Question 1
Question
The drug of choice for managing seizures long term is an oral barbiturate that has the benefit of being relatively inexpensive while having an extensive half-life. What is this drug?
Answer
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Diazepam
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Phenobarbital
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Xylazine
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Potassium bromide
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Pentobarbital
Question 2
Question
Over time, barbiturate use results in upregulation of the enzymes responsible for the drug’s breakdown. This phenomenon is known as enzyme __________________.
Answer
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tolerance
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anabolism
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induction
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inactivation
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modulation
Question 3
Question
Diazepam is a benzodiazepine tranquilizer that, in contrast to phenobarbital which is used as a long-term anti-seizure medication, is instead used as an emergency IV drug for use during an active convulsion. All of the following are characteristics of diazepam except one. Which choice is incorrect?
Answer
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The mode of action is stimulation of GABA
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Oral dosing is severely limited by an extensive first-pass effect
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Tends to cause withdrawal signs after abruptly ceasing use
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Good choice for a dog with a history of aggression that is controlled with obedience training
Question 4
Question
Which of the following is a property of potassium bromide?
Answer
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Half-life exceeds 3 weeks
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Drug of choice for cats with seizures
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Often used as the sole therapy for seizures
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Antagonizes the effect of phenobarbital if given concurrently
Question 5
Question
There are several mechanisms of action for behavior-modifying drugs used in veterinary medicine. Which of the following is not considered one of these mechanisms?
Answer
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Modifying neurotransmitter release
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Imitating a neurotransmitter in an agonistic or antagonistic manner
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Modifying neurotransmitter duration by altering chemical breakdown capability
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Stimulate euphoria by binding to the µ opioid receptor
Question 6
Question
Which neurotransmitter does acepromazine antagonize to decrease anxiety in both humans and veterinary patients?
Answer
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Seratonin
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Dopamine
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Glycine
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GABA
Question 7
Question
Which of the following classes of antidepressant medications function by modifying the activity of enzymes that are responsible for the biotransformation of neurotransmitters?
Answer
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Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)
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Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
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Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
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All of the above
Question 8
Question
What is the general role of the neurotransmitter serotonin?
Answer
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Mood determinant
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Starting material for catecholamine production
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Central nervous system inhibition
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Increase parasympathetic nervous system tone
Question 9
Question
What is primidone’s primary mechanism of activity?
Answer
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Directly increases activity of the inhibitory neurotransmitter glycine
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Directly decreases the activity of the excitatory neurotransmitter norepinephrine
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Is metabolized to phenobarbital, so functions to stimulate GABA
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Agonism of 2-adrenergic receptors
Question 10
Question
An uncommonly used unit of measurement that is often used in conjunction with barbiturates is the grain. What is the size in milligrams of a 2-grain phenobarbital tablet?
Question 11
Question
Seizures generally originate from the brain but seizure activity can also arise from other causes. Veterinary technicians should always consider these other sources except:
Answer
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hypoxia.
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hypoglycemia.
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hypocalcemia.
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hypothermia.
Question 12
Question
________________ is the term used to describe seizure activity that is prolonged and can result in positive feedback where muscle activity increases temperature and increase seizure activity.
Answer
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Idiopathic
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Status epilepticus
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Prodromal phase
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Postictal phase
Question 13
Question
Phenobarbital used to control seizures has a well-established therapeutic range for dogs but dosages vary widely based upon:
Question 14
Question
Side effects of using phenobarbital to control seizure activity in dogs include
Answer
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ataxia.
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polyuria.
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polyphagia.
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All of the above
Question 15
Question
Phenobarbital induced hepatotoxicity:
Question 16
Question
On an animal that is not responding particularly well to phenobarbital or the phenobarbital/bromide combination for long-term seizure control, all of the following drugs might be tried except:
Answer
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Clomicalm.
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levetricetam.
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gabapentin.
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zonisamide.
Question 17
Question
Drugs that “lyse” anxiety or decrease fear responses are called:
Answer
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antipsychotic drugs.
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anxiolytic drugs.
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antidepressant drugs.
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major tranquilizers.
Question 18
Question
Three classes of antidepressant drugs used in human beings have also found use in veterinary medicine include all except:
Answer
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monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI)
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tricyclic antidepressants (TCA’s)
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selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI’s)
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gamma () aminobutyric acid (GABA)
Question 19
Question
Clomipramine’s FDA–approved indication is for treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorders in dogs. A more common use of clomipramine in veterinary medicine is for:
Question 20
Question
Plasma phenobarbital concentrations achieved with any given dose vary considerably from patient to patient. Therefore, the only way to ensure a dosage regimen is adequate is to
Answer
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monitor the animal’s behavior.
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check blood levels of phenobarbital.
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check frequent blood chemistry panels.
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monitor the animal’s urine output.
Question 21
Question
When considering neurotransmitter-modifying drugs for behavior therapy, which of the following is true?
Answer
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Use of these drugs provides an immediate response
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Once an effective dose is determined, no further adjustments are needed
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Every animal responds differently to these drugs
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Allows for optimal behavior modification without requiring training
Question 22
Question
Potassium bromide is used as an adjunct drug for treating seizures when standard doses of barbiturates prove ineffective alone. Considering the long 3-week half-life of potassium bromide, how would you determine the length of time it takes to reach a steady state when using this drug daily?
Answer
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10.5 days
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21 days
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21 weeks
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105 days
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201 Days
Question 23
Question
Which of the following is not a side effect of barbiturate use?
Answer
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Polyphagia
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Polydactyly
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Polydipsia
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Polyuria
Question 24
Question
What is the portion of the brain that controls animal emotion and is thus targeted for alteration by behavior-modifying drugs?
Answer
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Cerebrum
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Cerebellum
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Limbic region
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Pituitary gland
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Pineal gland
Question 25
Question
In addition to treating behavioral problems, selegiline is also used to treat this condition in dogs.
Answer
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Cushing’s disease
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Parkinson’s disease
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Pituitary dwarfism
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Hypoadrenocorticism