CVS PHARMACOLOGY (VETERINARY) FINAL ACTUAL EXAM 2026 ALL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS ALREADY A GRADED WITH EXPERT FEEDBACK |NEW AND REVISED

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CVS PHARMACOLOGY (VETERINARY) FINAL
ACTUAL EXAM 2026 ALL QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS ALREADY A
GRADED WITH EXPERT FEEDBACK |NEW AND
REVISED



1. Which drug is a veterinary-used positive inotrope that increases
myocardial contractility via phosphodiesterase III inhibition and is
commonly used in canine mitral valve disease?
A. Enalapril.
B. Furosemide.
C. Pimobendan.
D. Amlodipine.
Pimobendan is a calcium sensitizer and PDE-III inhibitor that
increases contractility and vasodilation; enalapril is an ACE
inhibitor and furosemide a diuretic.
2. Which class of drugs reduces preload by promoting renal sodium
and water excretion and is first-line for acute congestive heart
failure management in small animals?
A. Beta-blockers.
B. ACE inhibitors.
C. Loop diuretics (e.g., furosemide).
D. Calcium-channel blockers.
Loop diuretics produce potent diuresis rapidly, reducing
circulating volume and preload in CHF.
3. A dog on long-term furosemide therapy develops hypokalemia.
Which drug is most appropriate to reduce potassium loss while
maintaining diuresis?
A. Spironolactone.
B. Amiloride or spironolactone (potassium-sparing diuretic).
C. Hydrochlorothiazide only.

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D. Mannitol.
Potassium-sparing agents (amiloride, spironolactone) reduce K+
loss; spironolactone also provides aldosterone antagonism
beneficial in CHF.
4. Which adverse effect is most commonly associated with ACE
inhibitors (e.g., enalapril) in veterinary patients?
A. Hypoglycemia.
B. Hypotension and azotemia (especially if dehydrated).
C. Hyperkalemia only in healthy animals.
D. Seizures.
ACE inhibitors lower blood pressure and can decrease GFR
causing azotemia; hyperkalemia risk exists if combined with K-
sparing drugs.
5. An Irish Wolfhound presents with dilated cardiomyopathy. Which
antiarrhythmic is commonly used IV for ventricular arrhythmias in
dogs?
A. Propranolol PO.
B. Lidocaine IV.
C. Amlodipine PO.
D. Enalapril IV.
Lidocaine is a class IB antiarrhythmic used IV for acute
ventricular arrhythmias in dogs (not in cats).
6. Which veterinary cardiovascular drug is contraindicated in cats due
to risk of pulmonary edema exacerbation?
A. Furosemide.
B. Pimobendan (caution in some feline cardiomyopathies —
used with caution; many veterinarians avoid routine use).
C. Digoxin.
D. Clopidogrel.
Pimobendan’s role in cats is cautious and not universally
adopted due to limited evidence and potential hemodynamic
effects; digoxin and furosemide are used in cats cautiously.
7. Which anticoagulant acts by potentiating antithrombin III and is
used in short-term IV/SC settings?
A. Warfarin.

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B. Heparin.
C. Clopidogrel.
D. Aspirin.
Heparin enhances antithrombin III activity causing rapid
anticoagulation; warfarin is oral and works on vitamin K-
dependent clotting factors.
8. Which oral anticoagulant requires monitoring of prothrombin
time/INR in animals and is seldom used due to challenges in
veterinary dosing?
A. Low-molecular-weight heparin.
B. Warfarin.
C. Novel oral anticoagulants are standard in vet med.
D. Aspirin.
Warfarin has narrow therapeutic index, requires PT/INR
monitoring and is rarely used in many vet settings due to safety
and monitoring issues.
9. A dog in CHF has severe cough and pulmonary edema. Which
drug will reduce afterload and preload and is a direct arterial and
venous vasodilator used in acute decompensation?
A. Benazepril orally only.
B. Sodium nitroprusside (IV) or nitroglycerin (topical/IV) for
acute severe cases.
C. Atenolol PO.
D. Spironolactone only.
Nitroprusside is a potent mixed vasodilator used IV in
hypertensive crises or severe CHF to reduce preload/afterload;
nitroglycerin as venodilator may help; ACE inhibitors act slower.
10. What monitoring is essential when initiating digoxin therapy
in a small animal patient?
A. Liver enzymes only.
B. ECG monitoring for arrhythmias, renal function, and
electrolytes (K+, Mg+) due to narrow therapeutic index.
C. Blood glucose only.
D. No monitoring necessary.

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Digoxin toxicity risk increases with hypokalemia and renal
dysfunction; ECG and electrolyte checks are critical.
11. Which antiarrhythmic drug is a class III agent that prolongs
action potential duration and is used for refractory ventricular
arrhythmias but has multiple organ toxicities?
A. Lidocaine.
B. Propranolol.
C. Amiodarone.
D. Enalapril.
Amiodarone prolongs repolarization (class III) and is effective
but has pulmonary, hepatic, thyroid toxicities and long half-life.
12. In hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in cats, which drug
class is commonly used to slow heart rate and improve diastolic
filling?
A. Diuretics only.
B. Beta-blockers (e.g., atenolol) or calcium-channel blockers
(diltiazem) to reduce heart rate.
C. ACE inhibitors primarily.
D. Thrombolytics.
Beta-blockers and diltiazem reduce HR and improve diastolic
filling in HCM; ACE inhibitors are less consistently beneficial.
13. Which antiplatelet agent is increasingly used in dogs and cats
to reduce arterial thromboembolism risk (e.g., feline saddle
thrombus)?
A. Warfarin only.
B. Clopidogrel.
C. Low dose aspirin only.
D. Heparin only.
Clopidogrel inhibits ADP-mediated platelet aggregation and is
preferred in many veterinary arterial thromboembolism cases;
aspirin has variable efficacy and GI risk.
14. A 10 kg dog is prescribed enalapril at 0.5 mg/kg PO q12h.
What is the per-dose amount in mg?
A. 0.5 mg.
B. 5 mg.