THERAPEUTICS
There have been no published drug pharmacokinetic studies in dasyurids and drug doses are frequently extrapolated from domestic dogs and cats. Cefovecin (Convenia®, Zoetis, West Ryde, NSW) has been used to treat bacterial infections in Tasmanian devils at the dose rate of 8 mg/kg with the assumption that it has a similar duration of action (up to 7 d) as in dogs and cats.
However, in vitro studies of cefovecin plasma protein binding in several marsupial species, including the Tasmanian devil, have shown it is between 12% and 40%, suggesting duration of action is likely to be much shorter in these species (S Gharibi pers. comm., see Chapter 11). Congestive heart failure, often secondary to bradyarrhythmia in Tasmanian devils, has been managed using frusemide ± pimobendan (M Campbell-Ward pers. comm.). Analgesic options for managing animals with degenerative joint disease include meloxicam or carprofen (see Appendix 4). A range of medications have been used for external and internal parasite control, including fipronil, selamectin, spinosad, and emodepside in combination with praziquantel (Profender® Spot On, Bayer Australia, Pymble, NSW) using domestic species’ dose rates.Chemotherapeutic agents have been trialled in Tasmanian devils in an effort to treat DFTD (see Chapters 11 and 40).
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