salbutamol

(albuterol USAN)

β2 agonist bronchodilator

indications

bronchospasm

care

heart disease, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, hypertension, epilepsy

dose

dogs - (slow release tablets) 50µg/kg po 2 (or 3) times daily

notes

Do not use in food animals

sodium acid phosphate

urine acidifier

dose

dog100 - 300mg po daily, cat 100mg po daily

sodium bicarbonate

alkaliser

indications

alkalinise the plasma & urine

dose

dog & cat urinary alkaliser 10 - 50mg/kg po 2 - 3 times daily

all spp plasma alkaliser 1mL 8.4% solution mixed in 0.9% saline slow iv / mmol of negative base excess

interactions

do not use with solutions containing calcium - CaCO3 precipitates out

notes

8.4% solution contains 1mmol/mL = 1mEq/mL

5% solution contains 0.6mmol/mL

sodium acid citrate

urine alkaliniser

dose

horses 15mg/kg po daily, dogs 50mg/kg po daily

sodium nitroprusside

nitrate vasodilator

indications

in anaesthesia / intensive care in critically ill patients having a hypertensive crisis, acute heart failure secondary to mitral regurgitation, severe refractory cardiac heart failure, cardiovascular surgery.

pharmacokinetics

almost instant response from an iv infusion though will return to pretreatment levels in 1-10 minutes once infusion stops

metabolised in blood and tissues to cyanide which is converted in the liver to thiocyanate and eliminated in the urine, faeces and exhaled

half life is 2-7 mins though this may increase if there is renal impairment or hyponatraemia

side effects

hypotension in overdose.give dobutamine infusion (cyanide toxicity at very high dose rates)

contra-indications

lack of kit to monitor invasive blood pressure

dose

Dog iv infusion by pump at 0.5 - 10 µg/kg/min to achieve the desired ABP

Maximum dose 0.75 mg/kg/hour or cyanide toxicity

notes

solutions are unstable and must be protected from light (wrap drip bag & giving set in aluminium foil)

sotalol

class 2 / 3 antiarrhythmic

indications

ventricular tachyarrhythmias

side effects

may cause arrhythmias

dose

dog 1.5 - 3.5mg/kg twice daily

spironalactone

diuretic

indications

limited degree of diuresis when used on its own

combination with frusemide, in patients where hypokalaemia is likely to cause serious problems, resistant oedema

side effects

hyperkalaemia with prolonged use

pharmacokinetics

Absorption gradual onset of action, peak at 48-72 hours, duration for 2-3 days after therapy has stopped

Distribution 98% bound to plasma protein

Metabolism short tl/2 of 1-2 hours in humans whereas active metabolite has a tl/2 of about 20 hours

dose

dogs & cats 2 - 4mg/kg daily

stanozolol

anabolic steroid

indications

erythropoiesis, may enhance fibrinolysis and so be useful in feline thromboembolism, aid in debility.

contra-indications

food animals, racing horses, androgen dependent tumours, pregnancy

dose

Dogs anabolism small breeds 1-2 mg po bid or 25 mg deep im, may repeat weekly. large breeds 2-4 mg po bid or 50 mg deep im, may repeat weekly

erythropoiesis, appetite stimulant 1-4 mg po once daily or 25-50 mg im weekly

Cats - erythropoiesis 1-4 mg po bid or 25 mg deep im

Horses 0.55 mg/kg deep im weekly for 4 weeks.

stilboestrol

potent synthetic oestrogen

Was widely used but now unavailable in NZ

dose

dog 0.1 - 1mg every day for 3 - 5 days then up to 1 mg/week

notes

Do not use in food animals

sucralfate

mucosal protectant

indications

gastric ulcers

dose

dogs 40mg/kg three times daily po

sulphasalazine

colonic NSAID prodrug

indications

colitis

side effects

anorexia, vomiting, rarely keratoconjunctivitis sicca (and other autoimmune diseases?)

dose

dog 12.5mg/kg po 4 times daily for 2 weeks then twice daily for 4 weeks

cats 10 - 20mg/kg po once daily for 4 weeks

suxamethonium

succinylcholine USAN

depolarising muscle relaxant

indications

used in cats and dogs, (rarely pigs, horses and rabbits) as part of a crash induction technique for anaesthesia (relaxes larynx to allow intubation)

contra - indications

if no means of artificially ventilating animal is available, if there is any doubt that the animal is unconscious, organophosphate administration in last month (beware flea collars in cats)

precautions

attempted reversal with anticholinesterases will prolong the block, may trigger malignant hyperthermia in susceptible pigs

dose

dog - 0.3mg/kg iv

cat - 1mg/kg iv

pig - 2mg/kg iv

horse - 0.2mg/kg iv

cattle & sheep - 40µg/kg iv

note

lasts 2 - 3 mins in most spp except dogs - 20mins