From episode 158 on the ECC feed. With Dr. Doug Mader.
I’m no reptile vet, but occasionally I have to treat one in an emergency. This was ALL news to me:
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Reptiles have the renal portal system. That means that venous blood that leaves the tail/back legs of all reptile species will pass through the kidneys before it returns to general circulation.
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Some drugs (like penicillins) will be cleared by the peritubular capillaries in the kidneys before it reaches general circulation if it is injected into the tail or hind limbs.
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Other drugs are conjugated in the liver before entering general circulation.
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The practical implications of this is that drugs that are cleared in the peritubular capillaries or that are conjugated in the liver cannot be given in the back legs.
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To make decisions around this: check Plumbs to see how the drug is cleared, OR, just inject in the front legs.
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NOTE - If you cannot use the front legs for any reason you can also give it along the epaxial musculature in the back - but try and stay in the front half of the body.
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