Vancomycin (Vancocin)
Dosage form:
Powder for injectable solution 500 mg and 1000 mg
Pharmacological group:
Antibiotic
Therapeutic use:
Severe infections not responsive to other treatments. Reserve antibiotic!
Dosage:
Dogs:
15 mg/kg intravenously every 6–8 hours
Cats:
12–15 mg/kg intravenously every 8 hours
Vinblastine (Velban, Velsar)
Dosage form:
Injectable solution 1 mg/mL
Pharmacological group:
Cytostatic agent
Therapeutic use:
Lymphoproliferative diseases
Dosage:
Dogs:
2–2.5 mg/m² every 7–14 days
Cats:
2–2.5 mg/m² every 7–14 days
Vincristine (Oncovin, Vincasar)
Dosage form:
Lyophilized powder for IV solution or ready IV solution 1 mg, 2 mg, and 5 mg per vial
Pharmacological group:
Cytostatic agent
Therapeutic use:
Transmissible venereal tumor (TVT); various oncological protocols
Dosage:
Dogs:
1) TVT: 0.025 mg/kg intravenously every 7 days for 4 weeks.
2) Other neoplastic diseases: 0.5–0.75 mg/m²
2) Other neoplastic diseases: 0.5–0.75 mg/m²
Cats:
1) TVT: 0.025 mg/kg intravenously every 7 days for 4 weeks.
2) Other neoplastic diseases: 0.5–0.75 mg/m²
2) Other neoplastic diseases: 0.5–0.75 mg/m²
Vitamin A (Retinol, Aquasol A)
Dosage form:
Injectable solution 50,000 IU/mL; oral capsules 10 mg, 20 mg
Pharmacological group:
Vitamins
Therapeutic use:
Vitamin A deficiency; disorders of keratinization
Dosage:
Dogs:
1) Vitamin A deficiency: 10,000–100,000 IU per dog intramuscularly every 3 days, maximum 2 injections; 10,000 IU per dog orally once every 24 hours for 3 days.
2) Dermatological doses: 10,000 IU per dog orally once every 24 hours; 1 mg/kg orally every 12 hours for 1 month, then reducing to 1 mg/kg orally once every 24 hours if improvement.
2) Dermatological doses: 10,000 IU per dog orally once every 24 hours; 1 mg/kg orally every 12 hours for 1 month, then reducing to 1 mg/kg orally once every 24 hours if improvement.
Cats:
Vitamin A deficiency: 10,000–100,000 IU per cat intramuscularly every 3 days, maximum 2 injections; 10,000 IU per cat orally once every 24 hours for 3 days
Cavies:
50–500 IU/kg intramuscularly, or 10 mg beta-carotene/kg feed
Hamsters:
50–500 IU/kg intramuscularly
Birds:
1,000–20,000 IU per bird intramuscularly once, or orally every 12 hours
Reptiles:
1,000–2,000 IU/kg orally every 7–14 days
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)
Dosage form:
Injectable solution 50 mg/mL
Pharmacological group:
Vitamins
Therapeutic use:
Thiamine (B1) deficiency; adjunctive treatment in ethylene glycol and lead poisoning
Dosage:
Dogs:
1) Deficiency: 50–250 mg per dog intramuscularly or subcutaneously every 12–24 hours.
2) Lead poisoning: 2 mg/kg intramuscularly or subcutaneously every 12 hours.
3) Ethylene glycol poisoning: 100 mg per dog intramuscularly, subcutaneously, or orally once every 24 hours.
2) Lead poisoning: 2 mg/kg intramuscularly or subcutaneously every 12 hours.
3) Ethylene glycol poisoning: 100 mg per dog intramuscularly, subcutaneously, or orally once every 24 hours.
Cats:
1) Deficiency: 10–25 mg per cat intramuscularly or subcutaneously every 12–24 hours.
