CHALLENGES OF PAEDIATRIC MEDICINE
Paediatric patients of any species present challenges associated with size, physiology, immunocompetence and species-specific care requirements. Although not directly studied in Australian mammals, haemodynamic parameters and optimal drug dosages likely differ from those of adults of the same species (McMichael 2014).
Interpretation of diagnostic test results requires consideration of the patient’s stage of development. Age-specific reference intervals have rarely been defined and some of the diagnostic and monitoring equipment used by veterinarians may not be suitable for use in very small or young animals (Davidson 2014). Given the highly altricial nature of monotreme and marsupial neonates compared with most eutherians, these challenges are likely to be even more relevant but remain largely undocumented.2.
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