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Veterinary Pharmacology exam questions: topics, study tips and free sample questions

Updated 20 October 2026

Veterinary Pharmacology on the BCSE covers drug classes, mechanisms, pharmacokinetics, adverse effects and the safe choice of drug across species. It sits in the BCSE domain of pharmacology, physiology and toxicology, with a published range of about 28 to 32 questions.

Topics to know in pharmacology

How to study pharmacology for the BCSE

Free pharmacology sample questions

Try these practice questions. Open each one to see the answer and the explanation. They are for study only. These are not official exam questions.

Question 1. What is amprolium typically used for in veterinary medicine?

  1. Treat coccidiosis
  2. Ionophore-containing feed additive
  3. Treat amoebiasis
  4. Treat thiamine deficiency
  5. Growth promoting feed additive
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: A. Use amprolium to treat coccidiosis, most commonly in cattle, pigs, chickens. Sometimes used (off label) as a preventive and treatment in dog kennel situations. Typically asymptomatic in cats and dogs, but young, stressed animals and the immunocompromised may show clinical signs. Because amprolium mimics thiamine's structure, it competitively inhibits thiamine utilization of the parasite. Because of this, prolonged dosages can cause thiamine deficiency. Usually do not treat more than 14 days.

Question 2. You are presented with a 7 year old female spayed Border Collie with two very goopy, gunk-covered eyes. You do a Schirmer tear test on the dog and find less than 10 mm/minute of wetting, a decreased result from the normal of at least 15mm / minute of wetting. The owner tells you that the dog has been on "some kind of medicine for her skin" for the last 10 days, but it is actually his girlfriends dog, and he doesnt know what the medicine is. You suspect keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) secondary to the drug. Which drug do you tell the owner may be causing the KCS?

  1. Amitraz
  2. Trimethoprim sulfa
  3. Prednisolone
  4. Itraconazole
  5. Griseofulvin
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: B. Systemic sulfonamides like trimethoprim sulfa have been associated with keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), sometimes irreversibly. Another drug-associated cause of TRANSIENT KCS is the combination of recent general anesthesia and atropine. Other causes of KCS include: Distemper, Immunologic (think ATOPY), Breed (Pugs, Yorkies), and trauma (Proptosed eyeball).

Question 3. Which of the following drugs is most useful for the initial treatment of follicular cysts in dairy cattle?

  1. Diethylstilbesterol
  2. Progesterone
  3. Prostaglandin F2alpha
  4. Gonadotrophic releasing hormone
  5. Estradiol benzoate
Show the answer and explanation

Answer: D. Follicular cystic ovarian disease in cattle has been treated many ways, but of the choices listed here, gonadotrophic releasing hormone (GnRH) may be the best. GnRH initiates the release of luteinizing hormone from the anterior pituitary. The LH surge initiates the luteinization or rupture of the follicle. Think more of prostaglandin F2alpha in the treatment of luteal cysts. Some authors have advocated the use of PGF2alpha 9 days after the GnRH injection, but this drug has no real effect upon lysis or luteinization of the cyst. Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) has been used historically as a source

Frequently asked questions

How many pharmacology questions are on the BCSE?

Pharmacology, physiology and toxicology together have a published range of about 28 to 32 questions.

How should I study pharmacology for the BCSE?

Build a table of drug class, mechanism and main adverse effect. Learn the species that must never receive certain drugs. Link each drug to a clinical scenario.

Where can I practise pharmacology questions?

VetQ has 244 pharmacology practice questions, including 4 with images, with explanations. You can try it free for 48 hours.

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