Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics information from the scientific basis of modern pharmacotherapy [1].

Pharmacokinetics is currently defined as the study of the time course of drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion. Clinical pharmacokinetics is the application of pharmacokinetic principles to the safe and effective therapeutic management of drugs in an individual patient [2].

Pharmacodynamics refers to the relationship between drug concentration at the site of action and the resulting effect, including the time course and intensity of therapeutic and adverse effects [2].

Veterinary medicine faces the unique challenge of having to treat many types of domestic animal species, including mammals, birds, and fishes. Moreover, these species have evolved into genetically unique breeds having certain distinguishable characteristics developed by artificial selection. The main challenge for veterinarians is not to select a drug but to determine, for the selected agent, a rational dosing regimen because the dosage regimen for a drug in a given species may depend on its anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, and behavior as well as on the nature and causes of the condition requiring treatment [3].

1. Basic concepts of pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) modelling.

2. Introduction to Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics

3. Elliott J, Lees P (2010) Species Differences in Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics. In: Cunningham (eds) Comparative and Veterinary Pharmacology. Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology, 199.