Effect of long-term administration of ketoconazole in cats

Four cats given ketoconazole (30 mg/kg of body weight/day) for 30 days developed dry hair coats and weight loss. Plasma cortisol and serum cholesterol, testosterone, and progesterone did not change significantly (P greater than 0.01), and significant alterations in serum albumin, calcium, and alkaline phosphatase (P less than 0.01) did not preclude use of the drug. Serum testosterone concentrations tended to decrease after 7 days of treatment, but in 2 cats returned to near-pretreatment values by day 30 of treatment, despite continued drug administration. These results were in contrast to those reported in the dog at similar and lesser dosages of ketoconazole.