2) Lead poisoning: 2 mg/kg intramuscularly or subcutaneously every 12 hours.
3) Ethylene glycol poisoning: 100 mg per cat/dog intramuscularly, subcutaneously, or orally every 24 hours. Birds: 10–30 mg/kg intramuscularly every 24 hours.
2) Lead poisoning: 2 mg/kg intramuscularly or subcutaneously every 12 hours.
3) Ethylene glycol poisoning: 100 mg per cat/dog intramuscularly, subcutaneously, or orally every 24 hours. Birds: 10–30 mg/kg intramuscularly every 24 hours.
Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin)
Dosage form:
Injectable solution 0.5 mg/mL
Pharmacological group:
Vitamins
Therapeutic use:
Vitamin B12 deficiency, especially associated with intestinal disease; part of complex therapy for iron-deficiency and posthemorrhagic anemia
Dosage:
Dogs:
0.25–1 mg per dog subcutaneously or intramuscularly every 7 days for 4 weeks
Cats:
0.125–0.25 mg per cat subcutaneously or intramuscularly every 7 days for 4–6 weeks
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)
Dosage form:
Ampoule solution 10 mg/mL or 50 mg/mL for injection
Pharmacological group:
Vitamins
Therapeutic use:
Isoniazid (INH) poisoning in animals
Dosage:
Dogs:
70 mg/kg intravenously over 30–60 minutes (if amount of isoniazid ingested is unknown). Or if known: administer milligram-for-milligram (mg of pyridoxine per mg of isoniazid).
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
Dosage form:
Injectable solution 50 mg/mL or 100 mg/mL; various tablets, dragees, and powders
Pharmacological group:
Vitamins
Therapeutic use:
Methemoglobinemia from acetaminophen poisoning; short-term use in cachectic patients; primarily used in guinea pigs
Dosage:
Dogs:
Methemoglobinemia: 30–40 mg/kg subcutaneously every 6 hours for 7 doses
Cats:
Methemoglobinemia: 30–40 mg/kg subcutaneously every 6 hours for 7 doses
Rabbits:
50–100 mg/kg every 12 hours
Cavies:
Daily requirement 10–30 mg/kg or 200–400 mg/liter of drinking water. For vitamin C deficiency: 100–200 mg/kg orally once every 24 hours.
Vitamin D (Calcitriol, Rocaltrol, Calcijex)
Dosage form:
Oral solution 1.25 mg/mL and many other oral and injectable forms
Pharmacological group:
Vitamins
Therapeutic use:
Vitamin D deficiency; hypocalcemia secondary to hypoparathyroidism or renal disease
Dosage:
Dogs:
1) Hypocalcemia, vitamin D deficiency: starting 0.02–0.03 mg/kg orally once every 24 hours, maintenance 0.01–0.02 mg/kg orally every 24–48 hours; calcitriol: 10–15 ng/kg orally every 12 hours for 3–4 days, then reduce to 2.5–7.5 ng/kg orally every 12 hours for 2–3 days, then once every 24 hours.
2) Secondary hypocalcemia: start 0.03 mg/kg orally for several days to effect, then 0.02 mg/kg for 2 days, then 0.01 mg/kg daily.
2) Secondary hypocalcemia: start 0.03 mg/kg orally for several days to effect, then 0.02 mg/kg for 2 days, then 0.01 mg/kg daily.
Cats:
1) Hypocalcemia, vitamin D deficiency: starting 0.02–0.03 mg/kg orally once every 24 hours, maintenance 0.01–0.02 mg/kg orally every 24–48 hours; calcitriol: 10–15 ng/kg orally every 12 hours for 3–4 days, then reduce to 2.5–7.5 ng/kg orally every 12 hours for 2–3 days, then once every 24 hours.
2) Secondary hypocalcemia: start 0.03 mg/kg orally for several days to effect, then 0.02 mg/kg for 2 days, then 0.01 mg/kg daily.
