Badgers (Meles meles)

Badgers (Meles meles)

Drug	Dose	Comments
Anaesthetics:
Propofol	4—6.5 mg/kg i.v. a	Induction of anaesthesia where an i.v. line is already in place Dose dependent on use and type of premedication Gaseous anaesthesia can then be used for maintenance
Diazepam	0.25—1 mg/kg i.v., i.m. for mild sedation a
Ketamine	In combination with medetomidine for deep sedation: ◦ Ketamine (5–7.5 mg/kg) + medetomidine (0.04 mg/kg) i.m. a In combination with medetomidine and butorphanol for deep sedation: ◦ Ketamine (4 mg/kg) + medetomidine (0.02 mg/kg) + butorphanol (0.4 mg/kg) i.m. a	Deep sedation is generally required for routine procedures such as blood sampling and radiography
Medetomidine	For doses in combination with ketamine for deep sedation see above For doses in combination with ketamine and butorphanol for deep sedation see above	Deep sedation is generally required for routine procedures such as blood sampling and radiography Reverse with atipamezole
Atipamezole	0.10—0.2 mg/kg i.m. a(5x dose (mg/kg) medetomidine used)	Reversal of medetomidine: 5 times the medetomidine dose (i.e. equal volume of the 5 mg/ml atipamezole solution) In common with most species, a delay in reversal of medetomidine of at least 20 minutes after the administration of combinations with ketamine is recommended
Analgesics: Analgesic drug doses for badgers can, as a general rule, be extrapolated from canine doses. Reader is referred to BSAVA Small Animal Formulary - Part A: Canine and Feline.
Buprenorphine	0.02 mg/kg i.m., i.v., s.c., q6h a(as required)	Opioid analgesic for mild/moderate pain
Carprofen	4 mg/kg i.v., i.m., s.c., p.o. q24h a 2 mg/kg p.o. q12h a	NSAID for mild/moderate pain The usual considerations for the careful use of NSAIDs in dehydrated, hypovolaemic or hypertensive animals, as well as those with underlying gastrointestinal disease, should be observed
Meloxicam	0.2 mg/kg s.c., p.o., single dose 0.1 mg/kg p.o. q24h commencing 24 hours after injection a
Methadone	0.1—0.5 mg/kg i.m. q4h (as required)	Opioid analgesics for moderate/severe pain
Morphine	0.5 mg/kg i.m. q4h a(as required)	Opioid analgesics for moderate/severe pain
Antibiotics Antibiotic use (both appropriate and inappropriate) imposes a powerful selection pressure on bacteria and is the primary driver of antibiotic resistance. Eliminating unnecessary use in people and animals is, therefore, essential to safeguard this invaluable resource. Prudent use is especially indicated where treated wild animals are being returned to the wild. The reader is referred to the Guidelines for responsible antibiotic use https://www.bsavalibrary.com/content/formulary/backmatter/exotic-petsguidelinesforresponsibleantibioticuse for more information Antibiotic drug doses for badgers can, as a general rule, be extrapolated from canine doses. Reader is referred to BSAVA Small Animal Formulary - Part A: Canine and Feline.
Amoxicillin/clavulanate (co-amoxiclav)	8.75 mg/kg i.m. q24h a,for 5 days	Broad-spectrum bactericidal Pre-emptive use where bacteraemia or cellulitis is suspected
Parasiticides: Parasiticide use in wildlife may reduce the development of natural resistance to parasites, as well as exerting selection pressure on organisms which can lead to drug resistance and may risk environmental contamination. Careful selection and use of these drugs, only where there is a clinical need, and then using narrow spectrum products, is essential where treated wild animals are being returned to the wild. Reader is referred to the joint BVA, BSAVA and BVZS policy statement Parasiticides drug doses for badgers can, as a general rule, be extrapolated from canine doses. Reader is referred to BSAVA Small Animal Formulary - Part A: Canine and Feline.
Fenbendazole	50 mg/kg p.o. on 3 consecutive days b	Useful for treating co-infection with Giardia duodenalis, Emeria spp. and Salmonella spp.
Toltrazuril	30 mg/kg p.o.; repeat after 10 days c	Useful for treating coccidiosis

NSAID(s) = non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug(s)

References and further reading

a Mullineaux E (2016) Badgers. BSAVA Manual of Wildlife Casualties, 2nd edition, ed. E Mullineaux and E Keeble, pp. 210–227. BSAVA Publications, Gloucester

bBarlow AM, Mullineaux E, Wood R et al. (2011) Giardiosis in Eurasian badgers (Meles meles). Veterinary Record 167, 1017

cLloyd S and Smith J (2001) Activity of toltrazuril and diclazuril against Isospora species in kittens and puppies. Veterinary Record 148, 509–511

Badger trust https://www.badgertrust.org.uk

BSAVA library https://www.bsavalibrary.com/

BVA, BSAVA, BVZS joint policy statement: Responsible use of parasiticides https://www.bva.co.uk/take-action/our-policies/responsible-use-of-parasiticides-for-cats-and-dogs/