Page 418 - Feline Cardiology

Generic Name Indications/Drug Dosage and Comments Available sizes
(Brand Name) Type Possible Routes
of Admin.

Apresoline—see
Hydralazine
Aspirin, ASA Nonsteroidal Standard Questionable efficacy as anticoagulant, but 81, 300, 600 mg
anti-inflammatory dosage: generally very safe. No proven clinically Tab
used for 81 mg/cat PO relevant anticoagulant effect at any dose in HM OTC
prophylactic q 48–72 h cats.
anticoagulation Minidose:
5 or 20 mg/cat
PO q 72 h
Atenolol Beta-1 selective 0.25–1 mg/kg • Used in absence of congestive heart failure 25, 50, 100 mg
(Tenormin [H]) blocker for PO q 12–24 h (e.g., occult hypertrophic cardiomyopathy) or Tab
hypertrophic controlled heart failure (e.g., pulmonary HM
cardiomyopathy, edema/effusions are resolved with diuretics
tachyarrhythmias and/or centesis), but not during fulminant
congestive heart failure.
• Indicated for supraventricular or ventricular
tachyarrhythmia but not sinus tachycardia
(control underlying cause instead).
• With such precautions, beta-blocker–
induced congestive heart failure, hypotension,
anorexia remain possible but are very rare in
cats.
• Transdermal formulation not reliable.
• Poor efficacy as sole treatment for systemic
hypertension in cats.
• Used in hyperthyroidism to minimize
cardiac effects.

Atipamezole Reversal agent for 50–200 mcg/kg Exact dosage is same volume as volume of 5 mg/ml
(Antisedan [V]) alpha-agonist IM, IV, or medetomidine or dexmedetomidine Inj
sedatives divided into administered. IV use for immediate reversal; VM
both routes may give half IV, half IM for both immediate
and sustained reversal.

Atravet—see
Acepromazine

Atropine Anticholinergic/ 0.01– Useful for treatment of transient, vagally 0.54 mg/ml
Parasympatholytic 0.044 mg/kg mediated bradycardia (e.g., general Inj
SQ, IM, IV anesthesia, cardiac arrest). Avoid preemptive VM
use in cardiac patients preoperatively
(unnecessary tachycardia) unless bradycardia
is documented prior to induction. Use as
needed (IV boluses 0.01–0.02 mg/kg) when
bradycardia is documented. Do not use in
congestive heart failure unless bradycardia is
present.
Continued Drug Formulary

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