APPENDIX B DRUG FORMULARY 767
Diazepam (Valium andgeneric)
Benzodiazepine.Central-acting CNSdepressant. Mechanism ofaction appears to be viapotentiation of GABAreceptor-mediated effectsin CNS. Used for sedation,anesthetic adjunct,anticonvulsant, andbehavioral disorders.Diazepam metabolized todesmethyl diazepam(nordiazepam) andoxazepam.
Sedation is most commonside effect. May causeparadoxical excitement indogs. Causes polyphagia.In cats, idiopathic fatalhepatic necrosis has beenreported.
Clearance in dogs is manytimes faster than inpeople (half-life in dogsless than 1h), requiresfrequent administration.For treatment of statusepilepticus, may beadministered IV or rectally.Avoid administration IM.
2, 5 mg tablets;5 mg/mL solutionfor injection.
Preanesthetic: 0.5 mg/kgIV. Status epilepticus:0.5 mg/kg IV, 1 mg/kgrectal; repeat if necessary.Appetite stimulant (cat):0.2 mg/kg IV. For behaviortreatment in cats: 1–4 mgper cat q12–24h po.
Dicloxacillin sodium(Dynapen)β-lactam, antibiotic.Inhibits bacterial cell wallsynthesis. Spectrum islimited to gram-positivebacteria, especiallystaphylococci.Use cautiously in animalsallergic to penicillin-likedrugs.No clinical efficacy studiesavailable for dogs or cats.In dogs, oral absorption isvery low and may not besuitable for therapy.Administer, if possible, onempty stomach.125, 250, 500 mgcapsules,12.5 mg/mL oralsuspension.11–55 mg/kg q8h po.Diethylstilbestrol (DES)Synthetic estrogencompound. Used forestrogen replacement inanimals. DES is mostcommonly used to treatestrogen-responsiveincontinence in dogs. Alsohas been used to induceabortion in dogs.Side effects may occurthat are caused by excessestrogen. Estrogentherapy may increase riskof pyometra andestrogen-sensitive tumors.Doses listed are fortreating urinaryincontinence and varydepending on response.Titrate dose to individualpatients. Although usedto induce abortion, it wasnot efficacious in onestudy that administered 75μg/kg.1, 5 mg tablets;50 mg/mL injection(no longermanufactured in USbut available fromcompoundingpharmacist).Dog: 0.1–1.0 mg/dogq24h po.Cat: 0.05–0.1 mg/catq24h po.(continued)