Pharmacology

Curated and developed content on relevant topics in  veterinary basic and clinical pharmacology.  Most topics associated with pre-clinical veterinary pharmacology as well as clinical pharmacology instruction are included as listed below. Video content includes 9 animated videos on drug disposition, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics developed by VetMedAcademy and sponsored by Merck Veterinary Manual.  Where possible, case examples are included, and the special video feature "Chalkwalks," the step-by-step explanation of pharmacotherapy in actual (anonymized) cases is highlighted.  Module is maintained by board certified veterinary pharmacologists and toxicologists, and is constantly being updated.

Module Features

This module addresses key clinical connections (applications) of autonomic physiology and pharmacology and has been used in an introductory veterinary autonomic physiology unit.

Learning Objectives General Principles

1. Understand the dominant autonomic tone in the following tissues: g.i., cardiac, blood vv., bronchioles, bladder, iris m. of eye.
2. Be aware of cellular signal transduction pathways that may serve as a way of integrating the simultaneous agonist effect of a muscarinic and adrenergic agonist.
3. Provide the rationale for the use of various classes of autonomic drugs for the treatment of a) acute heart failure, shock and hypotension, b) acute anaphylaxis, c) acute renal failure, d) vasoconstriction and decongestion, e) asthma and chronic obstructive (bronchoconstrictive) pulmonary disease, and f) nonnarcotic analgesia/sedation, and g) urinary tract dysfunction.

Module Features

The basics of fluid therapy: Volume, Rate, Route, Solutes, Osmolarity, Tonicity, Basic Fluid Types, and Additives. This series was designed to provide early curriculum overview of the principles of fluid therapy.

Here, you can find current information on some of the parasitic problems in the tropics, using examples from Colombia (South America).  The section is divided in four videos distributed in three modules that cover: a) the biology of parasites in ruminants, 2) mechanisms of resistance, 3) examples of resistant cases in Colombia, and 4) integrated management practices.  The first video provides some background information on the biology of parasites that is critical to understand methods to combat parasite infections/infestations, whenever they pose a threat.  The 2nd and 3rd videos explain why our "modern" production and management practices have led to problems of parasite resistance and what are the various mechanisms of resistance at the molelular level.  The final video proposes solutions to overcome the problems of resistance and achieve more sustainable production systems to raise livestock.   Because of widespread parasite resistance to most existing chemicals, the era of easy parasite control is over.  "Modern" production systems tend to speed up resistance problems to the point of making some farms no longer economically profitable.

Module Features