Antibiotics
This is the mechanism of action of penicillins and cephalosporins.
What is inhibition of cell wall synthesis?
This is the primary organ of concern for adverse effects when using azole antifungal agents.
What is the liver?
Broadly, these types of parasites are treated with anthelmintics.
What are endoparasites (or nematodes)?
Gingival hyperplasia is a known side effect of this immunosuppressant drug.
What is cyclosporine?
This is the term for "cleaners" meant to be used on skin.
What are antiseptics?
This class of antibiotics is known to cause keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) as a side effect.
What are sulfonamides?
Used to treat ringworm in horses and small animals, this antifungal's mechanism of action involves disrupting the mitotic spindle, and it is famously absorbed better when given with a fatty meal
What is griseofulvin?
This 'macrocyclic lactone' is the active ingredient in Heartgard; while safe at heartworm preventative doses, it can cause neurotoxicity in 'white feet, don't treat' breeds like Collies due to a MDR1 gene mutation.
What is ivermectin?
When a pet is on high doses of this glucocorticoid for immunosuppression, technicians must warn owners about 'The Three Ps': Polyuria, Polydipsia, and Polyphagia.
What is prednisone (or prednisolone)?
The organs most responsible for the elimination of gas anesthetics such as isoflurane and sevoflurane.
What are the lungs?
This class of antibiotics, which includes enrofloxacin, can potentially cause damage to the cartilage of growing animals. They can also cause irreversible blindness when administered in high doses in cats.
What are fluoroquinolones?
Unlike the azoles, this antifungal, often used for dermatophytes, works by inhibiting the enzyme squalene epoxidase, which is a different step in the synthesis of the fungal cell membrane.
What is terbinafine?
This drug can be prescribed to treat anaerobic bacterial infections, diarrhea, or Giardia.
What is metronidazole?
This is considered a safe gloving strategy for handling chemotherapy agents, equipment, or waste.
What is double glove (or two pairs)?
(and change q 30 minutes)
The class of drugs that block the release of norepinephrine by binding to receptors on the presynaptic neuron.
What are alpha-2 agonists?
This class of antibiotics are known for their oto- and nephrotoxicity.
What are aminoglycosides?
This specific class of antifungals works by targeting ergosterol, a vital component of the fungal cell membrane that is absent in animal cells, providing a selective target for the drug.
What are azoles?
Technicians must warn cat owners never to use 'dog-only' flea products containing this chemical, as cats cannot efficiently metabolize it, leading to severe tremors, seizures, and death.
What is permethrin?
This unit of measurement, provided in a species-specific chart, is used for dosing chemotherapy agents because it better reflects drug distribution and metabolism.
What is body surface area?
This is a non-hormonal drug used to treat canine urinary incontinence.
What is phenylpropanolamine (PPA)?
When a tech calculates a dose for a time-dependent drug, the goal is often more frequent dosing (TID or QID) to ensure the blood level never falls below this 'minimum' threshold.
What is minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)?
This IV antifungal drug is notorious for severe nephrotoxicity.
What is amphotericin B?
This is a class of antibiotics, some of which are also effective antiprotozoals.
What are sulfonamides?
This term refers to the practice of adding a second immunosuppressant to a patient's protocol to allow the veterinarian to lower the dose of steroids, thereby reducing long-term side effects like Iatrogenic Cushing's.
What is steroid-sparing?
This class of drugs is used to treat hypertension by inhibiting the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), which reduces vascular fluid volume and vasoconstriction.
What are ACE inhibitors?