Lactulose (Kristalose, Generlac, Enulose)
Dosage form:
Syrup containing 3.1–3.75 g per 5 mL
Pharmacological group:
Osmotic laxative
Therapeutic use:
Constipation; reduction of blood ammonia levels in hepatic encephalopathy
Dosage:
Dogs:
1) Constipation: 5–25 mL orally every 8–12 hours.
2) Chronic hepatic encephalopathy: 5–25 mL orally every 8–12 hours.
3) Acute hepatic encephalopathy: 18–20 mL/kg in a solution of 3 parts lactulose and 7 parts water administered rectally as an enema.
2) Chronic hepatic encephalopathy: 5–25 mL orally every 8–12 hours.
3) Acute hepatic encephalopathy: 18–20 mL/kg in a solution of 3 parts lactulose and 7 parts water administered rectally as an enema.
Cats:
0.5–5 mL orally every 8–12 hours
Ferrets:
0.15–0.75 mL/kg orally every 12 hours
Levothyroxine (Soloxine, Synthroid, Levoxyl)
Dosage form:
Tablets 0.1 mg, 0.2 mg, 0.3 mg, 0.5 mg, 0.8 mg; solution 1 mg/mL
Pharmacological group:
Thyroid hormone
Therapeutic use:
Treatment of hypothyroidism; molt induction in birds
Dosage:
Dogs:
0.02–0.04 mg/kg per day orally, given with food, as a single dose or divided into 2 doses. Monitor T4 levels before dosing and 4–8 hours after.
Cats:
0.02–0.04 mg/kg per day orally, given with food, as a single dose or divided into 2 doses. Monitor T4 levels before dosing and 4–8 hours after.
Birds:
0.02 mg/kg orally every 12–24 hours
Lidocaine (Xylocaine, Lidoject)
Dosage form:
Injectable solution 20 mg/mL and 100 mg/mL; spray 10%
Pharmacological group:
Local anesthetic / Antiarrhythmic
Therapeutic use:
Local/regional anesthesia; treatment of arrhythmias
Dosage:
Dogs:
1) Local anesthesia: infiltrate along incision line; total injected dose should not exceed 4 mg/kg.
2) Esophagitis: 2 mg/kg orally every 4–6 hours.
3) Intraoperative analgesia: as a constant rate infusion — 1 mg/kg loading dose (administer slowly over 10–15 min), then 20–40 mcg/kg/min.
4) Ventricular arrhythmia: 2–8 mg/kg intravenously as 2 mg/kg bolus, then 0.025–0.1 mg/kg/min as a constant rate infusion.
2) Esophagitis: 2 mg/kg orally every 4–6 hours.
3) Intraoperative analgesia: as a constant rate infusion — 1 mg/kg loading dose (administer slowly over 10–15 min), then 20–40 mcg/kg/min.
4) Ventricular arrhythmia: 2–8 mg/kg intravenously as 2 mg/kg bolus, then 0.025–0.1 mg/kg/min as a constant rate infusion.
Cats:
1) Local anesthesia, topical, esophagitis — doses as in dogs. Systemic dose should not exceed 2 mg/kg.
2) Ventricular arrhythmia: 0.25–2.0 mg/kg intravenously slowly; start with 0.25–0.5 mg/kg bolus, then 0.01–0.04 mg/kg/min as a constant rate infusion.
2) Ventricular arrhythmia: 0.25–2.0 mg/kg intravenously slowly; start with 0.25–0.5 mg/kg bolus, then 0.01–0.04 mg/kg/min as a constant rate infusion.
Lincomycin (Lincocin)
Dosage form:
Injectable solution 10% (100 mg/mL) and 30% (300 mg/mL); capsules 250 mg
Pharmacological group:
Antibiotic (lincosamide class)
Therapeutic use:
Infections caused by susceptible organisms; primarily Gram-positive cocci and many obligate anaerobes
Dosage:
Dogs:
22 mg/kg intramuscularly once every 24 hours, or 11 mg/kg every 12 hours, or 11–22 mg/kg slowly intravenously every 12–24 hours. Orally: 22 mg/kg every 12 hours or 15 mg/kg every 8 hours.
Cats:
22 mg/kg intramuscularly once every 24 hours, or 11 mg/kg every 12 hours, or 11–22 mg/kg slowly intravenously every 12–24 hours. Orally: 22 mg/kg every 12 hours or 15 mg/kg every 8 hours.
Loperamide (Imodium)
Dosage form:
Capsules or tablets 2 mg
Pharmacological group:
Antidiarrheal
Therapeutic use:
Control of acute and chronic diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome
Dosage:
Dogs:
0.04–0.2 mg/kg every 8–12 hours
Cats:
0.04–0.2 mg/kg every 8–12 hours