac medications, pimobendan can be effective for dogs with congestive heart failure related to either dilated cardiomyopathy or degenerative mitral valve disease.

Polysulfated Glycosaminoglycan (Adequan)

• In treating arthritis, injections are given twice a week for 4 weeks for a maximum of eight injections. Injections are given intramuscularly. Dogs, cats, and horses are the usual patients. There is another use for this medication and that is in the treatment of feline lower urinary tract disease.

Ponazuril

• Ponazuril represents a new approach to treatment for coccidia, which can cause potentially life-threatening diarrhea.

Pyrantel Pamoate (Strongid T, Nemex)

• Pyrantel pamoate is effective against numerous parasitic worms, such as roundworms, hookworms, and stomach worms. When a new puppy or kitten is adopted and has been said to have been dewormed, the chances are it is this product that was used.

Ranitidine (Zantac)

• Ranitidine is useful in any situation where stomach irritation is an issue and ulceration is a concern. It is often used in the treatment of Helicobacter infection, inflammatory bowel disease, canine parvovirus, ingestion of a toxin that could be ulcerating (over dose of aspirin, for example), any disease involving protracted vomiting, or chronically in combination with medications which may have stomach irritating properties.

S-Adenosylmethionine (SAMe, Denosyl, Zentonil)

• In veterinary medicine, this product is chiefly used in liver disease.

Silymarin (Milk Thistle)

• Silymarin has been traditionally used in the treatment of liver disease and, while it has recently been advocated for use in pets, all scientific information available concerns human use. Silymarin is regularly used for an assortment of liver diseases including cirrhosis and viral hepatitis in humans.

Spinosad (Comfortis)

• Spinosad is an ultra-fast flea killing tablet that lasts an entire month. It is safe for dogs but not for cats.

Subcutaneous Fluids

• Lots of animals require extra fluids, either temporarily or indefinitely, to insure that they receive adequate hydration. The technique is simple, but sometimes daunting to the beginner. Here is a pictured guide to assist with the learning experience of giving subcutaneous fluids to your pet at home.

Ursodiol (Actigall)

• Ursodeoxycholic acid is one of the bile acids produced by the Chinese black bear and it has been used in the treatment of liver disease for centuries. Nowadays, it is produced in the laboratory rather than extracted from bear gall bladders.