Page 1355 - Problem-Based Feline Medicine

67 – SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS RELATED TO DRUG USE IN CATS 1347

DRUGS WHICH ARE DIGOXIN
THERAPEUTICALLY USEFUL IN CATS
BUT WHICH MAY HAVE DIFFERENT Clinical action
TOXICITY/ACTIVITY PROFILES THAN Positive ionotropic, negative chronotropic.
IN DOGS
Adverse effects
ASPIRIN Cats are more sensitive to digitalis-induced toxicosis
than dogs and the dosage should be reduced compared
Clinical action to dogs and further reduced if given concurrently with
aspirin and furosemide.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory.
The elixir form is not as well tolerated as the tablet form.
Adverse effects
The half life of aspirin in the cat is approximately four Dose
times longer (38 hours vs 9 hours) than in dogs Cat 2–3 kg 0.0312 mg q 48 h.
because clearance depends on glucuronidation.
Cat 4–5 kg 0.0312 mg q 24–48 h.
The dose should be reduced and the dosing interval
Cat > 6 kg 0.0312 mg q 12 h.
extended when using aspirin in cats.
Clinical signs of toxicity include hypernea, hypersen-
sitivity and hyperthermia. DOXORUBICIN

Recommended dose Clinical action
10–20 mg/kg q 48–72 h. Cytotoxic.
Adverse effects
Doxorubicin when used at the “dog dose” of 30 mg/m 2
CHLORAMPHENICOL
has been associated with induction of renal failure in
cats. Therefore, it is used at a lower dose in cats.
Clinical action
Anti-microbial. Recommended dose
2
25 mg/m .
Adverse effects
Reversible non-regenerative anemia can occur in both
dogs and cats.
ENROFLOXACIN
Cats may be more susceptible, but the increased inci-
dence is probably related to overdosing of cats by using Clinical action
the dog-dosing schedule, which is approximately five Fluoroquinolone anti-microbial agent.
times higher per kg than what is recommended here.
Note, many texts still recommend higher doses than 50 Adverse effects
mg/cat bid. An apparent species-specific toxicity is acute retinal
degeneration recently reported in cats.
Recommended dose Blindness often results, but some cats may regain
50 mg/cat bid. vision.