PENN FOSTER VETERINARY
PHARMACOLOGY EXAM
Questions with 100% Correct
Answers Latest Update 2025 TOP
RATED A+
Oral drugs should never be adminsitered in animals that are - Vomiting
Intravenous administration of drugs allows the most and effective administration -
Rapid
An indwelling catheter should be replaced with a new one every hours - 72
A Simplex (gravity set) IV system is used to administer fluids to animals - large
Name six items that should be recorded in the controlled substance log - Date, owner's
name, patient's name, drug name, amount dispensed or administered, name(s) of
personnel administering the drug to the patient
Why should drugs be given by injection not be stored in syringes for any length of time
before administration? - The plastic syringe may absorb the drug, which may cause it to
be less effective
List 4 types of syringe tips that are available for use - luer-lock, slip-tip, eccentric,
catheter tip
A tuberculin syringe holds up to mL of medication - 1
A(n) is an agent that produces superficial irritation that is intended to relieve
some other irritation - Counter irritant
What type of syringe is divided into units rather than mls? - insulin syringe
A(n) will usually separate after long periods of shelf life and must be shaken well
before use to provide a uniform dose - suspension
Which syringe is constructed in such a way that the needle screws onto the tip of the
syringe? - Luer-Lok tip
All of the following are sites for IV administration in small animals except
a. jugular vein
,b. carotid artery
c. lateral saphenous vein
d. phalic vein - b. carotid artery
,If an IV catheter is not used continuously it should be flushed with heparinized saline
every to hours - 8,12
Cerumen is a substance that is commonly found in what anatomic part of the body? -
ear
Any patient receiving IV fluid therapy should be monitored every to minutes. -
15,30
IV tubing should be changed after a to hour period. - 48, 72
When an intramuscular injection is given in the pelvic limb of a dog or cat, the area near
the nerve should be avoided. - sciatic
Describe the difference between an agonist and an opioid antagonist - An agonist is a
drug that combines with a receptor to bring about an action and an antagonist combines
with a receptor to block the action.
Define: neurotransmitter - A neurotransmitter is a chemical substance released by a
nerve ending at the synapse. It acts on the adjacent neuron to stimulate, inhibit, or
change its activity.
The area of the brain that serves to relay information from the spinal cord and brainstem
to the interpretation center in the cerebrum is the - Thalamus
Most CNS drugs act by or the effects of neurotransmitters. - Interrupting
he generation or conduction of nerve impulses; interfering with
What are the primary neurotransmitters for adrenergic receptors? - epinephrine and
norepinephrine
List the four primary ways in which drugs affect the ANS. - mimicking neurotransmitters,
interfering with neurotransmitters release, blocking the attachment of neurotransmitters
to receptors and interfering with the breakdown of neurotransmitters
List five indications for the use of cholinergic agents - Control vomiting, treat urinary
retention, stimulate GI activity, treat glaucoma and to aid in diagnosis of myasthenia
gravis.
Atropine, scopolamine, glycopyrrolate, and aminopentamide are examples of what
specific drug class? - Cholinergic blocking agents
What category of drug is used to treat cardiac arrest and anaphylactic shock? -
adrenergic (sympathomimetic)
Propranolol is an example of which category of drug? - Beta Blocker
, What are some adverse side effects of xylazine and what drug may be used to
antagonize its effects - Bradycardia and hypotension can be antagonized by using
atropine, respiratory depression or excessive CNS depression can be antagonized by
using yohimbine
Why would you be concerned about using a thiobarbiturate to induce anesthesia in a
very thin dog? - Thiobarbiturates are fat soluble which means fat acts like a sponge to
take barbiturate out of circulation and away from CNS. thin animals will not absorb as
much in to fat tissues and more will remain in bloodstream and may cause excessive
depression of the CNS.
What are some of the characteristics of a cat anesthetized with ketamine? - Analgesia,
increased muscle tone, maintenance of pharyngeal/laryngeal reflexes, muscle tremors,
loss of blink reflex.
List some of the signs of a narcotic overdose - Respiratory depression, cardiac
depression, agitation, excitement, or seizures
List two narcotic antagonists - naloxone and nalorphine
Why should glyceryl guaiacolate not be mixed until just before use? - Because it tends
to precipitate out of solution when stored
you are assisting the delivery of a litter of puppies and you deliver one that is not
breathing adequately. What drug would the vet instruct to give and by what route? -
Doxapram (Dopram) may be administered under tongue or into umbilical vein, or by
intramuscular injection.