2) Secondary hypocalcemia: start 0.03 mg/kg orally for several days to effect, then 0.02 mg/kg for 2 days, then 0.01 mg/kg daily.
Vitamin E (Tocopherol) (Aquavite-E, Vitamine E)
Dosage form:
Oral solution 20 mg/mL; injectable solution 100 mg/mL
Pharmacological group:
Vitamins
Therapeutic use:
Vitamin E deficiency; other conditions requiring supplementation
Dosage:
Dogs:
1.6–8.3 mg/kg orally once every 24 hours for the first 30 days, then as needed. Alternative dose: 100–400 IU per dog.
For ischemic dermatopathies: 200 IU (small breeds), 400 IU (medium), 600 IU (large breeds) orally every 12 hours. Used in combination with pentoxifylline (15 mg/kg orally every 8 hours up to 30 mg/kg orally every 12 hours).
For ischemic dermatopathies: 200 IU (small breeds), 400 IU (medium), 600 IU (large breeds) orally every 12 hours. Used in combination with pentoxifylline (15 mg/kg orally every 8 hours up to 30 mg/kg orally every 12 hours).
Cats:
Alternative dose: 30 IU per cat (some sources suggest 10–15 IU/kg)
Hamsters:
0.06 mg/kg intramuscularly every 7 days
Birds:
1 IU/kg intramuscularly once every 24 hours for 7–14 days
Vitamin K1 (Phytonadione, Phytomenadione) (Mephyton, Aquamephyton)
Dosage form:
Injectable solution 10 mg/mL; tablets 50 mg
Pharmacological group:
Vitamins
Therapeutic use:
Rodenticide (anticoagulant) poisoning; coagulopathy; vitamin K1 deficiency
Dosage:
Dogs:
First-generation rodenticide poisoning or K1 deficiency: starting dose 2.5 mg/kg subcutaneously or intramuscularly, then 1–2.5 mg/kg orally in divided doses every 8–12 hours for 5–7 days.
Second-generation rodenticide poisoning: starting dose 5 mg/kg subcutaneously or intramuscularly, then 2.5 mg/kg subcutaneously every 12 hours for 3 weeks, then reassess coagulation status.
Unknown rodenticide or indandione poisoning: starting dose 2.5–5 mg/kg subcutaneously or intramuscularly, then 2.5 mg/kg orally in divided doses every 8–12 hours for 3–4 weeks.
Second-generation rodenticide poisoning: starting dose 5 mg/kg subcutaneously or intramuscularly, then 2.5 mg/kg subcutaneously every 12 hours for 3 weeks, then reassess coagulation status.
Unknown rodenticide or indandione poisoning: starting dose 2.5–5 mg/kg subcutaneously or intramuscularly, then 2.5 mg/kg orally in divided doses every 8–12 hours for 3–4 weeks.
Cats:
First-generation rodenticide poisoning or K1 deficiency: starting dose 2.5 mg/kg subcutaneously or intramuscularly, then 1–2.5 mg/kg orally in divided doses every 8–12 hours for 5–7 days.
Second-generation rodenticide poisoning: starting dose 5 mg/kg subcutaneously or intramuscularly, then 2.5 mg/kg subcutaneously every 12 hours for 3 weeks, then reassess coagulation status.
Unknown rodenticide or indandione poisoning: starting dose 2.5–5 mg/kg subcutaneously or intramuscularly, then 2.5 mg/kg orally in divided doses every 8–12 hours for 3–4 weeks.
Second-generation rodenticide poisoning: starting dose 5 mg/kg subcutaneously or intramuscularly, then 2.5 mg/kg subcutaneously every 12 hours for 3 weeks, then reassess coagulation status.
Unknown rodenticide or indandione poisoning: starting dose 2.5–5 mg/kg subcutaneously or intramuscularly, then 2.5 mg/kg orally in divided doses every 8–12 hours for 3–4 weeks.