Articles
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Digoxin is used off label and is given by mouth or injection to treat certain abnormal heart rhythms and certain types of congestive heart failure. Common side effects include vomiting, diarrhea, lack of appetite, weight loss, tiredness, or behavior changes.
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Diltiazem is given by mouth as a tablet, capsule, or compounded liquid, and is used off label to treat abnormal heart rhythms, high blood pressure, and other heart conditions. Common side effects include a slow heart rate in dogs and vomiting in cats. This medication should not be used in pets with hypersensitivity, severely low blood pressure, lung congestion, or certain abnormal heart rhythms.
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Diphenhydramine is given by mouth or as an injection and is used on and off label to treat allergic reactions, motion sickness, and to induce sedation. Side effects include sleepiness, and less commonly dry mouth and gastrointestinal upset.
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Enalapril is used on and off label and is given by mouth or injection to treat heart failure, high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease, or proteinuria. Common side effects include loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, and tiredness. Do not use in pets that are allergic to it, have an acute kidney injury, or have certain heart conditions.
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Erythromycin is given by mouth or injection and is used off label to treat bacterial infections and gastrointestinal motility problems in many animal species. Do not use in pets that are allergic to it, have liver disease or dysfunction, or in pets such as rabbits, gerbils, guinea pigs, or hamsters.
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Ferrets should be vaccinated with both the distemper vaccine and rabies vaccine. Some municipalities require yearly rabies vaccinations for ferrets. Vaccine reactions, although uncommon, may occur with either the distemper vaccine or rabies vaccine.
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Finasteride (brand names Proscar®, Propecia®) is a medication used in dogs to help with infertility issues caused by benign prostatic hypertrophy (an enlargement of the prostate gland caused by hormones) and to treat the general clinical signs associated with it. Finasteride may also be used for adrenal problems in ferrets.
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Fipronil with s-methoprene and amitraz (brand name Certifect®) is a topical medication used to treat and control fleas, ticks, and chewing lice in dogs and puppies 8 weeks of age and older, weighing more than 2.3 kg (5 lb). It is also used to aid in the control of sarcoptic mange and mites in dogs and puppies 8 weeks of age and older, weighing more than 2.3 kg (5 lb).
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Fluconazole is an antifungal medication used off label in cats, dogs, and small mammals to treat fungal infections, especially those in the brain and spinal cord. It is given by mouth in the form of a tablet or liquid suspension and is also available as an injection for hospital use. It should be used with caution in pets with liver or kidney disease, or pregnant or lactating pets.
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Fludrocortisone acetate (brand names: Florinef®, Astonin®, Astonin H®, Florinefe®, Lonikan®) is used off-label to treat adrenal gland insufficiency or hypoadrenocorticism (Addison’s disease) in cats, dogs, and ferrets. It may also be used with other medications to treat hyperkalemia. Fludrocortisone acetate is given by mouth.