Pharmacology and Toxicology

The Veterinary College introduced the subject of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacography in its first curriculum as early as 1920. Since then, pharmacology has been represented in all further curricula of the school, and later the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.

The scientific research work of the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology until 1965 was based primarily on research of antiparasitic drugs (mechanisms of action, resorption, distribution and elimination from the body, best routes of administration and doses, toxicity) and organic phosphorus compounds. Today, in addition to heavy metals, the potential of bee products in veterinary medicine is also explored here. Today, third-year students of integrated undergraduate study take two courses separately: Pharmacology and Toxicology.

Veterinary Pharmacovigilance Centre

Veterinary pharmacovigilance covers activities from the area of pharmacology and toxicology related to the detection, collection, scientific assessment, and consequential prevention of adverse effects of veterinary medicinal products. These activities have been conducted at the Department of pharmacology and toxicology unofficially since 1999. and included collection and assessment of reports on adverse reactions of veterinary drugs. Since 2015., according to contract with Ministry of Agriculture, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine have been conducting veterinary pharmacovigilance activities on national level. In April 2022. Veterinary Pharmacovigilance Centre was established at the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology with purpose to organize future expert and scientific activities regarding pharmacovigilance at Faculty level. Work area for the Centre is primarily collecting reports on adverse reactions of veterinary drugs in animals, including lack of efficacy, adverse reactions of veterinary drugs in humans, residue violations and adverse effects on the environment. Data sources include veterinary organizations (clinics, hospitals, practices), Clinics at the Faculty and general public. Collected reports are then assessed and included in European database for the purpose of emergency and regular analyses of the benefit risk ratio for the veterinary drugs.

Present and future activities of the Centre further include expert work with the Clinics at the Faculty regarding reporting of the adverse reactions and case reports, educations of veterinarians and students and cooperation with other involved institutions, such as Ministry of Agriculture, Croatian Veterinary Chamber, Agency for Medicinal Products and Medical Devices of Croatia and European Medicines Agency.