DrBarchas.com is a free resource for people with pets. Searchable articles are available on diseases, behavior, symptoms, and medical treatments for dogs and cats.
Methimazole is used to treat hyperthyroidism in cats. It works by blocking the thyroid gland from making thyroid hormone. The effect is temporary. Most cats with hyperthyroidism require lifelong treatment with methimazole unless other, permanent treatment options are pursued. More details on these options are available on the page entitled Hyperthyroidism in Cats.
Enalapril and benazepril are related members of a class of drugs called ACE inhibitors. They have similar effects and uses in veterinary medicine.
In veterinary medicine, sulfadimethoxine is used primarily to treat coccidia (Isospora) in puppies and kittens. Courses of sulfadimethoxine generally last from 3 to 21 days.
Sulfadimethoxine also may be used as an antibiotic, but this is not common in veterinary medicine.
Sulfadimethoxine is currently considered an inferior treatment option for coccidia. A different drug, ponazuril, is preferred.
Antihistamines such as hydroxyzine (Atarax®), diphenhydramine (Benadryl®), and chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton®) are used in veterinary medicine primarily to treat allergies that cause skin problems. Less often, they are prescribed to prevent carsickness, to treat severe allergic reactions to insect bites or stings, or as sedatives.
Clindamycin is a commonly used antibiotic in veterinary medicine. Clindamycin is used to treat a variety of bacterial infections. Some of its more common applications include treatment of dental infections, abscesses, infected wounds, and infected bones.
Doxycycline is an antibiotic related to tetracycline. It is effective against a variety of organisms, and is often used to treat bacterial infections. It is the antibiotic of choice for many diseases (such as Lyme disease) that are spread by ticks and some diseases caused by organisms known as Mycoplasma. It is commonly employed in the treatment of respiratory infections and fever of unknown origin in cats.
Fluoroquinolones are powerful antibiotics that are commonly prescribed for pets. They are used to treat infections of the skin, bladder, ears, kidneys, lungs (pneumonia), and prostate. Fluoroquinolones are prescribed many other types of infections as well.
Furosemide is a medication that is commonly prescribed for heart disease in dogs and cats. It is infrequently used to treat other medical conditions, including high blood pressure or, rarely, certain kidney and urinary disorders.
Furosemide is in a class of medications called diuretics. Medications in this class work by causing increased urine production.
Cimetidine, ranitidine, and famotidine are related medicines. They are in a class of drugs called H2 blockers. They have similar effects and uses in veterinary medicine.
H2 blockers cause decreased production of stomach acid. In pets, these medicines are prescribed mainly to treat or prevent gastrointestinal upset (vomiting, diarrhea, or lack of appetite). They also may be used to prevent or treat ulcers or irritation of the esophagus, stomach, or intestines.