Common routes of drug administration in animals MCQs With Answer

Introduction: Understanding common routes of drug administration in animals is essential for B.Pharm students studying veterinary pharmacology, dosage forms, and pharmacokinetics. This topic covers oral, parenteral (intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous), topical, inhalational, rectal, intraocular, intranasal, and intraperitoneal routes, with emphasis on bioavailability, first‑pass effect, absorption rates, and formulation considerations. Knowledge of species differences, site selection, aseptic technique, and risks such as tissue irritation or embolism informs safe, effective dosing. Mastery helps in choosing appropriate delivery for therapeutic goals, onset time, and drug stability. Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.

Q1. Which route of administration gives the most rapid systemic drug effect in animals?

• Oral administration
• Intramuscular injection
• Intravenous injection
• Subcutaneous injection

Correct Answer: Intravenous injection

Q2. Which factor most directly reduces bioavailability of orally administered drugs in animals?

• High lipid solubility
• First‑pass hepatic metabolism
• Large molecular size
• Parenteral formulation

Correct Answer: First‑pass hepatic metabolism

Q3. For a dehydrated ruminant needing rapid fluid and electrolyte replacement, which route is preferred?

• Oral bolus
• Intraperitoneal injection
• Intravenous infusion
• Topical application

Correct Answer: Intravenous infusion

Q4. Which route is most appropriate for administering vaccines that require depot effect in animals?

• Intravenous
• Intramuscular
• Inhalation
• Ocular

Correct Answer: Intramuscular

Q5. Subcutaneous injections are preferred over intramuscular in small mammals primarily because:

• They provide a faster onset of action
• They avoid first‑pass metabolism
• They are less painful and easier to administer
• They always give higher bioavailability

Correct Answer: They are less painful and easier to administer

Q6. Which topical route is best for delivering medication to the respiratory tract of animals?

• Transdermal patch
• Inhalation/aerosolization
• Topical ophthalmic
• Rectal suppository

Correct Answer: Inhalation/aerosolization

Q7. Which statement about intraperitoneal administration in veterinary practice is correct?

• It is the fastest route for drug delivery to the brain
• It is commonly used for large food animals
• It allows absorption via peritoneal capillaries into systemic circulation
• It bypasses all hepatic metabolism

Correct Answer: It allows absorption via peritoneal capillaries into systemic circulation

Q8. Which route is most affected by pH and gastric emptying time in animals?

• Intravenous
• Topical dermal
• Oral
• Intranasal

Correct Answer: Oral

Q9. Which route is most suitable for local analgesia of a limb in a dog?

• Transdermal patch on the contralateral limb
• Intravenous bolus
• Regional nerve block (peripheral injection)
• Oral tablet

Correct Answer: Regional nerve block (peripheral injection)

Q10. Which of the following is a major risk specific to intraarterial injections in animals?

• Slow onset of action
• Reduced systemic absorption
• Tissue ischemia and embolism
• Increased first‑pass effect

Correct Answer: Tissue ischemia and embolism

Q11. Transdermal patches rely primarily on which property to enhance drug absorption through skin?

• Hydrophilicity of the drug
• High molecular weight
• Lipophilicity and permeation enhancers
• Gastric dissolution

Correct Answer: Lipophilicity and permeation enhancers

Q12. Which route bypasses the skin barrier and delivers drug directly into subcutaneous tissue?

• Topical cream
• Intranasal spray
• Subcutaneous injection
• Oral syrup

Correct Answer: Subcutaneous injection

Q13. For ocular infections in animals, which route gives highest local concentration with minimal systemic exposure?

• Systemic oral antibiotic
• Topical ophthalmic drops
• Intramuscular injection
• Transdermal patch near the eye

Correct Answer: Topical ophthalmic drops

Q14. Which characteristic of a drug formulation is most important for safe intramuscular injection?

• Particle size and sterility
• Color of the solution
• Presence of sugar
• Gastroresistant coating

Correct Answer: Particle size and sterility

Q15. Which route is commonly used to administer activated charcoal for toxin binding in large animals?

• Intravenous
• Oral via stomach tube
• Intraperitoneal
• Topical dermal

Correct Answer: Oral via stomach tube

Q16. What is a primary advantage of intranasal vaccination in some animal species?

