Small Animal Dermatology, 3rd edition

752 APPENDIX B DRUG FORMULARY

Drug name (trade orother names)

Pharmacology andindications

Adverse effects andprecautions

Dosing information andcomments

Formulations

Dosage (unlessotherwise indicated,dose is the same fordogs and cat)

Aurothioglucose(Solganol)

Used for gold therapy(chrysotherapy).Mechanism of action isunknown, but may relateto immunosuppressiveeffect on lymphocytes.Used primarily forimmune-mediateddiseases (such asdermatologic disease).

Adverse effects includedermatitis, nephrotoxicity,and blood dyscrasias.

Use of this drug has notbeen evaluated inveterinary medicine. Nocontrolled clinical trials areavailable to determineefficacy in animals. Thisdrug is often used incombination with otherimmunosuppressivedrugs, such ascorticosteroids.

50 mg/mL injection.

Dog

<

10 kg: 1 mg IM first

week, 2 mg IM secondweek, 1 mg/kg/weekmaintenance.Dog

>

10 kg: 5 mg IM first

week, 10 mg IM secondweek, 1 mg/kg/weekmaintenance.Cat: 0.5–1 mg/cat every 7days IM.

Azathioprine (Imuran)

Thiopurineimmunosuppressive drug.Acts to inhibit T celllymphocyte function. Thisdrug is metabolized to6-mercaptopurine, whichmay account forimmunosuppressiveeffects. Used to treatvarious immune-mediateddiseases.

Bone marrow suppressionis most serious concern.Cat particularly aresusceptible. There hasbeen some associationwith development ofpancreatitis whenadministered withcorticosteroids.

Usually used incombination with otherimmunosuppressive drugs(such as corticosteroids) totreat immune-mediateddisease. Doses of2.2 mg/kg in cats haveproduced toxicity.

50 mg tablets;10 mg/mL forinjection.

Dog: 2 mg/kg q24h poinitially then 0.5–1 mg/kgq48h.Cat (use cautiously):0.3 mg/kg q24h poinitially, then q48h, withcareful monitoring.

Azithromycin(Zithromax)

Azalide antibiotic. Similarmechanism of action asmacrolides (erythromycin),which is to inhibit bacteriaprotein synthesis viainhibition of ribosome.Spectrum is primarilygram-positive.

Vomiting is likely withhigh doses. Diarrhea mayoccur in some patients.

Azithromycin may bebetter tolerated thanerythromycin. Primarydifference from otherantibiotics is the highintracellularconcentrations achieved.

250 mg capsules,250 and 600 mgtablets, 100 or200 mg/5 mL oralsuspension, and500 mg vials forinjection.

Dog: 10 mg/kg po onceevery 5 days, or 3.3 mg/kgq24h for three daysCat: 5–10 mg/kg po q48h.