What is a major skeletal toxicity risk of fluoroquinolones in growing animals, and what feline risk exists with certain drugs?

• A. Hepatotoxicity; nephrotoxicity
• B. Cardiac arrhythmia; blindness in dogs
• C. Anemia; hepatic failure
• D. Cartilage/arthropathy; retinal toxicity in cats

Answer: (D)

Fluoroquinolones in growing animals pose a real risk to developing cartilage. They can disrupt chondrocyte development and damage the articular cartilage, leading to cartilage lesions and arthropathy in weight-bearing joints. That makes this a major skeletal toxicity concern in puppies, kittens, and other growing patients.

In cats, there is a distinct ocular risk with certain fluoroquinolones—enrofloxacin, in particular—where retinal toxicity can occur and lead to irreversible blindness. This feline retinal toxicity is a species- and drug-specific concern that guides how these drugs are used in cats.

So the combination of cartilage/arthropathy in growing animals and retinal toxicity in cats best reflects the known safety issues with fluoroquinolones. The other toxicities listed don’t align with the primary skeletal risk or the feline retinal risk seen with this drug class.