• Avoids mucosal immunity
• Stimulates local mucosal and systemic immunity rapidly
• Requires sterile injections
• Always gives higher systemic bioavailability than IV

Correct Answer: Stimulates local mucosal and systemic immunity rapidly

Q17. Which route should be avoided for irritating or hypertonic solutions to prevent tissue necrosis?

• Intravenous peripheral vein
• Intramuscular
• Subcutaneous
• Topical

Correct Answer: Subcutaneous

Q18. Which parameter best quantifies the fraction of an administered dose reaching systemic circulation intact?

• Half‑life
• Volume of distribution
• Bioavailability
• Clearance

Correct Answer: Bioavailability

Q19. A veterinarian chooses intramuscular over intravenous injection because:

• IM provides immediate plasma peak higher than IV
• IM reduces the need for venous access and provides depot action
• IM eliminates absorption variability
• IM always causes less pain than SC

Correct Answer: IM reduces the need for venous access and provides depot action

Q20. When using inhalational anesthetics in animals, which factor most affects uptake from the lungs?

• Skin permeability
• Pulmonary blood flow and solubility of the anesthetic
• Gastric emptying
• Rectal motility

Correct Answer: Pulmonary blood flow and solubility of the anesthetic

Q21. Which formulation consideration is critical for ocular drops to avoid corneal irritation in animals?

• Appropriate pH and isotonicity
• Use of preservative‑free oral excipient
• High viscosity for oral administration
• Enteric coating

Correct Answer: Appropriate pH and isotonicity

Q22. Which route is preferred for long‑term continuous drug delivery in small animals using an implanted device?

• Transdermal patch replaced daily
• Subcutaneous implantable pump or osmotic minipump
• Oral bolus tablets
• Topical ointment

Correct Answer: Subcutaneous implantable pump or osmotic minipump

Q23. Which of the following is a contraindication for intramuscular injection in ruminants?

• Need for vaccine depot
• Meat residue concerns and abscess formation risk
• Administration of isotonic saline
• Emergency fluid resuscitation

Correct Answer: Meat residue concerns and abscess formation risk

Q24. Which route is most suitable when immediate, localized anti‑inflammatory effect is required in a joint?

• Intravenous bolus
• Intra‑articular injection
• Oral slow‑release tablet
• Topical skin cream on the limb

Correct Answer: Intra‑articular injection

Q25. Which property of a drug increases likelihood of absorption through nasal mucosa in animals?

• Very high molecular weight
• Low membrane permeability
• Moderate lipophilicity and small molecular size
• Enteric coating

Correct Answer: Moderate lipophilicity and small molecular size

Q26. When preparing a sterile intramuscular injection, which practice is essential to minimize infection risk?

• Reusing needles between animals
• Warming the entire bottle of drug repeatedly
• Aseptic technique: sterile needle, clean skin, single‑use syringes
• Applying topical antibiotic to the injection site afterwards always

Correct Answer: Aseptic technique: sterile needle, clean skin, single‑use syringes

Q27. Which route would be least affected by alterations in gastrointestinal flora or motility?

• Oral tablet
• Rectal suppository
• Parenteral injection
• Oral suspension

Correct Answer: Parenteral injection

Q28. Depot formulations for long‑acting therapy in animals are most commonly administered via which route?

• Intravenous infusion
• Topical spray
• Intramuscular or subcutaneous injection
• Ophthalmic drops

Correct Answer: Intramuscular or subcutaneous injection

Q29. Which consideration is most important when converting a drug dose from IV to oral route in animals?

• Assuming identical bioavailability
• Adjusting for oral bioavailability and first‑pass loss
• Doubling the volume only
• Changing the drug’s mechanism of action

Correct Answer: Adjusting for oral bioavailability and first‑pass loss

Q30. Which statement about intramuscular injection sites in horses is correct?

• Caudal cervical triangle is a commonly used safe IM site
• Gluteal muscles are always preferred due to safety
• Small gauge insulin syringes are ideal for large volumes
• Any site is acceptable if aseptic technique is ignored

Correct Answer: Caudal cervical triangle is a commonly used safe IM site

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