Elements of Veterinary Pharmacy - Veterinary Pharmacy  (Hardcover, George L. Ford)

Veterinary pharmacy is the study of the properties of chemicals used as drugs for therapeutic purposes. It is divided into the study of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Veterinary pharmacology focuses on drugs that are used in domestic animals. Pharmacokinetics is the study of drug absorption, distribution, biotransformation (metabolism), and excretion. Pharmacokinetic processes affect the route of administration, doses, dose intervals, and toxicities of drugs given to animals. Pharmacodynamics is the study of cell/tissue responses and selective receptor effects. The development of veterinary pharmacology generally paralleled that of human pharmacology. Because of the ever-growing breadth and complexity of drug usage in animals, this text has considerable new information on basic pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics, as well as their clinical applications. Designed and written specifically for veterinary nurses, it focuses on the practical application of knowledge and encourages a problem-solving approach by introducing a discussion of the potential uses of drugs and exploring a variety of therapies.