Page 1350 - Problem-Based Feline Medicine

PART 16

Drugs

67. Special considerations related

to drug use in cats

Jill Elizabeth Maddison

KEY SIGNS

● Differences in dosing recommendations between dogs and cats are usually
because of differences in drug metabolism.
● Cats are deficient in some glucuronyl transferases resulting in very prolonged
half lives for some drugs such as aspirin.
● Feline hemoglobin is more susceptible to oxidation forming methemoglobin;
oxidation occurs with drugs such as benzocaine.
● Some receptor sites for drug binding are more sensitive, for example with
morphine.

Drugs not recommended for use in cats

Acetominophen Methemoglobinemia and Heinz body anemia.
(paracetamol)
Apomorphine Significant CNS depression.
Azathioprine Bone marrow suppression.
Benzocaine Methemoglobinemia.
Laryngeal edema.
Cisplatin Fatal, acute pulmonary edema.

continued

1342