Zidovudine / AZT (Retrovir)
Dosage form:
Capsules 100 mg, 250 mg, 300 mg; syrup 50 mg/5 mL (10 mg/mL); injectable solution 10 mg/mL
Pharmacological group:
Antiviral — nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI)
Therapeutic use:
Treatment of cats infected with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). Alleviates severe stomatitis and neurological signs associated with FIV. May delay onset of clinical disease in asymptomatic cats.
Dosage:
Cats:
5 mg/kg orally or subcutaneously every 12 hours. Dose may be increased to 10 mg/kg every 12 hours, but carries an increased risk of non-regenerative anemia.
Zinc Salts (Zinc Sulfate, Zinc Gluconate, Zinc Acetate, Zinc Methionine)
Dosage form:
Various oral preparations of zinc sulfate, zinc gluconate, zinc acetate, zinc methionine, and chelated zinc.
Pharmacological group:
Mineral supplement
Therapeutic use:
Treatment of zinc-responsive dermatoses. Reduction of copper levels in dogs with copper-associated hepatitis.
Dosage:
Dogs:
Zinc-responsive dermatoses: 2–3 mg/kg elemental zinc orally once every 24 hours.
Copper-associated hepatitis: 5–10 mg/kg elemental zinc orally every 12 hours. Give with food to minimize vomiting.
Copper-associated hepatitis: 5–10 mg/kg elemental zinc orally every 12 hours. Give with food to minimize vomiting.
Zoledronic Acid (Zometa, Reclast)
Dosage form:
Injectable: ready-to-use solution 4 mg/100 mL, or concentrate 4 mg/5 mL requiring dilution.
Pharmacological group:
Bisphosphonate (bone metabolism modifier)
Therapeutic use:
Reduction of refractory hypercalcemia. Reduction of pain associated with osteolytic conditions (e.g., bone tumors).
Dosage:
Dogs:
0.1–0.25 mg/kg slowly intravenously in 100 mL (50 mL for small dogs) of 0.9% normal saline over 15–30 minutes. Some sources recommend a maximum total dose of 4 mg; doses at the lower end of the range are generally preferred. Pre- and post-infusion hydration with 0.9% saline over 30 minutes may prevent nephrotoxicity. May be repeated as clinically necessary, but no more often than every 4 weeks.
Zonisamide (Zonegran, Zoresan)
Dosage form:
Capsules 25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg
Pharmacological group:
Antiepileptic (sulfonamide-based anticonvulsant)
Therapeutic use:
Sulfonamide anticonvulsant, typically used in dogs and cats as adjunctive therapy in animals resistant to standard anticonvulsant treatment (phenobarbital, imepitoinin, and potassium bromide in dogs). Response rate in dogs with idiopathic epilepsy is reported to be 60–70%.
Dosage:
Dogs:
Starting dose: 3–7 mg/kg orally every 12 hours, or 7–10 mg/kg orally every 12 hours if co-administered with phenobarbital or other enzyme inducers.
Cats:
Recommended starting dose: 5–10 mg/kg orally once every 24 hours.