Which statement best describes species differences when prescribing NSAIDs in dogs and cats?

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Multiple Choice

Which statement best describes species differences when prescribing NSAIDs in dogs and cats?

When prescribing NSAIDs, you must account for species-specific drug handling and safety risks. Cats and dogs differ in how they metabolize and tolerate these medicines. Cats have markedly limited ability to conjugate and detoxify many drugs (notably via glucuronidation), which slows clearance and increases the chance of toxic buildup. This means cats are more prone to adverse effects from NSAIDs and often require lower doses, longer intervals, or avoidance of certain drugs entirely. In contrast, dogs can usually tolerate standard NSAID dosing when guidelines are followed, but still need careful monitoring for kidney, liver, and GI side effects. Because of these differences, you should not extrapolate dog dosing to cats, and you should use feline‑specific dosing guidelines, monitor renal and hepatic function, and avoid NSAIDs known to be high risk in cats. Some NSAIDs are not suitable for cats at all or are only safe under strict veterinary supervision. The other statements aren’t accurate because they either claim identical metabolism across species, universal feline toxicity, or that dogs are poor metabolizers while cats tolerate NSAIDs well, which contradicts well-established species differences in NSAID pharmacology and safety.

When prescribing NSAIDs, you must account for species-specific drug handling and safety risks. Cats and dogs differ in how they metabolize and tolerate these medicines. Cats have markedly limited ability to conjugate and detoxify many drugs (notably via glucuronidation), which slows clearance and increases the chance of toxic buildup. This means cats are more prone to adverse effects from NSAIDs and often require lower doses, longer intervals, or avoidance of certain drugs entirely. In contrast, dogs can usually tolerate standard NSAID dosing when guidelines are followed, but still need careful monitoring for kidney, liver, and GI side effects.

Because of these differences, you should not extrapolate dog dosing to cats, and you should use feline‑specific dosing guidelines, monitor renal and hepatic function, and avoid NSAIDs known to be high risk in cats. Some NSAIDs are not suitable for cats at all or are only safe under strict veterinary supervision.

The other statements aren’t accurate because they either claim identical metabolism across species, universal feline toxicity, or that dogs are poor metabolizers while cats tolerate NSAIDs well, which contradicts well-established species differences in NSAID pharmacology and safety.

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