Optimizing Fluconazole Dosing in Dogs
This study is open to dogs with Valley Fever who have been taking fluconazole for at least 30 days. You must be obtaining the fluconazole from a regular pharmacy, such as Fry’s, Safeway, CVS, Walgreens, or Costco. Dogs taking compounded fluconazole are not eligible for this study. If you are not sure, we can help you determine this.
Purpose:
This study is being conducted to refine dose recommendations for the treatment of valley fever in small, medium, and large dogs. Smaller dogs clear the drug more rapidly from their bodies than large dogs. Treatment may be more effective and less toxic if the dose is tailored for dogs based on body weight.
Enrollment:
- Dogs between 6 months and 12 years of age who are taking fluconazole twice daily (morning and evening)
- Diagnosed with Valley Fever
How to enroll:
To get instructions and make arrangements for a blood collection, call or email Dr. Lisa Shubitz at 520-626-8198 or email Dr. Christine Butkiewicz at 520-626-6527
What we need:
- A single AM blood test 12 hours (+/- 1 hour) from the dog’s evening fluconazole dose. Fluconazole dose can be adjusted the night before to accommodate the bleeding schedule
- Time the fluconazole was given the day before the blood test (morning and the night)
- Date the dog was started on fluconazole
- Signed Owner Consent Form (Download file here).
- Your prescription bottle or a picture of your complete prescription label.
Where to go for the blood test:
The blood will be collected from your dog by the Study Veterinarians at Tucson Veterinary Specialists, 1601 W Ina Rd, Tucson, 85704
Results of the testing:
The blood samples will be tested in batches and the results will be analyzed by groups based on body weight. The results of individual dogs will not be available to owners unless we observe a value that we think is important to your dog’s health. We will then contact you so we may let your veterinarian know and discuss the results with them. The results of the study as a whole will help improve the treatment of all dogs for valley fever and we thank you for your caring and generosity in contributing your time to this research to help dogs.