Why are euthanasia solutions that contain only pentobarbital classified as Class II
controlled substances, whereas those that contain pentobarbital and other substances
are classified as Class III controlled substances? - Some pentobarbital agents have a
red dye added to distinguish them from pentobarbital agents that may be used for
anesthesia. They are easily identified as euthanasia agents and have less potential for
abuse
All psychotherapy drugs are thought to produce their effects by altering activity
in the brain. - Neurotransmitter
Dissociative agents such as ketamine and tiletamine may cause at the injection
site - Burning
A hypnotic (anesthetic) known for its very short duration and white color is -
Propofol
An inhibitory neurotransmitter that is widely distributed in the brain is - GABA
PHARMACOLOGY EXAM
Questions with 100% Correct
Answers Latest Update 2025 TOP
RATED A+
Oral drugs should never be adminsitered in animals that are - Vomiting
Intravenous administration of drugs allows the most and effective administration -
Rapid
An indwelling catheter should be replaced with a new one every hours - 72
A Simplex (gravity set) IV system is used to administer fluids to animals - large
Name six items that should be recorded in the controlled substance log - Date, owner's
name, patient's name, drug name, amount dispensed or administered, name(s) of
personnel administering the drug to the patient
Why should drugs be given by injection not be stored in syringes for any length of time
before administration? - The plastic syringe may absorb the drug, which may cause it to
be less effective
List 4 types of syringe tips that are available for use - luer-lock, slip-tip, eccentric,
catheter tip
A tuberculin syringe holds up to mL of medication - 1
A(n) is an agent that produces superficial irritation that is intended to relieve
some other irritation - Counter irritant
What type of syringe is divided into units rather than mls? - insulin syringe
A(n) will usually separate after long periods of shelf life and must be shaken well
before use to provide a uniform dose - suspension
Which syringe is constructed in such a way that the needle screws onto the tip of the
syringe? - Luer-Lok tip
All of the following are sites for IV administration in small animals except
a. jugular vein
,b. carotid artery
c. lateral saphenous vein
d. phalic vein - b. carotid artery
,If an IV catheter is not used continuously it should be flushed with heparinized saline
every to hours - 8,12
Cerumen is a substance that is commonly found in what anatomic part of the body? -
ear
Any patient receiving IV fluid therapy should be monitored every to minutes. -
15,30
IV tubing should be changed after a to hour period. - 48, 72
When an intramuscular injection is given in the pelvic limb of a dog or cat, the area near
the nerve should be avoided. - sciatic
Describe the difference between an agonist and an opioid antagonist - An agonist is a
drug that combines with a receptor to bring about an action and an antagonist combines
with a receptor to block the action.
Define: neurotransmitter - A neurotransmitter is a chemical substance released by a
nerve ending at the synapse. It acts on the adjacent neuron to stimulate, inhibit, or
change its activity.
The area of the brain that serves to relay information from the spinal cord and brainstem
to the interpretation center in the cerebrum is the - Thalamus
Most CNS drugs act by or the effects of neurotransmitters. - Interrupting
he generation or conduction of nerve impulses; interfering with
What are the primary neurotransmitters for adrenergic receptors? - epinephrine and
norepinephrine
List the four primary ways in which drugs affect the ANS. - mimicking neurotransmitters,
interfering with neurotransmitters release, blocking the attachment of neurotransmitters
to receptors and interfering with the breakdown of neurotransmitters
List five indications for the use of cholinergic agents - Control vomiting, treat urinary
retention, stimulate GI activity, treat glaucoma and to aid in diagnosis of myasthenia
gravis.
Atropine, scopolamine, glycopyrrolate, and aminopentamide are examples of what
specific drug class? - Cholinergic blocking agents
What category of drug is used to treat cardiac arrest and anaphylactic shock? -
adrenergic (sympathomimetic)
Propranolol is an example of which category of drug? - Beta Blocker
, What are some adverse side effects of xylazine and what drug may be used to
antagonize its effects - Bradycardia and hypotension can be antagonized by using
atropine, respiratory depression or excessive CNS depression can be antagonized by
using yohimbine
Why would you be concerned about using a thiobarbiturate to induce anesthesia in a
very thin dog? - Thiobarbiturates are fat soluble which means fat acts like a sponge to
take barbiturate out of circulation and away from CNS. thin animals will not absorb as
much in to fat tissues and more will remain in bloodstream and may cause excessive
depression of the CNS.
What are some of the characteristics of a cat anesthetized with ketamine? - Analgesia,
increased muscle tone, maintenance of pharyngeal/laryngeal reflexes, muscle tremors,
loss of blink reflex.
List some of the signs of a narcotic overdose - Respiratory depression, cardiac
depression, agitation, excitement, or seizures
List two narcotic antagonists - naloxone and nalorphine
Why should glyceryl guaiacolate not be mixed until just before use? - Because it tends
to precipitate out of solution when stored
you are assisting the delivery of a litter of puppies and you deliver one that is not
breathing adequately. What drug would the vet instruct to give and by what route? -
Doxapram (Dopram) may be administered under tongue or into umbilical vein, or by
intramuscular injection.
Why are euthanasia solutions that contain only pentobarbital classified as Class II
controlled substances, whereas those that contain pentobarbital and other substances
are classified as Class III controlled substances? - Some pentobarbital agents have a
red dye added to distinguish them from pentobarbital agents that may be used for
anesthesia. They are easily identified as euthanasia agents and have less potential for
abuse
All psychotherapy drugs are thought to produce their effects by altering activity
in the brain. - Neurotransmitter
Dissociative agents such as ketamine and tiletamine may cause at the injection
site - Burning
A hypnotic (anesthetic) known for its very short duration and white color is -
Propofol
An inhibitory neurotransmitter that is widely distributed in the brain is - GABA
